Albion find Toffees too sticky: Brighton 1-5 Everton photos
Such is the life of an Albion fan that just four days after photos were being taken of a 1-0 win over Manchester United delivered through the glory of a 98th minute winning penalty, here we are with a collection showing Brighton 1-5 Everton.
Not for the first time, Sean Dyche conquered the Amex. Last February, he led Burnley to a 3-0 victory when the Clarets were rock bottom of the table and had won only once all season.
On this occasion, Everton arrived 19th in the standings and having scored only 16 goals since the winter break. It took the Toffees just 34 seconds to take the lead and that set the tone for a terrible afternoon for Brighton.
Dyche had his side perfectly set up to counter attack down the flanks, taking advantage of the space left when the Albion’s full backs went forward. The Toffees then proved deadly, scoring five times from five shots on target.
The first goal came when Dominic Calvert-Lewin escaped far too easily from Lewis Dunk, ran 30 yards up the pitch and squared for Abdoulaye Doucoure who tapped in.
Dwight McNeil crossed for Docoure to volley home the second on 29 minutes. Six minutes later and McNeil played a low and hard ball into the box which Jason Steele deflected into his own goal.
Brighton were much improved in the second half (although it would have been hard for them to be much worse) after Roberto De Zerbi rolled the dice on a quadruple substitution.
Solly March and Evan Ferguson in particular made a difference and Jordan Pickford was forced into four world class saves. Without the England international, it could feasibly have finished 5-5.
Not that the Albion deserved anything. McNeil made it 4-0 with 76 minutes played, racing clear after March pulled up with a hamstring problem before making both Dunk and Steele look silly as he walked the ball into the empty net.
The Amex began emptying at that point. Those who abandoned ship missed two more goals; a consolation from Alexis Mac Allister and McNeil completing the rout in injury time.
If you have any photos you would like included in our Brighton 1-5 Everton gallery, please e-mail them to wearebrighton@hotmail.co.uk or tweet them to us @wearebrighton
