PALACE warmed up for their most important game of the season with a humbling at Goodison Park.

The visit of a rejuvenated Norwich City side, buoyed by their 2-0 victory over Manchester United, to Selhurst Park this Saturday could decide both teams’ respective fates, and the Eagles will surely have to play, and in particular defend a great deal better than they did against Everton if they are to take anything from the game.

With limited funds available Palace were always likely to suffer from a shortage of quality this season, particularly in the striker department, but the players have more than compensated for this with their effort and desire.

Until now, that is. When they need it most, as the campaign draws to a close, the fighting spirit that saw them claim battling draws against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United seems to have deserted Iain Dowie’s troops.

The display against Middlesbrough verged on the listless at times, whilst Sunday’s second-half performance must rank amongst the teams’ poorest of the entire campaign.

As Palace’s self-belief appears to be ebbing away, so do their chances of remaining in the top flight.

Said a visibly disappointed Dowie afterwards: “We’ve wronged our supporters today, as that display was nowhere near what we expect from this club.

“I thought it was a very even game in the first-half, but our performance after the break was bitterly disappointing.

“But there’s no point feeling sorry for ourselves, and I expect a positive response in training.

“We have to stay together as a squad, and show real heart and soul next week.” Dowie’s motivational skills are renowned, but perhaps his players are beginning to believe what the pundits have been telling them all season: that huff and puff alone are not enough to survive in the cut-throat world of the Premiership.

At times Palace were outmuscled by a physical Everton side, but crucially the team from Merseyside possessed two midfield players in their ranks (Mikael Arteta and Tim Cahill) capable of producing moments of genuine quality.

Arteta opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a delightful free-kick, following handball by Gabor KiralY, an offence for which the Hungarian stopper was fortunate to receive just a yellow card.

The visitors soon recovered from the setback and looked the more threatening side for most of the opening period, however, with Michael Hughes and Wayne Routledge both going close.

But after the break it was a different story, as Everton ran riot with further goals from Cahill (two) and 16-year-old debutant David Vaughan.

Palace’s next game is at home this Saturday to relegation rivals Norwich, kick-off 3pm.

Player ratings (4-5-1): Kiraly 4; Leigertwood 4, Hall 5, Powell 4, Granville 4; Routledge 6, Riihilahti 4 (Watson 5), Hughes 6, Lakis 4 (Torghelle 6), Soares 5; Johnson 5.

Star man: Michael Hughes. Continued to defy his ageing limbs with another energetic performance.

Subs not used: Speroni, Hudson, Borrowdale.

Booked: Kiraly.

Scorers: Arteta (7), Cahill (47, 54), Vaughan (87).

Attendance: 36,519.

Referee: Uriah Rennie.