Jordan Ayew’s brilliant strike gave new Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner something to smile about before Amadou Onana’s late header saved Everton and helped them climb out of the relegation zone.
Ayew’s moment of quality midway through the second half was out of step with the rest of the mundanity served up by two struggling sides and left Glasner beaming in the director’s box as he held a viewing order.
But the gloom at Goodison Park was lifted six minutes from time when otherwise excellent Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone missed his strike from Dwight McNeil’s corner and substitute Onana could not miss from a few yards.
It had been a busy day for Palace even before kick-off, with Odgson stepping down as manager and Austrian Glasner announcing his successor, although coaches Paddy McCarthy and Ray Lewington took charge at Goodison.
On the pitch it was difficult to tell which team needed the points the most.
Amadou Onana’s late header saved Everton from relegation against Crystal Palace
Dwight McNeil’s corner was headed in from close range by sub Onana in the 84th minute
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Everton started in the bottom three and were in the midst of the Premier League’s longest winless run – seven games – as they waited to see if their appeal against a 10-point deduction would be successful.
Palace, meanwhile, had won just three of 19 in all competitions and were once again without Michael Olise, Eberichi Eze and Marc Guehi, arguably their best three players.
Blues boss Sean Dyche could appoint influential Abdoulaye Doucoure for the first time in five weeks after a hamstring injury.
The most significant of Palace’s four changes saw one England goalkeeper, Johnstone, replace another, Dean Henderson, as the team moved to a back three in front of him.
Glasner was on Merseyside to check out his new signings, along with his new chairman Steve Parrish and Eagles legend Mark Bright.
Palace started cautiously but Glasner would have been encouraged to see them break effectively and register Odsonne Edouard’s initial shot which an alert Jordan Pickford was able to save first time.
Everton responded with a snapshot from Doucoure that flew wide of Johnstone’s post before the ‘keeper got moving.
Only Burnley and Sheffield United have scored fewer goals than the teams shown, so it was unlikely to be an exciting affair.
Dwight McNeil’s cross for Dominic Calvert-Lewin saw the striker’s header almost end his 18-match drought.
McCarthy had revealed in a pre-match televised interview that he had not spoken to Glasner before the match and that the players had wanted to mark Hodgson’s departure with a performance he would be proud of.
He had enjoyed the smooth passage through the lines that created a chance for Jefferson Lerma after 35 minutes, but not the finish that flew over the crossbar.
Twenty-year-old Adam Wharton, the last major signing of the Hodgson era, looked decent in midfield apart from taking set-pieces and playing the odd sneaky ball.
Jordan Ayew put the visitors ahead in the 66th minute with a sensational goal
The Ghana striker hit a brilliant strike into the far corner past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford
He was involved in the best chance of the first half, when Jean-Philippe Mateta’s header was cleared off the line by Ashley Young.
Hodgson was criticized for taking Eze off during Palace’s last visit to Goodison, when they were knocked out of the FA Cup.
By the time Paul Tierney blew the whistle for half-time on this occasion, the reaction from both groups of supporters was muted, hoping for more excitement.
Traveling Palace fans carried a few banners thanking Hodgson for his work during two spells at Selhurst Park, but the lack of attacking punches in his side showed why many thought it was time for a change.
The Evertonians who booed their side at half-time felt equally frustrated by their side’s failure to land a shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.
In any case, the home team started the second period with more intention. James Garner ventured forward but his attempt to get into the top corner was a little ambitious and sailed into the crowd.
No goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets than Pickford, despite Everton’s low position. He cleverly raced out to block Tyrick Mitchell after the full-back had been played in by Mateta.
Edouard gave a little “Ooh” signal when he tried to make a bicycle kick, but unfortunately the ball went more vertically than towards the net.
Idrissa Gueye took the brunt of the Gwladys Street, irritated by a lack of creativity in their side.
Then Everton, like the London buses, registered their first few tries in quick succession.
Ben Godfrey’s bullet header from a corner was goalbound until Johnstone parried. When the rebound fell to Doucoure, his side-foot was superbly cleared off the line by Daniel Munoz from close range.
The home fans got their wish when Gueye was substituted, but the move rebounded poorly as Palace scored in their next attack.
A long ball from Johnstone was passed to Mateta, who showed admirable strength to release Ayew just outside the box.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin squandered a great chance when he aimed his header over the crossbar
Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta gets into a clash with Everton defender James Tarkowski
New Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner was in the stands at Goodison Park on Monday evening
In contrast to the rest of the match, the Ghanaian showed great quality by letting fly and leaving Pickford in thin air as the ball raced towards the top corner.
Everton’s desperation for an equalizer saw them put forward numbers for the first time in the final ten minutes. James Garner was denied by a diving Johnstone, but the home side’s skill at set pieces ultimately paid off.
McNeil’s delivery into a crowded penalty area was diabolical and after Johnson failed to clear, Onana converted his third goal of the season at the far post.
One point apiece gave both sides something to hold on to, but both Dyche and now Oliver Glasner know big improvements are needed. For Hodgson, it will probably be a relief not to have the stress.
