Match Report

Everton just had to compose themselves and hold out for nine minutes of stoppage time to secure three precious points against 10-man Brighton but succumbed to Lewis Dunk's gut punch at the Amex Stadium.

The Blues were leading through Jarrad Branthwaite's brilliant 72nd-minute strike and were handed a further advantage when Billy Gilmour was shown a straight red card for an ugly tackle on Amadou Onana but failed to clear a late corner and paid the price.

Beto, on for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, failed to make proper contact with a couple of headed opportunities and squandered a gilt-edged chance to seal the victory but questions will be asked, partly of Sean Dyche but of his players in particular, over some questionable game management that allowed Roberto de Zerbi's men to scratch out a draw.

Dyche had made the bold decision to leave Onana on the bench and retain the central midfield pairing of James Garner and Idrissa Gueye but corrected an error from Monday evening against Crystal Palace by leaving Ashley Young on the bench and restoring Jack Harrison to the right flank.

The improvement in Everton's performance from a few days ago was readily apparent, with Abdoulaye Doucouré looking more like himself and the players appearing more comfortable with the ball at their feet but, unlike in this fixture last May, it was the home side who carried the early threat.

The first couple of a succession of first-half corners was repelled by the Toffees' defence but they were almost carved open in the seventh minute but Danny Welbeck's shot took a crucial deflection off James Tarkowski's heel and skidded past the post.

Jordan Pickford almost pressed the self-destruct button a few minutes later when he, inexplicably, came haring out of his box and was relieved to see Welbeck prod the ball past him but also wide of the target.

The visitors tried at times to match their hosts' ability to play out from the back but when Pickford abandoned it and clipped a pass towards Doucouré, the Frenchman was beaten in the air, Brighton quickly played Welbeck in where the keeper made a last-ditch save to keep the contest goalless.

Everton threatened for the first time midway through the half when James Garner curled a lovely ball into the Seagulls' penalty area for Doucouré but Dunk got across well to snuff out the chance at the near post. Tarkowski met the resulting corner with his head but his knock back across goal found no takers in salmon pink.

At the other end, Simon Adingra turned Ben Godfrey and flashed a shot inches above the angle of bar and post and then turned inside the Blues' full-back to fire goalwards again but this time Tarkowski was there to glance it behind to safety. Just as Dunk did from two other corners, Jan Paul van Hecke headed straight at Pickford from the ensuing set-piece.

Welbeck wasted a direct free-kick by driving it well over the bar after Garner had needlessly barged Pascal Gross over just outside his box but the best Everton move of the first 45 minutes should have yielded a corner. After playing a one-two with Dwight McNeil, however, Doucouré was incorrectly flagged offside by linesman Greg Dyke as Dunk edged Calvert-Lewin out at the near post.

Dyche was forced into a change less than five minutes after the restart when Gueye pulled up with what looked to be a groin strain, Onana coming on to replace him to upgrade the Toffees' ability to move the ball around in midfield.

A minute later, Branthwaite had the chance to test Verbruggen in the Brighton goal but opted to try and head it back across goal to Calvert-Lewin who went down under the attentions of a defender but the referee waved away appeals for a penalty.

The opportunity of the game arrived a few minutes after that when, in almost a carbon-copy of Everton's opener on this ground last year, McNeil crossed beautifully for Doucouré who met it with a guided right-foot volley but Tariq Lamptey had positioned himself in the middle of the goal and was able to head it off the line.

The match became a lot more even as the second period wore on and Beto could have had an immediate impact off the bench in the 68th minute when Harrison centred invitingly but the Portuguese couldn't get proper purchase with his header and the chance went begging.

Two minutes later when Van Hecke scythed him down near the touchline, Beto was in the right area again as Garner curled in a dangerous free-kick but this time the striker failed to get a touch and the ball eluded Branthwaite as he came sliding in at the back post.

