Everton were held by Crystal Palace in an action-packed 2-2 draw.

The hosts were ahead in a matter of minutes at Selhurst Park as James McArthur turned home after Ruben Loftus-Cheek forced Jordan Pickford into an early save.

David Unsworth’s side found themselves back level not long after as Scott Dann fouled Oumar Niasse in the penalty area to allow Leighton Baines to dispatch.

Wilfried Zaha struck back for the Eagles after a brilliant picked cross from Joel Ward allowed him to roll the ball into an empty net at the far post.

But a calamitous piece of defending handed Everton their second gift of the day when Niasse rolled home a second leveller on the stroke of half time.

Here were the key talking points from Selhurst Park:

Unsworth still deserves a chance

 

The Watford heroics may feel a distant memory but David Unsworth’s credentials as a potential Everton manager should not be forgotten so easily.

Ronald Koeman failed to galavanise any kind of response at all during the end of his tenure and the Blues looked dead on their feet in his final few games.

Admittedly things have not been perfect with Unsworth as caretaker but he should garner enough respect to at least keep the role until Christmas.

He could remain in the role, given the tug-of-war with Watford over Marco Silva, and be the stabilising force Goodison Park desperately needs right now.

Perhaps Unsworth is not the perfect fit for the job permanently, but he’s showing that he could well keep things ticking over on the current evidence.

Lookman needs time to shine

 

Ademola Lookman had an admittedly patchy half at Selhurst Park but could have been forgiven considering the way that Unsworth’s side was set up.

But his half-time withdrawal shows why the promising winger is still not being afforded a proper chance in the first-team so far this season.

Like last month’s Carabao Cup exit at Chelsea, the only negative of Lookman’s performance here was that he was not afforded more time on the pitch.

The 20-year-old is brimming with confidence and is simply fearless on the ball, a factor that is often bereft of within this struggling team.

More game time beckons and with even further confidence under his belt he could prove the something extra, that Everton’s attack desperately needs.

Niasse proving a real nuisance

 

It was a ‘sliding doors’ moment that only Oumar Niasse could truly own.

A move to Crystal Palace beckoned for the previously maligned Senegal striker in the summer transfer window but fell through at the eleventh hour.

He showed the Londoners what they had missed by paving the way for Leighton Baines’ penalty before scoring himself on the stroke of half time.

It was completely indicative of a man who has got into the heads of opposing defences and created a self-doubt between goalkeeper and defenders.

His movement is also excellent and in a split-second was able to pull himself back onside before being played through, again indicative of a striker in good form.

Sigurdsson shouldn’t drop deep

 

Playing second fiddle to Wayne Rooney and pushed into unorthodox roles, Gylfi Sigurdsson will be frustrated with how his Everton move has played out.

The playmaker could be forgiven for sensing a deja-vu of his time at Tottenham, but it was Morgan Schneiderlin who forced his hand here.

A pretty non-existent display from the one-time Manchester United midfielder saw Sigurdsson taking yet another backward step in his Goodison career.

Only the introduction of Tom Davies in the second half allowed him the luxury of fenturing forward but ultimatley still nullified by the Palace defence.

Some might argue it’s about time Sigurdsson’s talents were allowed to be shown for what they are truly worth in this listless Everton side.