Everton 1 - 1 Crystal Palace

Poor Everton defending allowed Scott Dann to head Palace in front late on as the Londoners looked on course to win.

But Lukaku - who had twice struck the woodwork - tapped in Gerard Deulofeu's low cross from two yards for a deserved point for the dominant hosts.

Palace's Jordon Mutch sent a shot wide as both sides searched for a winner.

The draw was still enough to move Palace to sixth on goal difference, though manager Alan Pardew will be disappointed that his team only held their lead for five minutes, to drop points from a winning position for the first time this season.

But Everton dominated possession and, in the second half in particular, were adventurous and easy on the eye.

Everton boss Roberto Martinez has boasted he has some of the most valuable young talent in Europe at his disposal and the Spaniard's highly-prised quartet strengthened the manager's claim with their performances against Palace.

Record signing Lukaku, Ross Barkley, John Stones and Gerard Deulofeu - aged 22, 22, 21 and 21 respectively - were authoritative and influential, as they have been all season.

Lukaku's power posed Palace problems, with the post denying him a first-half goal and the crossbar stopping him from equalising straight after Palace took the lead.

Barkley and Deulofeu were inventive, with the latter's sublime second-half free-kick forcing Connor Wickham to head a defensive header onto his own crossbar, while it was former Barcelona prodigy Deulofeu who again provided the assist to his ruthless team-mate.

At the back, Stones anticipated play brilliantly and, as has become routine this campaign, had the confidence and guile to glide out of defence and even pose a threat in the final third - a quick turn in the box followed up by a dangerous cross was a particular highlight.

Martinez has said a Champions League place is the club's aim this season and he certainly has four players who, on current form, would be at ease facing Europe's elite.

Only Jamie Vardy, the Premier League's top scorer with 14, has scored more league goals than the £28m Lukaku, while he is on course to become the first Everton striker to score more than 20 league goals since Gary Lineker in 1985-86

The Belgian has consistently been a threat, missing only 39 minutes of action this campaign, and was a menace against Palace before levelling with his 50th goal in a century of Everton appearances.

Martinez describe his striker as sensational, adding: "He is always there to give us a focal point and score goals.

"It was a big moment. One hundred games is a landmark and 50 goals is a remarkable return. He is in a very good moment of his career. He is vital in everything we are trying to do."

Palace at home on the road

Palace have already picked up more points away from home than at Selhurst Park this season and, having thrashed Newcastle 5-1 at home in their previous league outing, are a team in form.

But their sporadic attacks mainly came on the counter-attack against Everton and a Wickham header at the near post, which forced a fine save from Tim Howard, was the closest they came to scoring before Dann gave his team the lead against the run of play.

It had been all Everton after the break before the defender got the better of the static Gareth Barry and Arouna Kone at a corner to score with a simple header, for his second goal at Goodison in three seasons.

But Palace must be praised for holding firm when under pressure, with such stoicism illustrating why they have been successful on the road. Since Pardew took charge in January, the Eagles have collected 31 points away from home with only Arsenal of the Premier League's clubs amassing more.

Palace argued for a penalty when Barry tugged on Mile Jedinak's shirt, but Pardew believed a draw was a fair result.

"If we could have seen that five minutes out after our goal, it might have been different, but all credit to Everton - they kept coming and we are really pleased with a draw as it takes us sixth and with a home game to come," said the Eagles boss.

(BBC)