Everton 0-3 Brighton
by James Nalton
at Goodison Park
THE first match of the final season at Goodison Park was in some ways a throwback to games of old witnessed by the 132-year-old stadium.
Both teams displayed a 4-4-2 formation in defence; the opening goal was scored after a right-footed right-winger beat his marker on the outside and crossed to the danger area for a teammate; James Milner and Ashley Young were present.
When newfangled technology was required, it didn’t work. Referee Simon Hooper went to the screen to check a penalty he’d given for a possible foul on Dominic Calvert-Lewin by Lewis Dunk, but his pitch-side monitor didn’t function and he resorted to a backup screen to controversially overturn his decision.
Unfortunately for Everton, the result was reminiscent of many in their more recent seasons at their old ground.
In a scrappy first half, Brighton were not their usual fluent self during build-up play, but this was partly because Everton’s press was working well.
The goal came in relative isolation thanks to some great play from new signing Yankuba Minteh down the right wing, beating Vitalii Mykolenko for pace before crossing for Kaoru Mitoma to score at the far post.
Minteh was impressive before being taken from the field as a precaution due to a possible concussion.
Brighton’s 31-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler was keen to stress that he values forwards’ off-the-ball work as much as their attacking productivity.
“I judge my offensive players on how they work against the ball and they were quite good today,” he said.
“We can score in possession and score out of possession, and that’s very important.”
Even when they were just one down, the game looked all but over for Everton.
There was no sign of a goal despite some promising play in the final third from Jack Harrison. There was no-one to finish.
Tim Iroegbunam impressed on debut, but these were isolated positives for Sean Dyche’s side.
The game was certainly over for Everton when Danny Welbeck added a second with just under an hour played.
A sloppy pass in midfield from Idrissa Gueye was read and intercepted by Mats Wieffer and Welbeck punished a retreating Everton defence with a good finish.
It then felt like Everton were losing the game over and over again. Young was sent off for fouling Mitoma who would have been through on goal, and Simon Adingra carried the ball at the Everton back line to score a third.
“New ground in the Championship,” sang the Brighton fans to the smattering of remaining Everton fans as their team toyed with the hosts.
Everton would like a little more from their final season here than another relegation scrap. The old ground deserves a fitting send off, but this season opener was far from that.
