McNeil brace gives Everton comeback win over Palace

LIVERPOOL, England :Everton earned their first Premier League win of the season as a double from Dwight McNeil saw them recover from an early deficit to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Goodison Park on Saturday.

Palace took the lead in the 10th minute when Marc Guehi poked home from close range after Maxence Lacroix's knockdown.

McNeil was Everton's standout player in the opening half and he turned the game on its head after the interval.

He equalised in the 47th minute with a powerful strike after being played in by Ashley Young and then sent the home fans wild by putting the hosts ahead in the 54th minute as he got on the end of a cross by substitute Jack Harrison and volleyed past Palace keeper Dean Henderson.

Everton had squandered leads on various occasions this season but this time held firm to finally get their season moving in the right direction.

They moved up to 15th in the standings with four points from six games but for Palace their wait for a win goes on and they are 17th, one place above the drop zone, with three points.

"When you haven't got that first win you feel nervous. Then you go 1-0 down, the stadium becomes awkward for the players," Everton manager Sean Dyche said.

"I spoke to them in the second half about being someone who makes a difference. I thought the feel of the second half was better, not just the quality.

"Dwight McNeil popping up with two goals for two different reasons and some good energy in our play and the big moments went for us today."

The win completed a good week for Everton after The Friedkin Group confirmed its purchase of a majority stake in the Merseyside club from Farhad Moshiri, subject to approval by regulators including the Premier League.

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