A last minute own goal, poor defending and a woeful VAR decision ensured that Everton suffered yet another defeat on the road, losing 3-2 at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Everton made one change from their home win against West Ham last weekend with Yerry Mina missing out through injury. Mason Holgate was given his first league start of the season, and unlike last week’s performance, Everton started very slowly and conceded inside the first 15 minutes.
Andre Gomes, who ran the midfield last weekend, gave away a cheap free-kick twenty-five yards out and Pascal Gross made him pay.
With Jordan Pickford stood firmly on his goal line, it seemed that the only way the German would beat the Englishman would be to get the ball up and over the wall, unfortunately for Everton and Pickford, Gros thundered the ball straight through Pickford’s hands.
A shocking mistake. Similarly to the one Everton conceded at home to Manchester City when Pickford decided to take a step behind his wall, which ultimately resulted in the goal, he probably would have saved them both if he had stood still.
After falling behind, Everton finally started to see more of the ball and found themselves back on level terms six minutes later. A quick punt over the Albion defence from Pickford allowed Bernard to win a corner. From that resulting corner, Lucas Digne picked out Richarlison who nodded in at the near post, however, after a review, it was awarded as an Adam Webster own goal.
Everton now back in the game looked the better side and continued to control possession and if it was for a better first touch from Theo Walcott, the Toffees would have taken the lead moments after the equaliser.
Richarlison out on the left played the ball across the area to an unmarked Walcott, but a heavy touch allowed Mathew Ryan in the Albion goal to rush from his line and block Walcott’s attempt at getting a shot on goal.
As the first half played out, Everton continued to have most of the possession and had another chance to take the lead eight minutes before the break. Richarlison this time down the right side picked out Theo Walcott but his first time shot was blocked by Lewis Dunk. Alex Iwobi picked up the loose ball on the left side of the area, he created a little space for himself and looked to beat Ryan at his near post, but the Australian brilliantly got down low to deny the Nigerian.
The second half started as the first ended, with the visitors comfortable in possession but letting themselves down with their final ball.
Walcott, who was fantastic last weekend, should have given Everton the lead they deserved 10 minutes after the break. A brilliant ball into the area from the left only needed to be turned goalward by Walcott, but for some reason, the former England international brought the ball under control and took it away from goal which allowed Brighton to eventually see out the danger.
Not long after that and Brighton had the ball in the Everton net. Davy Propper picked out Pascal Gross’ run and he lifted the ball over Pickford, only for the linesman and VAR to rule out the German’s second goal of the game.
Both sides made changes for the final twenty minutes. Brighton introducing Ezequiel Schelotto and Leandro Trossard for Gross and Martin Montoya. Everton took off Iwobi and Walcott for Fabian Delph and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and it was the latter that made the immediate impact.
Holgate brought the ball forward from the halfway line, playing an inch perfect pass in between the Brighton defence for Calvert-Lewin, and despite being forced wide and with Ryan quick off his line, Calvert-Lewin slid the ball under the onrushing goalkeeper to give Everton the lead they deserved.
Everton with the lead looked as if they were finally going to win after going behind for the first time under Marco Silva, that was until VAR decided to get involved.
A hopeful ball into the Everton area showed Michael Keane and Aaron Connolly both going for the ball, and with both sets of player eyes glued to the ball, Connolly fell to the ground after Keane accidentally stepped on the forwards foot.
Referee Andy Madley saw nothing wrong with the collision, but VAR official Lee Mason decided to take a closer look and after minutes of reviewing the footage, a penalty was awarded.
Up stepped Neal Maupay to slot home the penalty and level the score with their second shot on target. This goal then gave the hosts a burst of life and continued to put Everton on the back foot for the final 10 minutes.
With minutes of stoppage time to play, Everton who will feel like they should have been ahead and out of sight, now found themselves hanging on for a point, and that quickly turned into zero points with seconds to play.
Brighton sub Trossard raced down Brighton’s left with Djibril Sidibe out of position, he whipped in a dangerous low cross which needed to be dealt with by Holgate at the near post, but he let it run and captain Digne put the ball into his own net to put give Brighton all three points.