The big centre-half didn't have to wait much longer to make the breakthrough, however, and he did so in some style. Pickford pumped a deep free-kick into the box from the halfway line that dropped to Branthwaite near the 18-yard line and he swept a beauty of a shot into the top corner to hand Everton a vital lead.

Despite the introduction of Ansu Fati, Pervis Estupiñán and Julio Enciso, Brighton continued to struggle to break Everton down as the Toffees entrenched themselves to protect the lead and their hopes of getting anything out of the game seemed to evaporate when Gilmour was given his marching orders with nine minutes of the regulation 90 to go.

The Scot went over the ball and clattered through Onana, leaving the Belgian writhing in pain and referee Tony Harrington with little option but to send him off.

That should have been all a Dyche team needed to see the game out or even kill the contest but when Doucouré released Beto and the Portuguese held off Dunk to bear down on the keeper, he slashed a wild right-foot shot well off target.

Brighton then managed to efficiently pass their way through Everton's midfield and Pickford had to make a superb stop to deny Fati, adjusting his feet to palm the Spain international's effort past the post.

Much to the bafflement and chagrin of the visiting fans and manager, the officials deduced that there should be nine minutes added on and Dyche's next move was to withdraw one of his key outlets up top in the form of Doucouré and throw on Young in an attempt to bolster the back line.

And with a number of overhit long balls simply gifting possession back to Verbruggen for Brighton to mount fresh attacks, Everton simply invited trouble from their depleted hosts who desperately tried to fashion an equaliser. 

Unfortunately, after Harrison failed to complete a clearance from a corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time and Beto allowed Gross to twist and turn back onto his favoured right foot, the German swung in a cross, Dunk was allowed to muscle his way into position and then head back across Pickford and into the net to wipe out the Toffees' lead.

Everton had one last chance to take back all three points when Tarkowski picked Harrison out with a floated ball to the back of the area but despite having time to pick his spot, the winger curled his shot past the far post.

The consensus coming into this game was that a draw would be a good return from a difficult fixture against tough opposition but, in the Blues' position – still uncertain over the outcome of their appeal against a 10-point deduction and fearing further censure by a second independent commission – they couldn't afford to toss away two points.

Dyche has made defending narrow leads gained from set-piece goals a speciality since taking over from Frank Lampard but he and his charges dropped the proverbial ball from a massively advantageous position this afternoon and cost themselves the chance of moving three points clear of Luton at the bottom.

Playing a man better off, the Blues just needed to keep the ball intelligently and see the game out and, if they couldn't do that, at least keep an important attacking outlet in Doucouré on the field in the hope of doubling the advantage late on.

Instead, they panicked somewhat and a series of failings at the back trying to clear the home side's 11th corner of the game ended with Dunk robbing them deep into time added on. A decent draw ended up feeling like a costly defeat.

Though it's now nine Premier League games without a win, the positives from an improved overall display can be taken into next weekend's clash with out-of-form West Ham where the need to correct what is a poor record at Goodison Park will remain but a win on the south coast today would have eased that pressure enormously.

Lyndon Lloyd

Matchday Updates

Everton travel to the Amex Community Stadium to take on Brighton with the ever-present need to secure points away from the Goodison Park pressure cooker.

Injuries continue to be a nagging problem making things more difficult for Sean Dyche, who has found it hard to raise Everton's game in recent fixtures. 

Arnaut Danjuma is still out injured with Dele Alli's Everton career now effectively written off, while Andre Gomes is not fit enough for this trip. Niggles for Mykolenko and Doucoure appear to have been overcome with both being named in the starting lineup.

Ben Godfrey made a fifth consecutive start at right-back. Seamus Coleman and Amadou Onana were on the bench with Ashley Young, dropped in favour of Jack Harrison.  

Brighton kicked off as Hey Jude faded away, Everton in all firey coral or salmon pink. Everton tried the high press but Brighton went long to Adingra who won an early corner off Godfrey, headed clear by Calvert-Lewin but then headed behind by Calvert-Lewin. Rinse and repeat. 

