Everton fans don't deserve what they have been served with this season. A trip to Wembley might only have been a slight consolation, but it would have been a welcome one.
The Blues have the worst away form in the Premier League across 2021/22. They've picked up just six points on their travels and picked up all three points on just one occasion, emerging triumphant against Brighton at the end of August.
It doesn't really get much better in the cup competitions either. Only two wins on the road have been secured in those tournaments and both were against lower league opposition - fighting back from a goal down against Huddersfield in August before being taken to extra time by Hull City in January.
Since Frank Lampard took the helm on Merseyside, Everton have managed to score just once on their travels - and that was an own goal against Newcastle which quickly got cancelled out. In that time, across all competitions, the Blues have conceded 14 goals on their travels.
Yes, you read that right. 14 goals conceded in just four matches on the road in all competitions.
It's been a real slog for Everton fans trekking across the length and breadth of the country in their vehement support for their side. Only Norwich fans have celebrated goals on fewer occasions than them in the Premier League this term.
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But, despite all of that, many just couldn't help being hugely upbeat ahead of Sunday's game. Social media was awash with supporters sharing images of them in almost a party atmosphere on their respective coaches down to South London, despite the early start that many had in the morning.
One particular coach was even delayed by 50 minutes on its departure from Merseyside, but nothing could dampen the spirits of those fans. Following the club wherever they go is everything to a lot of these supporters, and the communities that are created on these trips provide solace.
That is, until the actual football takes over. More often than not over the course of the season, that's been enough to sap away any joy they might be experiencing.
Only being able to celebrate two goals away from home in the Premier League since the turn of the year has not been good enough. Whether it's a problem with mentality, system, confidence, quality or all of them at once - Everton just do not know how to play away from home right now.
Of course things haven't been much better at Goodison Park either, but anything is an improvement on that away form. Everton are 12th in the Premier League on their matches on their own turf, which is still below where many will want to be - but might be enough to save them from the dreaded drop.
It doesn't help in that sense that arguably the Blues' two biggest matches of the campaign - Watford and Burnley - are both away from home. They need to find a way to take six points from those games, by hook or by crook.
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And despite putting their fans through the ringer over the course of this season, they'll still be there in their massive numbers to cheer on the players as best as they possibly can.
Take Sunday's game for example. That same coach which had a jovial atmosphere on the way to Crystal Palace despite its delay of course was in a less happy mood by the time they sat down again after the full time whistle with another long journey ahead.
That's understandable, as was the frustration and anger clearly on show across the away end at the end of the latest embarrassing result they had witnessed. But, it didn't take long for that to change.
After a brief spell of confusion and disappointment at what they had just witnessed, many brushed that off to burst into song once more as they continued their journey back to Merseyside. Despite the results and the football they have been subject to this season, they won't let it bring them down.
Everton's away ends are consistently sold out by fans desperate to see a change in their side, hoping beyond hope that the next match might be the time that things finally change. That's what football is all about isn't it, really? Hope.
Around 24 hours after the full time whistle at Selhurst Park Everton's fan services account on Twitter sent out the message that the home match with Manchester United next month had sold out. That is the level of support those fans have, dedicating their time and money to the club even when things look bleak.
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Perhaps it's easy enough to say from the outside looking in, but multiple managers in the recent past have questioned the character or mentality of Everton's current squad of players. They haven't done the same for those fans who travel everywhere - including Goodison Park - to try and shout their side to victory.
Recent wins at the ground have been heavily influenced by the fans creating a positive atmosphere from the get-go, with the players later responding to that. Away from home, it becomes their responsibility to return the favour and they haven't done that.
There's five matches on the road between now and the end of the season - one being a Merseyside derby, two being crucial games against sides currently below the Blues in the league. Everton owe it to their supporters to give them a few real reasons to celebrate in that time.
