Shock loss to Crystal Palace at Goodison Park hurts Everton’s Champions League hopes

EVERTON’S hopes of qualifying for the Champions League took a massive hit after going down to lowly Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.

EVERTON’S hopes of securing UEFA Champions League football suffered a big blow with a surprise 3-2 home defeat by Crystal Palace, who reached 40 points for the season.

Jason Puncheon put the Eagles ahead on 23 minutes after good work from Yannick Bolasie, who got around Leighton Baines before crossing from the right into the centre. Tim Howard could only parry the ball and Marouane Chamakh laid it off to Puncheon to slot home.

Bolasie also hit the woodwork in the first half while Julian Speroni got down well to deny Romelu Lukaku at the other end.

Ross Barkley (C) was closely watched by Crystal Palace’s defenders.

Four minutes after the restart, Scott Dann headed Palace two up from Bolasie’s corner but Everton substitute Steven Naismith pulled one back on 61 minutes from Baines’ header.

However, Cameron Jerome restored Palace’s advantage with a low shot on 73 minutes from Puncheon’s assist.

Speroni made a good save to deny Ross Barkley but Kevin Mirallas scored with four minutes remaining to set up a nervy finish.

However, Palace held on to win and surely make themselves safe from relegation, while denting the Toffees’ hopes of Champions League football.

Everton had been looking to take the opportunity to leapfrog Arsenal into fourth but instead they remain fifth — a point behind the Gunners, with both clubs having four more games to go — after they were undone by a Palace side who were worthy victors of an absorbing contest.

Steven Naismith gave Everton some hope, but it wasn’t enough.

The result, Everton’s first home loss since Boxing Day and only their second all season, brought their seven-match top-flight winning streak to an end.

Palace’s own run of victories, meanwhile, extended to four games as they moved up to 11th, on to 40 points — the total widely regarded as a guarantee of safety — and 10 points clear of the relegation zone, with four more fixtures left.