Everton tried a counter but it failed with Harrison. Brighton tried again with the crossfield ball to Adingra, but Godfrey got it away.  But Brighton kept regaining possession and stifling any Everton plays. Brighton advanced and Wellbeck saw a shot deflected wide for another corner, cleared again, but not far.

Adingra was played in again and won another corner, loose ruck in the 6-yard box Calvert-Lewin heading it clear not once but twice, Harrison again letting the counter lapse with a poor pass and once again, that wide ball to Adingra needed Godfrey's diligent attention. 

Welbeck almost got through, overkicking it as Pickford came out and missed it completely! Everton had hardly ventured across the half-way line by this stage, and could only work it all the way back to Pickford. When they did get forward, the Brighton pressure was incessant.

Brantwaite drew a foul that set up a deep Pickford free-kick, Trkowski winning the header but the second ball was lost, Brighton successfully playing out, Welbeck getting fouled. Adingra beat Harrison and Garner had to clear behind, Branthwaite heading the corner, but not far and this time Adingra fouled Mykolenko.  

Welbeck played a clever one-two and Godfrey had to interfere to save a certain goal. Dunk headed the corner this time, straight at a thankful Jordan Pickford. Brighton switched sides to Lamptey and Tarkowski had to stop this attack but the attacking flock of Seagulls kept pushing Everton back.

The Toffees were given a chance to attack through an advanced throw-in but chose to go back to Pickford for the almost aimless hoof. But then Garner played a great ball that almost released Doucoure, Dunk in quickly to tackle him at the expense of an Everton corner that Tarkowski headed at the far post, but away from goal!

Brighton went up the oythe rend and Adingra lashed one inches over the angle. Everton got forward but were dispossessed, Adingra running in to win yet another Brighton corner, this one after a vital interception by Tarkowski. Van Hecke this time headed the corner straight at Pickford. 

Everton went on to mount their best attack so far, initially through Calvert-Lewin picking up a loose ball, but it was mostly chaotic second and third balls that came to nothing and Brighton attacked again.  

Adingra was brilliantly stopped by Gana as he overlapped in much more space. A brilliant outball from Tarkowski was tracked well down the left wing and crossed in at pace by Mykolenko but Calvert-Lewin was the wrong side of Dunk who headed behind, the corner delivered generously to Verbruggen.  

Tarkowski went through the back of Welbeck as he turned, and straight into the referee's book, Welbeck needing treatment. Harrison tried to make something again, but lost the ball… again. Gilmour tried to find Adingra again but Godfrey read this one to head it back to Pickford.

A throw-in was signalled the wrong way, upsetting Godfrey and Dyche in equal measure, another free-kick letting Brighton reset for the next attack, Lamptey winning a corner off Mykolenko.  Dunk heads the ball down for Pickford to collect. 

But Everton still can't play out from the back, Tarkowski eventually playing a good Rugby kick into touch. Brighton got in a decent cross to the far post but too high to cause danger. 

Garner then fouled Gross as he advanced just outside the Everton area, and could have been booked for kicking the ball away on frustration. Welbeck launched it over the wall and the goal. 

Everton played a few midfield passes without really going anywhere, Gana putting too much on his line pass to McNeil.  What looked like a lovely passing sequence down the left found Calvert-Lewin who was this time the right side of him but the ball went behind rather than in the Brighton goal as the offside flag went up (wrongly) before the whistle went for half-time. 

Garner restarted the game for Pickfoed to hoof it upfield and Brighton to win the second ball. Brighton tried to build, while Everton accepted they would have to defend. Igor challenged Calvert-Lewin for an aerial ball and somehow Everton were awarded the free-kick as Onana came on for Gana after he overstretched. 

From Pickford's deep free-kick, it seemed certain that Everton would fashion a decent chance but nothing came of two promising forward moves into the 6-yard box, Branthwaite trying to play in Calvert-Lewin rather than going for goal.  

