TOOTHLESS TOFFEES
Crystal Palace 4 Everton 0: Lifeless Toffees put in FA Cup shocker as Patrick Vieira’s side reach semi-finals at Wembley
PATRICK VIEIRA might wish to start practising his version of the Alan Pardew Wembley Dance this week.
Frenchman Vieira has led Crystal Palace to Wembley and an FA Cup semi-final in an excellent first season in charge at Selhurst Park.
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And although it was at the 2016 final against Manchester United that Vieira's predecessor Pardew famously performed his touch-line jig of delight, before losing the game 2-1, what's to say that the Eagles won't get that far again given their boss's record in the competition?
Vieira won the famous old pot no fewer than four times with Arsenal.
And his team turned a troubled start against Everton this afternoon into a procession with to an opening goal from defender Marc Guehi - celebrating his England call-up.
Jean-Phillippe Metata followed up before half-time.
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And then Wilfried Zaha cheekily scooped in the third after 78 minutes after Michael Olise's attempt rebounded into his path off a post.
Substitute Will Hughes then completed the rout with a fourth goal in the 86th minute.
Pardew's dance came after Jason Puncheon put Palace ahead in the 2016 final against Manchester United, although they eventually lost 2-1 after extra-time.
Now Vieira is set to to see if he can take the South Londoners all the way to glory.
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For Frank Lampard and Everton, however, their promising start here was wrecked by an early injury to key man Andros Townsend.
And now their season has been reduced to a grim battle against relegation.
Lampard had enjoyed some relief from his side's struggles in the 1-0 victory against Newcastle last Thursday - ending a run of four straight league defeats.
So it was clear that the FA Cup could offer similar respite and provide an opportunity to put some gloss on the Toffees' dismal season.
The occassion offered a different kind of opportunity for Eagles boss Vieira.
A run of five games unbeaten in all competitions beforehand had underlined the fact that the Frenchman is enjoying a highly satisfactory first season in command at Selhurst Park.
It was certainly the visitors who showed an adventurous approach in a dramatic opening two minutes.
First Andros Townsend's looping free-kick found Keane in space in the box - although he scuffed the opportunity wide.
Then Richarlison darted into the box attempting to jump on a meandering back pass from Guehi.
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The Palace defender recovered to slide the ball away with Richarlison tumbling over him and fruitlessly claiming a penalty.
At least the Brazilian had quickly shown his determination to reward the travelling Merseyside fans who had harshly been forced to start their travels at dawn to make it for the early lunch-time kick-off.
He was on the prowl again after only seven minutes as Lampard's team made a flying start.
This time it was Conor Gallagher who appeared to end Richarlison's darting run with a trip - but the offside flag went up anyway.
Then came a significant early blow for Everton as former Palace man Townsend was helped off injured in the 16th minute after rolling his ankle - with Demarai Gray the replacement.
The South Londoners had their first chance four minutes later when Eberechi Eze aimed in a low shot on the turn from the edge of the box which was scooped up by Jordan Pickford.
It sparked them into life and four minutes later Pickford had to be smart to punch away Michael Olise's dangerously cirling right-wing corner.
The signal was ominous. And just 60 seconds later Guehi climbed to plant home with a glancing header from another Olise corner on the right - with Pickford stranded this time.
This was a cruel turning of the tables for Lampard after the crumbling of his side's fine start, the loss of Townsend and the destruction of his defensive plans.
And Palace were desperately close to a second in the 32nd minute when Zaha poked inches wide from close range after Olise's right-wing cross.
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The game had flipped on its head with Palace now rampant and summoning up Selhurst Park's famous racket from the stands.
Those hordes erupted again in the 41st minute when Eze broke down the left to set up Palace's second strike.
He sent Zaha scurrying ahead to turn in a cross which was empahtically thumped home from 12 yards by Mateta.
Lampard's response was to send on striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin for Jonjoe Kenny for the second-half.
Yet after the dramatic first-half the opening spell following the break was quiet.
Palace had recently held Manchester City to a goalless draw here.
And they certainly looked comfortable ensuring there was no defensive trouble early in the second-half.
It left Everton substitute Gray to try his luck from 25 yards in the 65th minute as his team's frustration grew, but his effort went harmlessly wide.
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Richarlison's close-range header three minutes later proved just as unthreatening as it was gathered by Palace 'keeper Jack Butland.
Zaha then sealed the win with Palace's audacious third strike in the 78th minute, and Hughes finished off the rout in the closing stages.
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