Following their Jack Grealish inspired 2-0 win in August’s reverse fixture, Everton were looking to complete the league double over Brighton for just the second time after the 1980-81 campaign. In fact, Brighton were winless in their last five home league games against Everton (D2 L3), since a 3-2 victory in October 2019.
Team News
David Moyes made three changes as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Jarrad Branthwaite and Michael Keane all started for the Blues. Vitalii Mykolenko was absent with Patterson and McNeil dropping
to the bench. Adam Aznou was not on the bench.
Fabian Hurzeler made three changes to his Brighton side after a 2-1 defeat at Fulham last time out. Georginio Rutter and Maxim De Cuyper returned to the starting line-up as Diego Gomez, who picked up a knock in training, and Olivier Boscagli both dropped out.
Match Report
Chris Kavanagh was the man in the middle who everyone hoped would not be mentioned in the rest of this match report. It appeared that a back four was on the cards with four natural CB’s for the Blues. Everton were in their black ‘Mersey inspired’ kit as Brighton kicked off.
Michael Keane was immediately called on to make an acrobatic defensive play to deny Mitoma. Brighton were pushing for an early goal and Welbeck’s header needed a smart save by Pickford. The handbags were out when Pickford was pushed over by Van Hecke and Pickford took exception to the afront.
Everton took almost ten minutes to get some meaningful possession but the final pass was missing. Brighton had their first real chance when Kadioglu crossed the ball to Rutter but his shot screwed wide of the post. Barry and Ndiaye were struggling to get on the ball as Brighton continued to press forward. Brighton’s first corner was met by Welbeck but his header went wide.
Welbeck and Mitoma worked well together to get Mitoma into the box and he was in alone on Pickford but his chip over the keeper went just wide of the far post. Everton had an extended period of possession with no time in the final third. That changed when Armstrong sent Ndiaye into the open but he was easily marshalled by Baleba.
Ndiaye delivered a poor ball into the box with Barry no where near the cross. It was then a poor pass from KDH which allowed Brighton to break and force a third corner for the Seagulls. A nice defensive play by O’Brien snuffed out the chance.
Thierno Barry didn’t have the speed to get past Ayari. A quick counter from Brighton saw Branthwaite head the ball for a corner which denied Welbeck who was lurking. Pickford was hauled down by Van Hecke. Just a minute of additional time was required but that produced nothing. A turgid first half that had very little to write home about. Zero shots for Everton which means zero shots on net. This also means they posted an xG of exactly 0.00.
No changes at half time. Perhaps Moyes couldn’t find another CB to bring onto the pitch! Neither team looked to want the ball as the number of turnovers was ridiculous. There was a lack of chemistry across the pitch, with loose touches and second balls preventing either side from building any sustained pressure.
A long ball forward split open the Everton defense but Garner was there to deny Gross. Everton’s first real chance was produced by a fine passing move that ended with KDH dragging the ball narrowly wide of the far post. Seconds later, Brighton were scrambling in their box and Gross scythed down Armstrong and was given a yellow card.
KDH delivered the free kick but it was overhit and the chance went begging. The pressure was building and another cross by O’Brien was met by Branthwaite but his glancing header went narrowly wide. As Brighton counterattacked, Branthwaite slid wildly and was given a yellow card for the tackle on Ayari. Treatment was required and the winger was struggling so Minteh got ready and the change was made.
The uptick in Everton play had the travelling Evertonians in full voice. The long throw by O’Brien was causing difficulties but it was not getting a result. Minteh had his first chance to pressure Branthwaite but Keane was there in support.
Everton should have taken the lead when Thierno Barry was gifted the ball and he drove forward. The striker delivered a measured ball to Dewsbury-Hall but his shot was saved by Verbruggen. A huge let off. Everton continued to push forward. Brighton took off Welbeck and De Cuyper for Kostoulas and Veltman.