But the ball was given away and Adingra's cross needed Tarkowski's interception, at the expense of a knee in the face. Welbeck bounced off Tarkowski and Brighton wanted a second yellow, de Zerbi getting one instead. 

Brighton tried a different approach, Mykolenko getting a fine defensive flick ahead of Buonanotte. Everton countered and McNeil was brilliant evading two players and putting a superb deep cross right onto the foot of Doucoure, his superb volley goalbound and beating Verbruggen but there was Lamptey with an impossible goalline clearance that stunned Everton!

Adingra again tried to overlap and Brighton wanted a penalty but Tarkowski's arm was well tucked in. After a triple Brighton change, Duck gifted Everton a corner, McNeil almost found Onana at the far post but he over-jumped. 

Calvert-Lewin injured his back but eventually recovered without treatment. Another Brighton attack was thwarted but Everton could not break out. Adingra crossed in but Tarkowski was well positioned to clear. Everton got forward and it looked promising until Garner was flagged offside. 

Another Brighton attack petered out, with Everton perhaps happy to defend the point they had started with, although Beto given the chance to score in place of Calvert-Lewin. His first involvement was both promising and typically clumsy. At the other end, Ferguson shot straight at Pickford. 

A much more dangerous Brighton attack spawned two or three potential chances to strike, each blocked brilliantly by the Everton defence. Van Hecke then went in hard on Beto. Garner's superb delivery was inches over Beto's ducked head, as he misjudged it, and really should have buried it. 

Enscio came on with full expectation that he would inspire Brighton but in it was Jarrad Branthwaite who produced a superb left-foot strike off Godfrey's second ball out of the ruck at another deep Pickford free-kick to give Everton a massive, massive boost. 

The tempo of the match continued with Brighton doubling down but still unable to really fashion a dangerous threat to Picford's goal. An absolutely FANTASTIC challenge by Branthwaite on Adingra just as he was about to shoot saved Everton from a certain equalizer! 

Everton were still not very good with the ball, Doucoure labouring to feed Beto.

But then a perhaps crucial moment of the game: a straight red card for Gilmour after what didn't seem to be that bad a challenge on Onana, catching him just above the ankle as he twisted around. First sending-off aginst the Toffees? Are things finally changing?

Everton now sensed victory and had to be very disciplined in playing the game out. Ensciso tried to produce some magic but could only scoop his cross over everyone to Pickford. Doucoure brilliantly fed Beto who fought off Dunk to get in a shot but it was shockingly off target. 

Brighton came forward again and Fati's low shot looked for all the world like it was going in but Pickford dropped low to his right and incredibly parried it away. The Brighton pressure from 10 men was at its most dangerous all game. with a real scramble in the Everton area, a header by Branthwaite, a block by Godfrey. before Ensciso committed a foul. 

At the other end, Beto almost got through but then trod on Van Heke's foot, accidentally, surely? But yellow carded. A Brighton free-kick looked dangerous but came through harmlessly to Pickford. 

Another Brighton corner, another tremendous defensive header but it came back to Dunk at the far post via a clever Gross cross that Beto tried to stop three times but couldn't and the Brighton captain's header at the far post from the middle of a sandwich between Onana and Godfrey beat Pickford all hands down to steal a vital 2 points off Everton. 

But Everton were given another late chance when Lallana fouled, but Young's free-kick was clever enough. However, Tarkowsi found Harrison in space with a decent cross that he should really have buried but his shot flew across. 

Mykolenko looked to shoot very late on but it was blocked and that was it. Everton had survived the 10-man onslaught, but only with 1 point instead of 3. 

Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen; Lamptey (60' Veltman), Van Hecke [Y:70'], Dunk, Igor Julio (60' Estupinan); Gros [Y:74'], Gilmour [R:82']; Buonanotte (72' Enciso), Welbeck (60' Fati), Ferguson (75' Lallana), Adingra.

