Everton 2-1 Crystal Palace: Sean Dyche's side climb out of the relegation zone with their first win of the season thanks to a brace from Dwight McNeil

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Dwight McNeil has spent almost his entire career playing under Sean Dyche and the Everton boss was glad of his protégé’s match-winning contribution on Saturday.

The feelgood factor created by the impending takeover from American businessman Dan Friedkin was in danger of flatlining when Everton trailed at half-time to their fellow strugglers.

Step forward McNeil, a regular for Dyche at Burnley and now his main man at Goodison having recently switched from the wing into a more central position.

He rifled a left-foot curler into the top corner after 47 minutes and seven minutes later fired the winner, beating Eddie Nketiah at the far post before driving in.

Everton have recently thrown away leads but this time they held on relatively comfortably to record their first league victory of the season and jump out of the bottom three.

Everton secured their first win of the season thanks to a second-half brace from Dwight McNeil

The 24-year-old fired the hosts level with a sublime strike following the half time interval

McNeil then added a second for the Toffees just minutes later, netting from close range

Sean Dyche's side were buoyed by the return from injury of Jarrad Branthwaite in defence

Pressure will now transfer to Palace who are still winless themselves and badly missing Michael Olise following his departure to Bayern Munich.

The Eagles were outstanding for 45 minutes but woeful thereafter as Everton fans found their loudest voice.

Dyche was delighted to see his players get over an important psychological hurdle.

‘It is a nervy stadium to get that first win,’ he admitted. ‘It was a great moment from Dwight – me and the staff wanted him in positions to make that final pass or have a shot - and after that we managed the game well. We kept them to minimal chances.

‘It’s good for the players to get three points – they have earned the right. Now we have to park it and go win again.

‘I appreciate fans want glorious football continuously but you can’t forget to do the basics; head it, kick it.’

In contrast, Palace’s Oliver Glasner cut a frustrated figure. ‘We controlled the first half and then had a bad 15 minutes where we lost the game,’ he grumbled.

‘You could hear their crowd booing a little bit at half-time and we gave them momentum straight away by conceding an easy goal.

‘If we let in too many, it’s clear it isn’t easy to take points. We didn’t look like losing for many parts of the game which makes it more disappointing.’

On his side’s position near the bottom, he added: ‘We don’t want to be there, we aren’t happy to be there or not having a win. We have to get the momentum back.’

Everton welcomed back key defender Jarrad Branthwaite for the first time this season following a groin injury but the visitors started brighter and went ahead after 10 minutes.

Adam Wharton’s cross was won at the far post by Maxine Lacroix and England defender Marc Guehi stabbed home at close range for his first goal in 16 months.

Remarkably, it was the first time The Eagles had led in any Premier League game this season and they celebrated like it.

Palace captain Marc Guehi had given his side the advantage from a corner early in the game

Everton looked stunned and took a while to get going despite Dyche bellowing from the touchline.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin twice went close but at the other end, Ashley Young had to hack away a deflected effort from Nketiah with the half-time whistle greeted by groans.

Dyche was proactive in hooking the ineffectual Jesper Lindstrom for Jack Harrison and within two minutes of the restart, his side were level.

But the visitors were unable to build on the England international's goal at Goodison Park

McNeil was 25 yards out when taking a pass from Young and took responsibility to finish in spectacular fashion.

It was the 24-year-old’s third goal of the season and seven minutes later he was at it again.

Harrison pinged in a cross from the right and McNeil took a touch to spin past Nketiah and tuck the ball in from a few yards.

Everton will hope that the victory sparks a turnaround in form in their last year at Goodison

Oliver Glasner's side are yet to secure a victory this season in what has been a difficult start

This time it was Glasner forced to roll the dice by sending on Ismaila Sarr and Jeffrey Schlupp.

Inevitably, there were some late Everton nerves, particularly when Palace pushed up goalkeeper Henderson in injury-time and he headed wide from a free-kick.

Dyche, criticised for taking off Calvert-Lewin and Iliman Ndiaye before Everton’s late collapse against Bournemouth, got his substitutions right this time.

Friedkin is due to arrive in December with a bagful of new ideas. ‘There are positive signs,’ said Dyche. There is still life in his old partnership with McNeil.