Seamus Coleman strikes for Everton to keep Crystal Palace in drop zone

Just when Sam Allardyce thought his luck was about to change, Séamus Coleman’s winner six minutes from time ensured the former England manager is still waiting for his first Premier League victory in charge of Crystal Palace.

Having seen his three-man defence spend the majority of the game successfully repelling a revitalised Everton side, all the hard work was undone in a matter of moments after the wing-back Jeffrey Schlupp – making his debut after joining from Leicester – went down with cramp on the edge of the opposition’s penalty box. Allardyce attempted to make a substitution but was not permitted to by the referee, Anthony Taylor and, almost inevitably, Tom Davies made the most of Schlupp’s absence from his usual station to feed Coleman for the game’s decisive moment. To add insult to injury, replays showed that the Ireland international was offside.

That meant Allardyce’s side sank into the relegation zone for the fist time this season. “It was an easy one because it was right in front of him,” he said. “I don’t think we were really to blame. If Jeffrey had stayed on I don’t think Coleman would have got in that position.

“We’re very disappointed – I would have been absolutely delighted with a goalless draw.”

Swansea’s win at Liverpool in the early kick-off meant Palace had finally plunged into the bottom three after months of flirting on its fringes. Allardyce responded by handing a debut to Schlupp, while there was also a first Premier League start for Loic Remy since he joined on loan from Chelsea last summer.

They certainly began with more purpose with Remy looking dangerous playing off Christian Benteke and the Belgian was unlucky to see his header come back off the crossbar in the eighth minute. From then on, however, Everton assumed control, with Ross Barkley looking particularly dangerous from his advanced midfield role.

The Palace goalkeeper, Wayne Hennessey, did well to deny him, Kevin Mirallas and Ramiro Funes Mori with a flurry of saves in the first half but the visitors showed the confidence garnered from four wins in their past five matches, including last week’s 4-0 thumping of Manchester City. Ronald Koeman was dismissive of Palace’s complaints and felt the victory was deserved for his side, who now find themselves within touching distance of sixth place once more.

“He [Schlupp] was first out of the pitch and he brought himself on so I think the referee made the right decision,” said the Dutchman. “It’s not bad to score a late one because they did not have time to get a draw. I’m really proud of the win because the attitude was perfect.”

For his opposite number, there were at least some positives to be drawn. Conceding goals has been Palace’s major problem and they did look much more secure than during the last home defeat to Swansea this month. Yet Allardyce will be only too aware that they are in desperate need of a morale-booster and he was keen to stress that finding themselves in the bottom three need not be a disaster.

“It doesn’t make any difference,” he said. “What you’ve got to do is win points and we need to start doing that quickly.”