One week, seven points: An amazing festive effort from the Albion

What a display we have been treated to by the Albion over the Christmas and New Year week. Three tough games in the space of seven days and we pick up seven points from a possible nine.

Other managers complain about fixture congestion and Brighton just get on with it. An amazing effort by the squad, whose success has been well deserved. All I can now say is a very big thank you to the players for a really entertaining holiday period of football.

Brighton saved the best of the three games until last. Before Sunday, the Albion had never won an away game at Goodison Park and so a little bit of history was written in Everton 2-3 Brighton as the Seagulls broke that spell.

Those of us based in Sussex and not able to travel to Everton had the pleasure of tuning into Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall on BBC Radio Sussex.

Licensing laws prevent the coverage being broadcast outside of the local area, but Albion fans located in other parts of the world could still listen via the Brighton website.

Be warned though, the delay is such that you will often be notified about a goal before you hear about it as the audio through the internet is one to two minutes behind real time. I fell foul of that when on holiday earlier in the season!

The Albion support certainly sounded noisy over the radio. Although I have never been to Goodison Park myself, I know it to be an old-style ground which these days can hold 39,414 when full.

That Brighton fans could be heard over the Everton support was impressive as the home fans backed their team loudly, especially in the second half when they got on top.

You can only imagine the noise present when Goodison had its record attendance, 78,299 according to the archives for an Everton vs Liverpool game on September 18th 1948. Luckily, it was not that full on Sunday.

Graham Potter made three changes to the side from the game at Chelsea on Wednesday night. Most of us were still on an amazing high from that 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

I don’t know about you guys, but I felt so proud of the squad recently for all the super effort and togetherness they have shown in every game.

The changes were Leonardo Trossard, Enoch Mwepu and Adam Webster all returning to the side to start the game.

Everton had back in their line up striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who had been out with injury since his visit to the Amex back in late August 2021. The Toffees won 2-0 that day.

Brighton started their first game of 2022 very well. In fact, amazingly well. With three minutes, Alexis Mac Allister scored the first goal of the afternoon for the Seagulls.

It did require a VAR check, leaving all our hearts in our mouths. Mac Allister though had timed his run to the perfection to finish off a great move.

The cross from Joel Veltman was excellent and followed by a great header down by Neal Maupay to the feet of Mac Alister.

Maupay showed great thinking to get the ball to Mac Allister. The fantastic start ensured that the old settee springs began another journey through hell much earlier than normal.

Then of course you start, come on lads, one is not enough. The players seemed to share that opinion and in the 21st minute, Dan Burn made it 2-0 with his first goal of the season. It was exactly what we needed, players other than the forwards getting a chance to have a go and taking it.

The highlights showed poor Everton marking left Burn free at the far post from the corner – but he still had to put the ball into the back of the net. The build up to the goal deserved praise too, Mwepu superbly flicking on an excellent deliver from Mac Allister.

Yves Bissouma played his part in winning the corner. He ploughed up field, weaving and dodging Everton defenders to get a shot away which was just deflected over the bar. Once again, it was great play from Bissouma.

There was plenty more drama to come. Anthony Gordon for Everton definitely got nudged in the area by Mwepu and went down.

Play continued for a short while until the ball went out. It was then that referee John Brooks was asked by VAR to view the incident on the touchline screen.

Mr Brooks did not take long to award Everton a penalty with Calvert-Lewin stepping up to take it. He went for the top corner but the ball instead flew over the bar.

It was a bad miss from Calvert-Lewin, whose last goal ironically had been a penalty against Brighton at the Amex. The relief at him failing to score this time meant another bashing for those settee springs.

Even when the game entered three minutes of first half injury time, the action was not done. Adam Lallana had a shot just pushed past the post by Jordan Pickford. It was all still happening.

Despite Brighton having a clear two goal lead as the half time whistle blew, we knew that Everton would improve. Rafa Benitez would be lighting up the home dressing room with perhaps more than just a little chat to his players.

It took eight minutes of the second half for Everton to finally score. It was rather unlucky for the Albion as the shot was deflected off Lallana and past Robert Sanchez to make it 2-1.

I thought to myself, can we hold onto this lead or will we draw 2-2? I expect that is what most of us were wondering.

Then came an amazing goal from Mac Allister that many pundits have likened to something from Lionel Messi. You know it is a good volley when it gives England number one Pickford no chance.

Trossard had chipped a ball back into the D and a great little flick from Mwepu teed up Mac Allister for his rocket. Everton 1-3 Brighton and the upper hand was back with the Seagulls.

Just five minutes later however, Gordon scored his second of the game for Everton. Oh my god I thought, they are going to come at us in the final 15 minutes. And they did.

The Goodison crowd was re-aroused and Johnny and Warren on the radio sounded a little panicked as the Albion goal was peppered by Everton.

Brighton were seemingly struggling but they continued to fight on. Everton were desperate to scrape the draw but no, the Albion held on for a famous 3-2 victory to complete an amazing festive week.

Now roll on West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup.

Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony