Of the many stand out performances in Everton's win over Crystal Palace, Vitalii Mykolenko's was among those that left Frank Lampard particularly pleased.
The left back's role in what was such an important victory for the Blues was crucial - and something that was no fluke. Calling for patience in his project ahead of the game and following three consecutive defeats, Lampard picked out Mykolenko as a player he felt could be key to solving the creative struggle that had seen his side fail to muster an effort on target in more than 180 minutes.
Indeed, Lampard spoke with the Ukraine international on Friday, urging him to be more adventurous. "I told him to run", Lampard later explained. Mykolenko's response was immediate, and it made a difference best shown in his part in Everton's second goal, but which was evident over the full 90 minutes.
