They booed him at the start - and Everton fans were cursing Christian Benteke by the end after he scored to deny them victory.
Benteke was back on Merseyside for the first time since his switch from Liverpool and headed home Crystal Palace's equaliser to ensure honours finished even in the battle of the Belgium hitmen.
Evertonians must be sick of the sight of Benteke and his 50th-minute header was his fifth in six Premier League appearances against them.
Romelu Lukaku enjoys playing against Palace just as much and his 35th-minute free-kick to open the scoring was his fourth in five Premier League matches against them.
Palace thought they had netted a winner, but Damien Delaney's effort was disallowed for offside against James McArthur.
1. Benteke looks like £30million well spent
Christian Benteke can rediscover his faith at Palace.
Benteke's confidence was bruised by his unhappy season at Liverpool, but he is showing what a lethal striker he is and his header against Everton was pure quality.
The Eagles had everything but a striker last season and in the end it wore them down, with their awful end of season form.
In Benteke they have found the focal point they have been sorely lacking for too long and he's not only a major threat himself, but is enhancing those around him.
2. Where has Lukaku learned that?
For the first time in his professional career, Romelu Lukaku scored from a direct free kick.
The 23-year-old certainly knows where the net is, as he’s proved at Anderlecht, Chelsea (OK, maybe not there), West Brom and Everton.
But this was the first set-piece he’s ever bagged that wasn’t from 12 yards. And it left Steve Mandanda with absolutely no chance.
In many ways, it was reminiscent of a certain Thierry Henry. New Belgium assistant manager Thierry Henry.
Maybe the Arsenal legend's few hours with Messr. Lukaku have already taught him a new trick or two.
Or perhaps its the work of his Toffees boss Ronald Koeman - himself an expert with a dead ball during his stellar career.
Koeman challenged Lukaku to play through the pain barrier after he complained of a sore toe going into
the match and the striker responded by notching his fourth goal in five Premier League games against the Eagles.
the match and the striker responded by notching his fourth goal in five Premier League games against the Eagles.
3. Another night in the shadows for Barkley
Speaking before the game, Koeman expressed his side over why Barkley had been substituted at Sunderland recently - hooked at half-time after having little impact.
“I show him the clips, we have a discussion, because I think he’s losing balls he cannot lose. I don’t discourage the talent of the player, but he’s no longer a talent. He’s a first-team player and he needs to show that.”
The Dutchman saw an improved performance in the following win over Middlesbrough, but Barkley was overshadowed by Harry Arter in the loss at Bournemouth and made little impact against a tigerish Palace midfield of James McArthur and Joe Ledley.
Barkley, now 22, is wanted by his manager to become a real leader and focal point for this side. He handed him the captain's armband in the second round of the League Cup, and has been encouraging him to grab games by the scruff of the neck.
But this was a night that perhaps passed the England man by. Koeman now looks set to continue his calls for more.Gareth Southgate was here at Goodison to watch Barkley, but the playmaker's form has been patchy in the last few weeks.
4. Cabaye's absence a concern
Until their second half resurgence Palace lacked a spark in a first half that Everton had the better of.
They needed a string puller to unlock the Everton defence, someone to see a pass and set their bounty of attacking talent free. Someone like, say, Yohan Cabaye.
The Frenchman was conspicuous by his absence tonight.
Quite why Pardew continues to leave him out is peculiar at best.
5. Bolasie impresses against old pals
Yannick Bolasie showed his old pals no mercy.
Bolasie always enjoyed playing at Goodison with Palace and the £27million forward demonstrated no divided loyalties as he revelled in his advanced role against his old side.
6. Palace miss Scott Dann
Dann was missing again with his hamstring injury and the Eagles were suspect at the back without him.
James Tomkins and Damien Delaney had a tough night against Bolasie and Romelu Lukaku.
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