Romelu Lukaku scored twice as Ross Barkley grabbed Everton’s third goal in a 3-0 win away to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Big Belgian striker, Lukaku, who earlier before kick-off had apologised to an elderly woman after hitting her with a stray shot in the stands, scored two fantastic breakaway goals in the first half to place the Toffees in a commanding lead.
Barkley, who provided for Lukaku’s second goal turned inside his man from inside of the box to get among the goals as well for Roberto Martinez’s men.
The win was Everton’s first in seven league matches away to the St. Mary’s stadium.
Both sides made a change from their respective 2-2 draw away to Newcastle and at home to Watford, with the former bringing in Shane Long for Jay Rodriguez and the latter introducing Ivoirian Arouna Kone for Kevin Mirallas- both starters having impressed with a goal each in the opening weekend.
After some early pressure from the Saints inside the opening ten minutes which saw Grazziano Pelle win some fruitless header at the visitors’ end and Sadio Mane send his shot wide of the near post from a tight angle, it was Lukaku who headed in off the crossbar off Kone’s perfectly weighted cross from the far post in the 15th minute.
Barkley almost doubled Everton’s lead on 30 minutes, but hit his shot straight at Maarten Stekelenburg with Tom Cleverly sending the rebound wide.
Everton retained pressure and were soon celebrating their second goal at the break as Lukaku jinked past his man on the halfway; exchanged a one-two pass with Barkley before sending the ball past Stekelenburg from 18 yards.
Tim Howard was called into action on 54 minutes by a well take volley by Pelle, but the American proved equal to the task.
Another Mane’s goal-ward shot from 25 yards was immediately parried away by Howard as the Ronald Koeman’s men struggled to force their way back into the game.
Seamus Coleman eventually created the movement which put the game beyond the hosts, exchanging a neat one-two with Lukaku and getting inside the box before finding Barkley to complete scoring six minutes from time.
