Idrissa Gueye scored a late winner for Everton as they eventually came out on top of an entertaining contest with Crystal Palace, with their 3-2 victory lifting them up to 14th and a point off the top half.
The sub combined with fellow goalscorer Abdoulaye Doucoure in the 86th minute to put Everton in front for a third time - and there was no way back then for a Palace side who had twice come up with equalisers.
Few would have predicted such a thriller between two sides which have had their issues in front of goal this season but both had hit the net inside four minutes.
It took Vitalii Mykolenko just 54 seconds to score his second goal in two games, heading in Jack Harrison's inviting cross from close range. But Palace were swiftly back on level terms when the standout Eberechi Eze won a penalty and coolly converted from the spot. A fine way to celebrate his new long-term contract.
He thought he'd earned another penalty midway through the half but was instead booked for simulation, with a VAR check ruling the decision shouldn't be overturned with potential contact from Jarrad Branthwaite - who had given away the first spot-kick - hard to judge. Everton's players felt he should have been shown a second yellow for clipping James Garner just before the break.
The visitors made another fast start at the beginning of the second half, with Doucoure quickest to react when Mykolenko's volley came back off a post. But Palace piled on the pressure and eventually broke through again when Odsonne Edouard converted after Jefferson Lerma looped a header into the box.
With fit-again Michael Olise subbed on in the second half for his first appearance of the season and Eze electric, the momentum seemed to be firmly with the home side. But in a rare foray forwards Gueye played a one-two to get into the area and came up with a clinical finish. It's his first goal of his second spell at Everton and one he enjoyed.
The win keeps up Everton's dominant record over Palace - they've lost just one of their last 18 meetings now - but perhaps more importantly gives them hope they are on course for a positive campaign this term. Palace missed out on a chance to go into the top 10 and sit 12th, a point ahead of Everton.
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