A bad day at the Amex should not mean a 76th minute exodus
Firstly, I want to say how sad I felt for this Brighton squad and Roberto De Zerbi when our supporters started leaving the Amex in their droves when Everton went 4-0 up in the 76th minute of what ended up being a 5-1 defeat for the Albion.
Just because the lads had a bad day at the office, we should not turn our backs on them. It was a grotty night weather wise, agreed, and people were understandably wanting to get home at the end of a long bank holiday with many having work the following day.
However, true supporters should stay until the very end. Especially in a season where Brighton have given us so many good memories.
The Albion’s efforts in the second half were worthy of appreciation. It was a miles better showing after half time and had it not been for Jordan Pickford and his excellent saves, Brighton might have even caught up.
De Zerbi has risen expectations such that at the end of a busy weekend of street parties and coronation fever, we are arriving at the Amex expecting to beat Everton and most other opponents.
We must always remember that football is a very strange sport. Surprises happen and things do not always go as you expect. Brighton 1-5 Everton was definitely one of those events.
You would have got amazing odds had you placed a bet that the Albion would concede five goals to the Toffees. The best thing therefore is to write it off as a blip on the way towards the ultimate target of Europe.
If at the start of the season you had been offered a top 10 position again and an FA Cup semi final, what would you have said? I suspect for most of us it would be yes please, thank you.
So that big target is still possible. Brighton have still only played 33 games, meaning 15 more points are available.
There might be more slip ups like Everton along the way – we all know what the Albion are like. But we also know that the next minute, Brighton are quite capable of producing an amazing, unexpected win against a top four team.
Which is where we go next, to Arsenal. The pressure will be on the Gunners to get the points as they attempt to win the title. It is a different pressure to the one Everton find themselves under.
The Toffees are fighting for their Premier League lives, which was always going to make them dangerous opponents. There is the added weight of history, with Everton having been a top flight club since 1955.
Sean Dyche came with a game plan and it caught out the Albion. It was the sort of plan that Brighton often come unstick against. We tend to play better against the teams at the top of the table, which again gives hope going to Arsenal.
Our journey to the Amex for the Everton game was made using the Seagulls Travel coach from Lindfield. It turned up just ahead of schedule and did sterling work driving us to the ground.
Unlike for the Manchester United game last time at the Amex, Monday was far from a lovely spring evening. I purchased my programme and was so pleased to see one of our legends of a bygone era featuring.
Mr Warren Aspinall appeared on a double page spread between pages 24 and 27, outlining his career as a striker. Aspinall played for Everton and for the Albion, amongst others.
He made nearly 40 appearances for Brighton towards the end of his career and is of course now one half of the BBC Radio Sussex commentary team alongside Johnny Cantor.
Unfortunately, they did not report that Warren is sponsored by Maynards Wine Gums . I thought this odd as he tells us over the airwaves he is partial to the odd wine gum on a regular basis. A man after my own heart.
It was great to see a great photo of Warren and Johnny in the article, all set up to broadcast from a Wembley commentary box position.
They both do a fantastic job in keeping those who cannot go to games up to date, sometimes from very difficult and tight commentary positions at away matches. We know Goodison Park is not one of their favourites!
I love the feel of a printed programme, something you cannot get with a digital version. The smell of freshly printed ink reminds me of my days in the publishing arena, when I worked for Golf Illustrated and Golf Monthly and you would get the first printed editions off the press. Long may printed versions continue, I say.
Before the game as a mark of respect to our newly crowned King, we had a rendition of the national anthem. Brighton fans did themselves proud by singing along. Everton fans did not. How disrespectful. Maybe they are all anti-royalists?
The falling rain could not dampen any spirits. More concerning was Lewis Dunk losing the toss and Everton requesting to change ends.
I thought to myself at the time it was not a good sign. Is that because I am superstitious or crazy? It should not really matter too much which way Brighton kick for 45 minutes, and yet against the Toffees it seemed to have quite the effect.
With the turnaround done, referee Simon Hooper blew his whistle for a kick off. As we know all too well, it took less than 35 seconds for Everton to put themselves in front. Now Brighton were on the back foot.
It looked at time as if the lads were running with lead boots on. Or maybe they had enjoyed too much pop to celebrate the coronation weekend.
Everton were by far the faster and quicker team. I am sure De Zerbi will raise energy levels and install the necessary ingredients to ensure a more active approach at Arsenal.
What De Zerbi cannot do, however, is magic back poor old Solly March, Joel Veltman, Adam Lallana, Tariq Lamptey or even Jakub Moder.
Our injury list is building through having so many fixtures crammed together. We are seeing tired legs. What this also shows us is that if the bigger target is reached and playing twice a week becomes the norm, the squad will need to be strengthened to cover this.
I am not going to go through each goal and how we conceded it against Everton. So much has already been written about the game.
It is worth mentioning though that the Toffees are no bad team. They beat Arsenal 1-0 in February 2023 and Brentford in March 2023. They have good players and should not be in a relegation battle.
The good news is Brighton get six days rest before facing Arsenal, time to recuperate body and mind and generate some PMA (positive mental attitude).
Our away support will, I am sure, be in great voice at the Emirates and doing all they can to egg the lads onto another way win.
Myself, I will have to take cover in my bunker. My wife and her side of the family are from the Arsenal neck of the woods in London and have been supporting them all their lives.
If we do manage to bring down Arsenal – which is possible, folks – I will be thinking of that famous second world war phrase “Tin hats on everyone” as my life may well not be worth living!
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