Another long throw from O’Brien created more trouble and forced a corner. Garner delivered thiss one and somehow Tarkowski’s header stayed out. Brighton broke quickly but Everton’s defenders got back their shape and repelled the chance.
The deadlock was broken when Kostoulus dummied Tarkowski and Gross swept the ball into the near corner past a frozen Jordan Pickford. Everton were asking all of the questions but the Seagulls had the lead. Brighton pushed for another and there was a shout for a handball in the box by Michael Keane but that was turned down.
With ten minutes to go, Moyes knew he was chasing the match so he prepared a triple change with Iroegbunam, Alcaraz and Dibling coming on for Armstrong, Dewsbury-Hall and Gueye. A free kick on the edge of the box was floated in and Mitoma drove the ball into the back of the net but the offside flag went up to save Everton’s blushes.
Charly Alcaraz drew a foul and the free kick was sent into the box by Garner but it was poor and the quick counter attack needed a good slide tackle from Iroegbunam. Beto and Patterson were readied for battle with Branthwaite and Barry being withdrawn. Patterson was immediately involved and his cross was met by Keane who forded a save from Verbruggen.
Six minutes of added time was announced as Everton pushed for a leveller. Lewid Dunk forced a save from his own keeper when his clearance screwed backwards. Patterson drove forward but there were no black shirts in the box. O’Brien’s fifth long throw could not get a result. James Milner was brought on for Gross who received a warm response from the home crowd.
When all looked to be lost, Garner delivered a ball into the box that was headed away by Dunk but it was met by O’Brien who blasted it towards the goal. Verbruggen saved the shot but it fell to Beto who tapped it past the diving keeper. It was scored in the 97th minute and was effectively the last kick of the match. What an ending.
Everton’s Man of the Match
James Garner: It was hard to find someone today as the team struggled to create anything going forward and Brighton were poor going forward. However, Garner worked his socks off in the middle of the park for the entire 90 minutes. The delivery of the cross into the box created more havoc and led to the Beto goal. With 18 defensive contributions, 7 balls into the final third, 2 clearances, 6 tackles and 8 recoveries was a solid outing in a struggling team.
Instant Reaction
I was told by my fellow RBM writer Geoff Blunt to get appropriately angry about the use of 4 centre backs. He said it was, “the worst f@*$! line up since 4 x CBs and Cahill at CF in 2010!” The theory is, if we don’t let in a goal then we are not going to lose. That is not a good plan if you let in the first goal and it is not the way to win games. I am not sure what is going on with the selection that Moyes is making but if we are trying to win games then we need to plan for attacking. This lineup didn’t do that for us. Thankfully, we snatched the draw.
Beto saves us! We were done and dusted but the big man popped up and sent Evertonians into rapture. Not unlike the Tarkowski goal that tied the last Merseyside derby, this one got a point but snatching a point at a struggling Brighton is poor.
The away form for Everton has probably been the driver of success this season. Everton had kept five clean sheets in their previous six Premier League away games (W4 D1 L1), including the last three in a row (winning the last two). Moyes must have been going for another record as he named the tallest back line in Premier League history. Sadly, we conceded the first goal and this was a game we should have won.
With the winter transfer window closing at 7pm BST on Monday, the lack of activity by Everton has been disappointing for the Evertonians who want to see additions made to the squad. A striker, a right back and another midfielder has been on the shopping list for some time. If European football is really the goal for the club then additions are needed. We don’t want to throw money at weaker players but the recent squad crisis created by injuries, suspensions and AFCON showed the need for more depth. Only West Ham, at 22, have fewer players in their squad than Everton. Supporters were not happy when Moyes, on Thursday, claimed that Everton are looking, but in his words, ‘it’s probably less likely than likely’. Uggghh!
With Jarrad Branthwaite at left back and not even naming Adam Aznou on the bench suggests the young left back really is low down in Moyes’ thoughts. A loan move must be on the cards. This would have been the perfect opportunity to give the kid a run out but that was not to be.
