Everton Boss Silva Says Controlled Performance Deserved More Than A Point

LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom- Marco Silva says Everton’s controlled performance at Crystal Palace merited more than a solitary point.

Everton created a host of openings in the first 45 minutes but were denied by a combination of excellent goalkeeping and good defending.

The Blues didn’t muster the same punch after the interval but were nevertheless only denied a breakthrough goal when Patrick van Aanholt cleared off the line from Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Everton were compact and restricted Palace to few opportunities – even when playing a man short following Morgan Schneiderlin’s 76th-minute red card.

Sigurdsson, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and captain Seamus Coleman all had opportunities in the first half – but Everton suffered a blow right before the break when the excellent Andre Gomes was forced off with an ankle injury.

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“We had a very good first half – especially for the first match of a season – and created many chances, some very clear chances, right from the first minute with Gylfi,” said Silva.

“We controlled the game, had a lot of the ball and were creating problems. But our team felt it when we lost Andre.

“For our first-half performance I think we deserved more.

“But it was a clean sheet and our attitude was right again.

“When we did the things we planned, we created chances to score.”

Right-back Coleman was repelled at close range by a terrific reaction stop from Vicente Guaita.

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Guaita watched a Calvert-Lewin header flash wide of his left post, while Sigurdsson’s effort inside two minutes fractionally missed the target.

Home centre-halves Scott Dann and Martin Kelly, meanwhile, produced a number of timely interceptions and clearances to preserve Palace's clean sheet.

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Gomes sustained his knock in a challenge with James McArthur – Silva is “hopeful” the Portuguese’s problem is not serious” – and was replaced by debutant Jean-Philippe Gbamin.

Palace posed more of a threat after the break and Jordan Pickford saved one-on-one from Jordan Ayew.

Pickford conjured another sharp stop deny Max Meyer’s low drive – with Sigurdsson closest to winning it for Everton when he turned Lucas Digne’s cross beyond Guaita, only for Van Aanholt to intervene.

Everton’s clean sheet was their ninth in 12 Premier League matches, dating back to the closing months of last season.

“Our backline was very good,” said Silva.

“They did well again, which means we are working well. They kept their focus for the whole game.

“It is important for us to be solid – not just the backline and Jordan – the whole team. It starts up front and they all worked really hard.