Jack Grealish slammed Everton's "terrible" performance against Crystal Palace on Sunday, despite eventually coming out victorious.
The 30-year-old couldn't contain his joy after netting a stoppage-time winner that brought Palace's remarkable 19-match unbeaten streak to a dramatic end at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The on-loan winger struck in the 93rd minute to complete an unlikely turnaround for Everton, who had trailed after Daniel Munoz's first-half strike.
"I ran to where my mum and dad were, so it was nice," Grealish told Sky Sports after securing the 2-1 victory.
Jack Grealish scored his first goal for Everton in the 93rd minute to win the match
|REUTERS
The England international's first goal in Everton colours came at the perfect moment, just after Dean Henderson had kept out Beto's close-range header.
Despite his delight, the Everton matchwinner didn't mince his words when discussing his team's dreadful opening 45 minutes.
"The first half was terrible. I think the lads would say the same, it's easily the worst we've played this season," Grealish admitted.
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Jack Grealish slammed Everton's "terrible" performance against Crystal Palace on Sunday, despite evenually coming out victorious
|SKY SPORTS
"It was kick-off, it was just little stuff, we lose the first header, then conceded a throw and then a corner and then another corner."
The home supporters made their feelings clear, booing the team off at half-time after Palace had dominated proceedings. But Grealish revealed how the players turned things around during the break.
"We've come in, had a word with each other, regrouped," he explained. The tactical changes proved crucial, with two substitutions at the break completely changing Everton's approach in the second period.
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"The manager actually said it to me at half-time, try and get in at the back post and I was there and the goal's come from that, so I have the manager to thank for that," Grealish revealed on his late goal.
"It's brilliant. It's so nice to score here. That goal goes to all the Evertonians for making me feel so welcome."
The winger has already contributed four assists in his loan spell, but this first goal clearly meant something special to him.
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The late winner sparked an eruption of celebration in the Hill Dickinson Stadium
|REUTERS
Grealish shared an amusing insight into his pre-match mindset, revealing he'd been willing himself to score late winners in recent home fixtures.
"Do you know what's mad? The last games we've played here we've been drawing and I keep saying to myself in the 85th minute, 'Come on Jack, go and score. Imagine if you scored now.'
"I did it against Villa, I did it against West Ham and I didn't score, so today I actually said the same thing again and I scored."
Jack Grealish felt Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton deserved Man of the Match
|REUTERS
Despite claiming the Man of the Match award himself, Grealish was generous in his praise for Palace midfielder Adam Wharton.
"I think [Man of the Match] should go to Adam Wharton because, in my opinion, he was the best player on the pitch today," he candidly admitted.
It was heartbreak for Wharton and Palace in the end, who hadn't tasted defeat since mid-April and looked set to claim their third consecutive league victory when Munoz found the net eight minutes before half-time.
But Grealish won't care, as his impressive start to life in an Everton shirt continues.
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