A year ago today, Everton enjoyed a watershed moment at Hill Dickinson Stadium with the first stoppage-time winner at their new home. Jack Grealish netted with moments remaining to complete a dramatic comeback and end Crystal Palace's six-month unbeaten run.
A historic moment at the new home
Club owner Dan Friedkin was not present to witness the scene. The chairman was in the UK the day before, finishing off what has become a regular annual trip for him at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland. Instead of making the short trip down to Merseyside, the Blues' chairman, who has never watched them play, flew out to Rome ahead of the European Football Clubs General Assembly.
Those who were present that day were part of a piece of history. Having written a first book last year, Spirit of the Blues: Everton's Most Memorable Matches & Goodison Park's Greatest Games, over the past 12 months this correspondent has been documenting the inaugural campaign at the Blues' new home.
The second book, On the Banks of the Royal Blue Mersey: Inside Everton's First Season at the Dock, has just been published, and the start of a chapter entitled 'The house that Jack built' recounts that momentous match which saw the high-flying Eagles' wings clipped.
The game that shook the ground
There were a trio of official 'test events' before the Blues' new 52,769-capacity home received its safety certificate. However, those foundations that were piled into the filled-in Bramley-Moore Dock and the stunning barrel roof that covers this already iconic venue were given their sternest examination yet as the ground shook to its core following the stoppage-time winner.
Before this game, David Moyes revealed that he'd told Grealish he wanted him to shoot more but surely even the Blues boss wasn't expecting a moment like the on-loan star netting with moments remaining to complete a dramatic comeback for his side and stop Crystal Palace making it 20 matches without defeat.
It was a simple instruction but in truth this game hinged just as much on a second-half sliding doors flashpoint which exemplified another Moyes request and could go down in Everton folklore alongside Phil Neville's bone-crunching challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo in front of the Bullens Road Stand during the Glaswegian's first spell in charge.
When Everton moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium, Moyes said he wanted them to bring 'the soul' of Goodison Park with them; the Grand Old Lady was more belligerent battleaxe than sweet grandmother and hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
Blues fans galvanised into life
Blues fans are often galvanised into life when a decision angers them and the momentum in this game turned when Palace's Yeremy Pino refused to withdraw when the hosts had a free-kick by the centre circle. James Garner – who shoved the Spaniard – and Moyes got a yellow card for their troubles but Everton got their cue for a comeback.
It had all seemed so unlikely as the Blues were largely overrun for over an hour by their opponents who possessed the confidence of a side who hadn't lost a game since April. With Adam Wharton pulling the strings in midfield, Oliver Glasner's men dominated proceedings in the first half as Jordan Pickford – making his 300th Premier League appearance for Everton – had to showcase his ability to deny Pino, Marc Guehi and Jean-Philippe Mateta with a string of smart saves before Palace broke the deadlock on 37 minutes.
The Blues' defence parted like waves on the Mersey for Ismaïla Sarr to run towards goal and he picked out the overlapping Daniel Munoz with a smart pass for the Colombian to fire past Pickford. Things still had to get worse before they got better for Everton and Jake O'Brien was the last man when he headed a dinked goal bound effort from Mateta away against his former club and the big French striker was left to rue a shot that went wide at the back post after Sarr had carved open a home rearguard that lost Michael Keane to injury soon afterwards.
Comeback completed
The Blues survived though and spurred on by their anger, on and off the pitch, they triumphed against adversity. Referee Michael Salisbury had a straightforward decision to award the hosts a penalty on 76 minutes when Maxence Lacroix brought down substitute Tim Iroegbunam in the area; Iliman Ndiaye was the coolest person among over 51,000 in the stadium when he rolled the ball into the net and sent Dean Henderson the wrong way.
The stunning comeback was completed three minutes into the allotted eight extra as Beto's header was saved by Henderson but among the hectic goalmouth scramble, Munoz touched the loose ball on to Grealish's boot for Hill Dickinson Stadium to erupt.
After breaking his duck, the Brummie ace said: “Do you know what's mad? The last games we've played here we've been drawing and I keep saying to myself in the 85th minute, 'Come on Jack, go and score. Imagine if you scored now'. “I did it against Villa, I did it against West Ham and I didn't score, so today I actually said the same thing again and I scored and I ran to where my mum and dad were, so it was nice. That goal goes to all the Evertonians for making me feel so welcome here.”
On the Banks of the Royal Blue Mersey: Inside Everton's First Season at the Dock is available to buy now on Amazon or at Waterstones book shop at Liverpool One.
