Lukaku scored a goal on four shots (one on target) in Monday’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.
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After a disappointing campaign last season and a lacklustre start this, things feel like they’re finally slotting into place for Martinez and his players, but Crystal Palace will be a solid test for that theory on what should be an interesting Monday night game.
In a low-key first half, Lukaku was unlucky not to open the scoring when his shot beat Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey but rebounded off the inside of the far post and flew across the face of goal.
“When you look at his overall development in the last 12 months – and we know there is lots more to come at the age of 22 – it makes you realise what a special footballer and special talent we have”.
With Chelsea in disarray and the footballing world unsure just how likely Leicester are to keep up their good form, there is potentially a place up for grabs in the race for Champions League football this season.
“Sometimes you come across teams who not in the best form but Everton were at the top of their game and we had to hang on at times”.
Dann, who scored at Goodison Park in April 2014 and last month at Liverpool, loves finding the back of the net in his home town, and he did just that again on 76 minutes to put Palace ahead.
“Perhaps with their goal we could have done better but they had worked us hard and we had some exhausted legs”.
Lukaku hit the woodwork three minutes later with a great half-volley before producing the equaliser in the 81st minute.
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew admits that he was frustrated with the decisions of referee Craig Pawson to deny his side two penalties against Everton.
“Certainly I thought the pull on the shirt was a penalty from where I was standing”, Pardew said.
“Every foreign player has to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League but, for a striker like Rom, with his frame, I don’t think he had the opportunity to play enough 90 minutes when he first arrived”, Martinez told the British media.
Palace were again saved by the woodwork on the hour mark as Barkley’s free-kick from the left was headed onto the inside of his own crossbar by Wickham, who was grateful to see the ball bounce down without crossing the line.
“He has gone to ground on the ball and he has clipped Mutch in the box, so I can’t understand from 12 yards how he can’t give that”.
After the Sunderland debacle the previous week, it was important for Pardew and co to get three points against a vulnerable Newcastle side. But I’m not going to moan about the result.
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“We reacted well and it shows great character in the team, but if we want to be in the top six, top four, in the league we need to be winning games like that today”. “We have got discipline, dogged and have quality on the break when we are an away side”.
