What David Moyes and five Everton players did at full-time spoke volumes as harsh truth clear

Im using the word disappointing again, David Moyes said as he reflected on another game in which Everton proved unable to hold onto a valuable result.

The Blues boss's emotions were clear before he reached the press room at Crystal Palace. After walking over to applaud the away end he crossed the Selhurst Park pitch alone. He had the chance to catch up with Michael Keane and Vitalii Mykolenko as they reached the tunnel but opted to keep a step back.

This has been a good season but it is ending in frustration and his teams failure - twice - to protect a priceless lead means any dream of Europe is now hanging by the finest of threads.

The players knew that, too. On the final whistle, Jake OBrien and Tim Iroegbunam fell to their haunches. James Garner dropped to the ground. Beto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall shared a glum-looking conversation in the back of the away dugout.

There was a moment in the first half when Everton were ahead and threatening repeatedly on the break. Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye created the chance to break through on Dean Hendersons goal but a heavy touch from Dewsbury-Hall ended the attack just as it looked as though the hard work had been done.

It was a scene that, in many ways, summed up this game for the Blues. Twice, they led. There was no shortage of opportunities. But they never had control. And they were not quite good enough to seize the three points desperately needed to maintain serious hopes of qualifying for Europe.

This was one of 'those' games for both Dewsbury-Hall and Ndiaye. The pair have been sublime this season, driving forces in the transition of a side from relegation fighters to one that could yet end the season in the top half of the Premier League. That would be serious progress even if it does not come with trips to Portugal, Norway, Azerbaijan and wherever else the Europa Conference League could have taken them.

But on Sunday afternoon they skirted the line between success and failure and too often were left with their head in their hands. There were flashes of brilliance - Dewsbury-Hall nutmegging Chris Richards to set up one attack, Ndiaye jinking through challenges through a first half he tried to grab hold of.

Yet when it mattered most, it was not their day. Both had chances in a chaotic second half. Dewsbury-Hall, sent through by a long throw from Jordan Pickford, turned into trouble when he could have shot. He also scuffed an effort straight at Henderson after creating a great chance for himself in the first half.

In the dying embers of this match Ndiaye lashed a shot that the Palace goalkeeper touched over the bar but which, had it been before the last international break, the Senegal winger would likely have fired beyond the keepers reach.

It was not their day and it was not Evertons day. Which probably means Europe is out of reach.

Once again they have to look at themselves. They started both halves superbly, James Tarkowski poking in at the back post after six minutes and Beto wrestling Maxence Lacroix off the ball before twisting and turning the defender and slotting home in the 48th.

Both goals provided the Blues with the chance to grasp control of a must-win game and exert some authority over a team that had finished the week by qualifying for the Conference League final and then celebrating it. They were unable to do that on either occasion. Oliver Glasner's words after the game, that his side looked fresher than Everton in the final 30 minutes, were cutting because they were true.

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That is not to say Everton did not create chances. As both halves became turbulent, they could have finished this game off - through Dewsbury-Hall, twice, through Ndiaye at the end, and through the numerous set-pieces that caused panic in the home box. It was not to be, though, and the Blues never held anything more than a delicate lead.

Palace were a threat when they wanted to be and, as Glasner promised in the week, did not wave the white flag despite having other priorities. The Austrian named a strong side and they caused problems.

Pickford saved well from Lacroix in the first half but could not keep out Ismaila Sarr when the winger was allowed two bites. It was a poor goal to concede as half time approached, Everton losing the first ball and then failing to put either Daniel Munoz or Sarr under pressure.

When Munoz pulled the ball back to Sarr the attacker saw his first shot hit Michael Keane but bounce back to him and he made no mistake.

The second half changed when Jean-Philippe Mateta replaced Jorgen Strand Larsen and started bullying the Blues' backline. The hosts had been pushing forward for some time when Tyrick Mitchell found enough space under pressure from Merlin Rohl to cross. Mateta peeled away and found himself unmarked to rifle in. He almost had a winner when he dinked over Pickford but not under the bar.

It is too early for the post-mortem to start on this season but when it does, this game would be a good case study for where Everton can improve. Mitchell was superb in both directions, providing the assist for Mateta and rushing back to force Dewsbury-Hall into missing his second one on one. His display served as a reminder of what Everton are lacking this season from full backs who are dependable and determined but who also have their limitations - Mykolenko going forward and OBrien because he is a promising centre-back, not a specialist right back.

This game also echoed the last four. Against Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City and now Palace, the Blues have failed to hold on to good results. Those dropped points look set to prove fatal to their European ambitions and, while they have been on the end of some appalling decisions and unfortunate injuries in that run, some of the pain has been self-inflicted.

Whatever the final two matches yield, this season will represent progress. It is also set to be one of missed opportunity.

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