Everton claimed a first league win of the season over Crystal Palace.

The visitors took an early lead when Marc Guehi stabbed home at the far post after a Maxence Lacroix knockdown from Adam Wharton’s deep delivery.

But Dwight McNeil drew the Blues level just two minutes into the second half with a stunning curled effort into the Gwladys Street End’s net from 25 yards.

The winger put his side ahead less than 10 minutes later, this time after controlling the ball at the far post before volleying past Dean Henderson.

Sean Dyche’s side move up to 15th in the Premier League table after securing maximum points at a sixth time of asking in the new campaign.

Here were the key talking points from Goodison Park:

Blues finally win through adversity

More than ending a winless run was on the line for Sean Dyche on Saturday.

A week which began with such promise for Everton risked ending in familiar fashion as Crystal Palace stunned their hosts with an early first-half lead.

Given that Dyche’s side had been incapable of winning at Goodison Park in his 20 months without keeping a clean sheet, the signs appeared ominious.

That the Blues headed in at the break with a solitary goal against their name was nothing short of miraculous given their visitors’ continued ascendancy.

Defeat would almost certainly push Dyche closer to the brink as, not for a first time, widespread boos greeted the half-time whistle at the Grand Old Lady.

But the former defender changed things up during the interval, hooking a frustrated Jesper Lindstrom in favour of the more reliable Jack Harrison.

An instant pay-off, with a quickfire leveller just two minutes after the restart before later taking the lead saw his charges hold out for maximum points.

At a 37th attempt, Evertonians finally tasted a victory through adversity.

McNeil finds his true calling

Dwight McNeil has made a habit of shattering misperceptions at Everton.

A summer 2022 arrival led to accusations of lacking prolificacy after a final season at Burnley had ended with zero goal contributions in 40 appearances.

The winger emphatically disproved that theory by accumulating 10 during the following campaign and a further nine last term under Dyche’s tutelage.

McNeil, however, has already set his sights on disproving another myth since transitioning from his former left-flank comfort zone into a more central role.

His involvement in the attacking third is not only more noticeable but also backed up by an emphatic return after a second-half brace against Palace.

A trademark 25-strike rocket was followed by an equally precursive flick over Eddie Nketiah before volleying into the Gwladys Street End’s net again.

It took McNeil’s tally to three goals and five assists from six Premier League games and more than vindicated Dyche’s willingness to release the shackles.

After two-and-a-half years, he appears to have found a true calling.

Branthwaite back with a bang

It speaks volumes of Jarrad Branthwaite’s meteoric rise over the last 12 months that Everton spent the previous three yearning for his return.

Not since last season’s final-day loss to Arsenal had the centre-back graced a royal blue shirt and soon made up for lost time on his return against Palace.

Widely cheered ahead of kick-off, he was the first Everton player to touch the ball by beating Jean-Philippe Mateta to win a header in the opening minute.

That theme continued throughout the afternoon as Branthwaite produced several timely interceptions and did not shy away from winning second balls.

There were still some signs of rustiness, notably as Mateta was later able to launch a potential breakaway before James Tarkowski averted the danger.

Yet Brantwaite’s presence still restored a sense of calm and order which was sorely lacking when Michael Keane had partnered Tarkowski at centre-back.

Goodison’s stadium announcer had heralded the Carlisle native’s return to the fold with a bombastic declaration of ‘Heeeeeeee’s back!’ during pre-match.

He most certainly is.