Un-worthy

BLUES IN NEED OF SILVA SERVICE

EXPECT Everton to step up their search for a Silva lining after even a couple of gifts from Palace failed to lift the gloom.

A third-time-lucky attempt is expected to try to lure Marco Silva from Watford, the man they hope can take on the job from caretaker boss David Unsworth (right).

If it works chances are they will leave Palace well behind them, simply because Roy Hodgson’s basement strugglers just cannot afford to keep dropping points like this.

The one they handed Everton yesterday was delivered gift-wrapped despite a dream start.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s first-minute shot was too fierce for Jordan Pickford to do anything other than parry the ball straight into the path of James McArthur.

The Palace midfielder would have been chased out of the ground if he had missed the gaping net.

It is a wonder referee Anthony Taylor was not subjected to a chase five minutes later when he pointed to the spot after Oumar Niasse went tumbling in the box, supposedly with a little help from Scott Dann. Leighton Baines converted the penalty with ease.

Palace restored their lead in the 35th minute. Someone in an Everton shirt should have stopped Joel Ward’s cross reaching Wilfried Zaha.

They did not and the ball was in the back of the net as Pickford was left hopelessly exposed.

But just when you thought Palace had cracked it, a kamikaze double act between Julian

Speroni and Dann gifted

Everton an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

The keeper had all the time in the world to hoof a clearance upfield but instead delivered a pass that caught his skipper napping sufficiently for Idrissa Gueye to dispossess him and send Niasse clear.

No prizes for guessing what the big fella did with the goal at his mercy.

Unsworth said: “I was delighted – to come back twice we showed desire over 90 minutes. We have got to show more quality.”

Hodgson said: “I don’t really know what more we can do. I would like our performances to be rewarded with the victories they

deserve.”