ANY doubts over how Palace fans would react to Wilfried Zaha were put to rest with his hero’s welcome.
Nearly all of the home supporters were on their feet applauding their favourite son as he came on as a sub in the 65th minute.
All seemed to be forgiven over the 26-year-old handing in a transfer request in an effort to force through a move to Everton.
“He’s just too good for you”, the chant they often sing to mock defenders that Zaha has made to look silly with his skill, took on a new meaning as it was directed to the day’s opponents.
The reality is that Zaha was desperate to go to Goodison Park – seeing it as a step-up from his boyhood club.
But the Toffees failed to meet Palace’s £80m price tag and he’s staying in south London.
The hosts’ first-half performance explained just why they would not budge on the asking price.
Palace were toothless and they would have been behind were it not for Gylfi Sigurdsson’s wastefulness and a fantastic save from Vicente Guaita to deny Seamus Coleman.
They did improve after the break, but Jordan Ayew and Max Meyer spurning sitters only served to show how much they were missing their talisman.
Zaha eventually took to the pitch with 25 minutes remaining to a standing ovation.
He could not break down the ten-man Toffees – who saw Morgan Schneiderlin sent off.
But the fact that he was still wearing a red-and-blue shirt will be seen as a victory of sorts for the Selhurst Park faithful.
