Everton 1 Brighton 1: Late Ashley Young own-goal costs Toffees all three points after Lewis Dunk’s early goal ruled out
EVERTON were denied one almighty backs-against-the-wall Premier League victory but every point they get these days really is a cause for celebration.
Had the ball not wickedly spun off the right knee of Ashley Young and beyond the reach of Jordan Pickford, then the Toffees would have enjoyed a third win, and third clean sheet in seven days.
But while there will be disappointment by dropping two points, the home side will be pleased they got something out of a match in which they had just 20 per cent possession over 94 minutes.
That is because it is less than two weeks since it was revealed the Premier League had recommended Everton face a 12-point deduction in its case against them for breaching profit and sustainability rules.
If they end up getting that punishment, then the Merseyside club will drop to bottom spot of the table and become embroiled in a relegation battle.
But the fact they have yet to lose since that announcement shows the siege mentality that Sean Dyche is trying to establish at Goodison Park.
One of his best players in these trying circumstances has been Abdoulaye Doucoure and on Friday, it was confirmed he had signed a new contract at Everton that will run until the end of the 2024-25 season.
The Mali midfielder – who has started all 11 of his side’s top-flight matches this campaign – was rewarded with a 12-month extension for helping the Toffees avoid relegation last season.
And had it not been for Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, then Doucoure would have celebrated the deal with the opener on four minutes.
A cross from the left by Dwight McNeil was poorly cleared by James Milner – a former stalwart at Liverpool – but the volley by Doucoure was fisted away by the big Dutchman.
The home fans did not have to wait long, however, and it was only a few minutes later that the careless Brighton defence was breached.
The delivery into the box by McNeill was deflected into the path of Vitaliy Mykolenko, who drew the block by Verbruggen with a left-footed snap shot.
But the Ukrainian’s second attempt, this time off his right boot, rifled into the roof of the net courtesy of a massive deflection off the right knee of Lewis Dunk.
For the visitors, it was a terrible way to concede, particularly so early in the contest.
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Dunk, 31, thought he had made amends down the other end on 14 minutes with an exceptionally-taken volley from a Pascal Gross in swinging set-piece.
The way the England centre-half struck that ball with his left-foot after it came over his right shoulder was something he would have talked about for the rest of his career, probably with the grandkids bouncing on his knee.
But the celebrations were premature because after a long VAR check it was ruled by Stockley Park observer Michael Oliver that he was offside, even though it was only by millimetres.
Clearly this was not Dunk’s afternoon because he was later cautioned for clattering over Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
The Brighton skipper was only fortunate that the free-kick, which was 20 yards out and in a central position, was blasted over by the wasteful James Garner.
With two minutes of the half left, Everton fans were screaming until they were blue in the face that a penalty should have been awarded when McNeill was barged over by Joel Veltman.
But on closer inspection, Calvert-Lewis nudged Veltman into the path of winger McNeil and a spot-kick would have been incredibly harsh.
The fact that Everton was leading was quite astonishing when the match stats for the first half revealed that had had just 17 PER CENT of possession, making just 61 completed passes to Brighton’s tally of 442.
Pickford, who never has a hair out of place in his gelled-back look, is renowned for being one of the best shot-stoppers in the country and he showed off his abilities with a spectacular save on 53 minutes.
Dunk took the free-kick from 20 yards out but his hopes of finding that equaliser were thwarted by the Three Lions goalkeeper.
As Brighton dominated possession, Everton had to rely on the counter-attack to alleviate the pressure and McNeil could have doubled the lead but his left-footed shot flashed wide on 75 minutes.
Eventually the pressure did tell on the home side and Kaoru Mitoma’s cross from the left fortuitously deflected off the knee of Young and then spun decisively over the outstretched hand of Pickford for the equaliser.
It means the Seagulls have scored at least once in every Prem game this season and they earned the point that their play deserved.