Crystal Palace 0-1 Everton

Everton have not lost to Palace at Selhurst Park in the league since October 1994

Crystal Palace remain without a Premier League victory under Sam Allardyce as Seamus Coleman's late strike secured all three points for Everton at Selhurst Park.

Palace kicked off inside the relegation zone after Swansea's shock win over Liverpool, but they nevertheless lacked urgency and failed to carve out a shot on target until the 79th minute.

It seemed they had done enough to earn a point but caved to late pressure as Tom Davies' through-ball found Coleman who advanced before firing a rising shot beyond Wayne Hennessey.

Palace might be aggrieved at the goal, as Jeff Schlupp was down injured at the time and referee Anthony Taylor allowed play to continue, although the winger initially went down while on the sidelines before moving back on to the pitch.

Romelu Lukaku also hit the post for Everton and Hennessy saved well from Kevin Mirallas and Ramiro Funes Mori, while the closest Palace came to scoring was from Christian Benteke's header off the bar in the first half.

Palace are now winless in five league matches under Allardyce, while victory for resurgent Everton means they have collected 13 points from the last 15 available to move to within five points of sixth-placed Manchester United.

• Relive the action from Selhurst Park

• Reaction from all of Saturday's matches

'The referee should have blown the whistle'

Palace managed just eight shots with only two of those on target, while Everton kept up a steady assault on the home goal. They forced Wayne Hennessy to make seven saves (red spots) and hit the post once (blue), before finally making the breakthrough late on (yellow)

Everton have now won their opening three league matches in a calendar year for the first time since 2008 and were good value for this latest maximum haul, racking up 16 shots on goal.

But the win might easily have been denied them had the officials taken a different view of two key incidents in the build-up to the goal, first over whether play should have been stopped to allow Schlupp to receive treatment, and then over a close offside call.

Schlupp went down injured after a being crowded out inside the Everton area and was still on the turf as the visitors broke upfield.

The ball eventually came to Davies who played a lovely pass to Coleman just inside the 18-yard box, but replays showed the Irish full-back got the benefit of a very close offside call before slamming the ball into the net.

"It was frustrating that Schlupp was injured and we couldn't get a sub on and the one player we had contained all day, Coleman, goes and scores - also it looked suspiciously offside," Allardyce said.

"I feel the referee should have blown the whistle. Our player was injured and that's a decision the referee should have made. I don't think it's the responsibility of the players."

So should play have been stopped?

Taylor was under no obligation to stop play because of Schlupp's injury, with Fifa rules stipulating that an official is allowed to let play continue if a player is deemed to be "only slightly injured".

The rule adds that play should only be stopped "if, in the opinion of the referee, a player is seriously injured".

In Schlupp's case, he appeared to be struggling with cramp, while pictures of the incident appear to show him initially off the field of play before returning to the pitch when receiving treatment.

Schlupp went to ground off the pitch after pulling up injured late on...

... but by the time the physio comes over to administer treatment, the Palace winger is back on the pitch

'We are more aggressive'

Crystal Palace manager Sam Allardyce: "We contained a very good Everton team today, we just didn't get the break. We hit the bar and their goalie made a great save from a free-kick.

"I think we are making improvements. The players are having to play to a different system. It's also a learning curve for me, getting to know each player.

"I have been here before, I wouldn't say I enjoy it, but with the help of my back room staff, we'll get out of this."

Everton manager Ronald Koeman: "In my opinion it was well deserved, overall we were the better football team and had the best chances in the game.

"Normally if you don't take your chances the opposition might punish you, but we scored one and kept a clean sheet.

"Since our victory against Arsenal in December, we have changed our attitude. We are more aggressive and that is why I think we are winning."

Man of the match - Ross Barkley (Everton)

An excellent display by the England midfielder, whose 91 touches in the match were 21 more than the next best Everton player. He also led his team in overall passes (63) and passes in the opposition half (47). He also led Everton in shots with five, two of those on target

More late pain for Palace - match stats

• Sam Allardyce has suffered four consecutive Premier League defeats for the first time since December 2015 (a run of five with Sunderland).

• The Eagles have now lost three of their last four home league games to a goal scored in the 87th minute or later.

• The Toffees, meanwhile, have won three consecutive Premier League games without conceding for the first time since January 2010 (under David Moyes).

• No defender has scored more goals (excluding pens) than Seamus Coleman in the Premier League this season (4 - level with Gareth McAuley).

• Tom Davies has been directly involved in three goals in his last three league games for Everton (one goal, two assists).

• Indeed, Everton have won six of the eight Premier League games Tom Davies has played this season (D1 L1).

What's next?

Palace's next outing comes with a home FA Cup fourth-round tie against Manchester City on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while Everton - already out of the cup - have a weekend off before returning to Premier League action on Wednesday, 1 February at Stoke City (20:00 GMT).