Knowing that realistically they needed a win at Crystal Palace to keep their European qualification hopes alive, Everton were left desperately disappointed by twice relinquishing a lead against Crystal Palace to draw 2-2 at Selhurst Park.
When speaking to this correspondent in Chicago last July during the Premier League Summer Series, Blues boss David Moyes said: “I wouldn’t want to use the word dream, but I’ve got an ambition to see if I can get Everton back towards European football.
“That’s what I think I have to make my first target. There are nine teams from the Premier League in Europe next season and somehow, we have to give ourselves some goals.
“I could be shooting way above the level, but I feel like I have to shoot high because I’ll not be around doing this for another 10 years and I don’t expect to be. I just want to be able to leave Everton in a good place, whenever that time comes.”
While the Blues weren’t ultimately shooting above the level and they’re still not mathematically out of the hunt, this always felt like it was a must-win game for them and although there was no stoppage time heartbreak for a fourth straight match, having got their noses in front twice, the disappointment is huge again despite this being a performance to take several positives from again.