Everton could not force a win against Crystal Palace before it descended into farce with VAR forcing a red card on Calvert-Lewin, McNeil suffering a serious injury, and the Blues having to do it all again with an unwanted replay at Goodison Park during their winter break.
Everton’s appeal against their penalty might yet see them claw some of those docked points back but, in the meantime, they will push on, displaying the kind of character that Sean Dyche has so admirably harnessed in his 11 months in charge at Goodison.
Everton travel to the City Ground this weekend in desperate need of a positive result after they were pushed to bottom place in the Premier League after Burnley thumped Sheffield Utd 5-0.
Everton return to action for the first time since the Premier League deducted 10 points as Manchester United come to a Goodison Park that is expected to be a bearpit of defiance in front of the Sky cameras.