Brighton 0-1 Everton: Match Report & Instant Reaction | Winner winner, Seagull dinner!

01/25/2025 12:29 PM

Ndiaye penalty seals massive away victory as Everton fly away with three points

After the big victory over Tottenham, Everton headed to the south coast to play Brighton at the Amex Stadium. Everton had won two of their past three Premier League visits to the Amex, having failed to win any of their opening four.

Team News

David Moyes had named an unchanged side from the win over Tottenham. The big news was on the bench, where James Garner returned to the squad for the first time since his injury in October.

Fabian Hurzeler made two changes to the Brighton side that started the victory over Manchester United. Tariq Lamptey and Brajan Gruda replaced Pervis Estupinan and the often linked to Everton Yankuba Minteh, who dropped to the bench.

Match Report

Tim Robinson was the man in the middle and he got the match underway. Everton were in their dark grey away strip as Brighton took little time to get on the ball. A long ball from Dunk to a streaking Lamptey saw him flash the ball across the box but there was no one to get on the end of it.

The tenth minute arrived and after challenging for a header, Dominic Calvert Lewin immediately went down holding his hamstring. It took a while for him to get up but he was withdrawn with Beto coming on.

Immediately, a long ball forward was put into the box but Beto could not get a good touch on the ball. Everton started to get on the ball and were controlling the play but were not getting into the final third.

A quick counter attack saw Lamptey break into the box but was taken down by Lindstrom just on the edge of the box. Pickford took control of the free kick and punched clear.

The big call was made when VAR checked when Veltman swatted the ball out of play in the box. Tim Robinson went over to the monitor and had a long chat with the VAR officials and when he returned, he pointed to the spot. Brighton fans were livid and Verbruggen was given a yellow card for trying to mess up the penalty spot as Ndiaye waited to take the penalty.

The Evertonians were then singing proudly as Ndiaye slotted the ball in the corner just out of reach of Verbruggen. The winger mocked the Brighton fans as he flew away from the goal which earned him a yellow card.

Everton needed to manage the seven minutes of additional time. Baleba took down Ndiaye who was breaking forward and earned himself a yellow for his efforts. Moments later it was Baleba who was trying his luck from 25 yards out but it was well wide. Evertonians were singing Spirit of the Blues as the half petered out. A professional half by the boys in grey....or black depending on your eyesight!

Everton kicked off the second half and immediately controlled the ball. Brighton had moved Lamptey out to the right after bringing on Rutter to start the final 45 minutes. Brighton had not recorded a shot on net and Veltman's attempt did not worry that stat. Brighton's fans were pushing their team forward.

Mitoma was the next attempt but his shot curled past the post. Brighton were a different team but the Everton defenders were preventing any shots. The attacks were coming down the sides with crosses coming in at pace. Tarkowski, Branthwaite and O'Brien were vacuuming them up.

A cross from Lamptey saw Pickford mistime his jump which allowed Pedro to get a shot but Pickford was there to push it over the bar. Everton were at sixes and nines and the backline was scrambling.

Gana went down but Brighton refused to put the ball out. Eventually, a throw in was given and treatment was provided. During the pause in play, Patterson was brought on for Lindstrom which looked to be a move to a back five. Brighton continued to push forward for an equalizer.

The best chance for Brighton came out of nothing when Rutter controlled a ball which was headed by Branthwaite and his shot went narrowly wide of a diving Pickford. The keeper was given a yellow card for wasting. Seconds later, a poor pass back to Verbruggen saw Beto go in heavily which brought the keeper down.

A foul on Rutter gave Brighton a free kick on the edge of the box which was lined up by Danny Welbeck. His shot was poor and the break saw Lampteyt and Ayari taken off for Minteh and hometown boy Hinshelwood.

Beto was given Everton's first chance of the half but the Portuguese had his shot go wide of the post. Brighton quickly got the ball forward and it was Minteh who was causing issues. Moyes made his next change and it was Ndiaye and Doucoure coming off with Garner and Young entering the fray.

Mangala went down after appearing to jolt his knee which required treatment. It took some time but he looked to be coming back on but he could not return which meant that Everton were playing with ten men. Joao Pedro was given a yellow card and Brighton made their final change.

Everton had to finish the match with ten men as Mangala could not return and Everton had used up all their substitutions. Brighton sensed an opportunity with the man advantage and threw everything at the Blues. Beto wasted some time in the corner and then went down which needed some treatment.

Everton were then down to nine players as Beto waited to re-enter the game. Eight minutes were required to play for Everton to get all the points. Brighton made a final change when they took off Baleba with Webster coming on. The Everton faithful loved it when Young was pressuring the ball.

Brighton were attacking frantically and when Patterson was beat to the line, it took a great block by Tarkowski to prevent a goal. Verbruggen was brought forward for a corner but Pickford could not be beaten. The final seconds ticked away and the referee did not blow the whistle when the eight minutes expired. The 100th minute arrived and the referee finally blew the whistle.

The handbags came out when Nuamah and Tarkowski got into it. Fists were flying and a full on bench clearing happened but nothing more transpired. Three massive points and the bounce is on.

Everton Man of the Match: With the departure of Calvert-Lewin, it was up to Iliman Ndiaye to pick up the baton and lead the team forward. The penalty got the team into the lead and his seagull impersonation made me laugh. However, the back line kept Brighton at bay throughout the match. Jake O'Brien has been filling in on the right side and today he was up against Lamptey and Mitoma. When Patterson entered the game, O'Brien moved into a back three and showed his aerial prowess.

Instant Reaction

David Moyes was in charge of his 700th game and I am sure that this one will be remembered by him for the battling display that his team put on. Everton moved 7 points clear of Wolves and are now only three points behind 13th place. We are looking up the table rather than over our shoulder. We play 4 out of the next five at home. Come on you boys!

It has to be said that when Ndiaye was booked for imitating a seagull was absolutely ridiculous. The Premier League will probably be looking into it and a points deduction can't be far behind! What has happened to our game? I immediately thought that he was flying like our team......who knew!

Moyes stuck with the back line that he used against Tottenham. Three big centre backs that sometimes has O'Brien on the right of a back four switching to five when defending. What is interesting is the fact that Nathan Patterson is available but is not being selected even though the four at the back would be his bread and butter. When he did get a chance to show what he can do there were moments when his play was lacking. This is now three managers who have seen him work but are not confident enough to start him. If that is the case, sell him and get someone who can contribute in matches.