Sweet Toffee debut by Vaughan

Everton 4 Crystal Palace 0

The result put the Toffees back in the driving seat to claim a Champions League spot.

Vaughan, who only knew he was playing a couple of hours before the kick-off at Goodison Park and was still at school six months ago, scored the fourth goal after Tim Cahill had bagged two and Mikel Arteta had banged home a fine free-kick.

But all eyes were on Vaughan - who comes from Sutton Coldfield and became the club’s youngest first-team player and goalscorer, as well as becoming the Premier League’s youngest scorer.

Everton coach Alan Irvine insisted the Birmingham-born player should not be compared just yet with Wayne Rooney.

Irvine said: “He’s a different type of player to Wayne (Rooney). James likes to play right up at the front, Wayne as we all know, prefers to drop deep and turn to run at defenders. Time will tell if James gets anywhere near to Wayne, it would be fantastic for us all if he did but clearly it would be a bit unfair to say he is the next Rooney because he is the first James Vaughan.

“We selected him because we didn’t have anyone else. That’s not moaning about our size of squad, but we have a very small squad of players and that’s plain to see.

“We have been very lucky this season with injuries, but this time we were stretched to the limit and like most young lads they get their chance at clubs where there is nobody else to turn to.”

Irvine, who revealed that skipper Alan Stubbs will be out for a fortnight with a shoulder injury, added: “You all saw what sort of player James is when he bumped into Darren Powell out there and dumped him on the deck, he’s certainly a very robust player and works extremely hard. And he has a happy knack for scoring goals, whether that has been for the reserves, the youth team or recently for England Under-17s.

“He’s powerful and quick, brave and committed. The run he made to get into the position to score just showed the amount of aggression the lad has. He certainly has plenty to learn and plenty to improve on in terms of technique. But he does make things happen.

“It’s an amazing rise for him because he has only trained with the lads a few times. It is not as if he has been with them for a few months, the lads haven’t seen much of him because the academy and first team train at different places.”

Crystal Palace boss Iain Dowie could only reflect on his side’s disastrous showing that leaves them in the relegation zone.

He said: “In the first half they only had the free-kick (for Arteta’s goal) on target and we should have dealt with that better.

“The second half was a disappointing display and that is not us so we have to regroup and push on. We had two clear-cut chances in the second period and we know we have to put them away, there is no point talking about spirit. We pride ourselves on that, but we were beaten 4-0 so we owe this club a performance next at home to Norwich, a really big game for us now.

“We let in four in our last away game, but that was against Chelsea and that was just a bit different to this. We know now we need a good display next time out, we all know that.

“We have 18 points left to play for and we must show that spirit and be positive. Norwich are still three points behind us so there are lots of twists and turns to come and we have to shape our own destiny.”

EVERTON: Martyn, Hibbert, Stubbs (Watson 26), Weir, Naysmith (Vaughan 74), Osman, Arteta, Cahill, Kilbane, Ferguson, Bent (Carsley 67).

CRYSTAL PALACE: Kiraly, Leigertwood, Hall, Powell, Granville, Riihilahti (Watson 57), Routledge, Hughes, Soares, Lakis (Torghelle 57), Johnson.

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).