Will Simpson, writing with ISNTV
Embed from Getty ImagesDavid Moyes was “absolutely delighted” with Everton’s gritty 1-0 victory over Brighton at the Amex in his 700th Premier League game as manager.
Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half penalty secured back-to-back wins for Everton for the first time this season, and marks their first away league win since December 2023. The Moyes revival at Everton is in full flow.
Embed from Getty ImagesMoyes said: “It was a bit of a rear guard action for long period but one that we did really well.
“Getting points in our position is the most important thing, and the players fought unbelievably hard to get through.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe visitors restricted Brighton to just one shot-on-target, testament to Moyes’ astute defensive game-plan after scoring first. The experience managing 700 Premier League games compared to Fabian Hurzeler’s 23 might have been the difference.
The Toffees boss said: “I knew that I was coming into a group who were hard to beat, they had the [joint] second best clean sheet record in the Premier League, so today was another one to add to that. That’s a great habit to have.”
Everton’s park-the-bus strategy was enabled by Ndiaye’s penalty, but the spot-kick decision was not without controversy.
Joel Veltman was pulled up for handball following a VAR review despite pressure from Beto, a decision met with raucous boos from the home crowd.
“It’s a definite penalty,” Moyes said.
“He uses his hand. I can understand they think there was pressure from Beto, but Beto’s job is to give pressure, the defender’s job is to find a way of clearing the ball or releasing it.”
Embed from Getty ImagesBrighton boss Hurzeler disagreed.
“No penalty,” he said.
“It’s not a clear handball.
“He [Joel Veltman] felt a touch and when you feel a touch then the normal reaction is that the hands are coming [to stop his fall] and then the hand went on the ball. It can’t be a penalty.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Amex was fraught with frustration after the penalty, which spilled over after full-time on the pitch. Yankuba Minteh and Jake O’Brien were booked following multiple scuffles after the final whistle in a fittingly ugly end to a tetchy affair.
Referee Tim Robinson, who comes from West Sussex, faced boos from pent-up Brighton fans at both half-time and full-time.
Despite frustrations over the penalty decision, Hurzeler was also critical of his side’s performance.
“We still had enough time after [the penalty] to turn the game around and we have to be honest with ourselves that we weren’t at our highest level today,” Hurzeler said at the risk of sounding repetitive.
“That’s why we lost the game and there we have to reflect and re-analyse and keep going on.”
Embed from Getty ImagesThe result means Brighton haven’t won at home in the league since November 9, dropping points to Southampton, Crystal Palace, Brentford and Arsenal in the meantime.
Brighton travel to Nottingham Forest in their next match, whereas Everton will host Leicester City in a bid to win three consecutive league games for the first time since December 2023.