Subs not Used: Webster, Moder, Baleba, Steele.

Everton: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski [Y:33'], Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Gana (49' Onana [Y:90+2']), Garner, Harrison, Doucoure (89' Young), McNeil, Calvert-Lewin (68' Beto [Y:90+1']).

Subs not Used: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Coleman, Chermiti, Hunt. 

Referee: Tony Harrington 

Michael Kenrick

Match Preview

Updated Everton travel to the Amex Community Stadium this weekend to take on Brighton, the scene of arguably their most surprising and impressive result of the 2022-23 season.

With a performance that was a world away from their stolid display against Crystal Palace on Monday evening, Sean Dyche’s Toffees blew the Seagulls away with a counter-attacking masterclass and returned to Merseyside 5-1 victors.

The three precious points picked up that evening were vital in keeping Everton in the Premier League last season and, depending on the outcome of last month’s appeal against the 10-point deduction and the second independent commission into the club’s second alleged breach of Profitability and Sustainability Rules, a win on Saturday could prove to be just as important.

The Blues come into the weekend sitting above Luton Town and the relegation zone on goal difference but have the chance to gain ground on the likes of Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Brentford above them, depends on how results go this match week.

Much might depend on the fitness of Abdoulaye Doucouré, who returned from a month on the sidelines against Palace but looked well short of match readiness during his 72 minutes on the field.

Along with Dwight McNeil, who has also looked jaded and below par for most of 2024 so far, Doucouré was the architect of Everton’s demolition of Brighton nine months ago and you would imagine that both would be key to Dyche’s men getting a result on the south coast again.

That May night last year was a chastening experience for Roberto de Zerbi and he will, no doubt, be taking measures to avoid a repeat but he is unlikely to sacrifice the Seagulls’ open and expansive way of playing and that should leave space for Everton to exploit.

The Blues then will be exepecting the chances to arise, something that has been particularly problematic in recent weeks, especially for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, whose goal drought is verging on being a psychological millstone around the striker’s neck.

He has a decent goalscoring record on this ground, however, and while he didn’t score in this fixture last season, he was instrumental in the goal-fest. The feeling is that the tide has to turn for him sometime, so why not this weekend?

Everton have a minor injury doubt over as they prepare for the trip south. The Ukrainian sustained a knock during Monday’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, and will be assessed before the squad leaves for the south coast, but Sean Dyche is hopeful that he will be fit enough to play.

Meanwhile, Seamus Coleman has rejoined the group having missed Monday’s game through illness. With only one day's training since then, however, he may not be completely ready to start.

That could mean Ben Godfrey retaining his place at right back, a role he has fulfilled for the past three games but many Evertonian eyes will be on right-wing, where Ashley Young was largely ineffective against Palace, and on central midfield, where Amadou Onana was a big miss until he was introduced after 66 minutes.

Onana should be fit to start this time and while James Garner looks due for some overdue rest, Dyche will be loathe to lose his industry and potential to be the creative heartbeat of the side so he could either be preferred to Idrissa Gueye or moved out wide.

Brighton will be without Solly March, Kauro Mitoma, James Milner and Joao Pedro due to injury, while Jack Hinshelwood is being assessed for an ankle problem that looks likely to sideline him for a while yet but Julio Enciso looks set to be passed fit.

Everton’s away performances under Dyche have, on the whole, been decent and their last Premier League win came away from home on 16th December at Burnley. Europe-chasing Brighton will be an altogether more difficult proposition but the way the manager sets his side up is better geared towards playing on the break and in transition.

In terms of performance, the only way is up after Monday’s bore draw. Three points would be marvellous and provide a real shot in the arm; one would do.

Kick-off: 3pm, Saturday 24 February 2024
Referee: Tony Harrington
VAR: David Coote
Last Time: Brighton & Hove Albion 1 - 5 Everton

Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko, Onana, Garner, Harrison, McNeil, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin

Lyndon Lloyd

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