Dyche defiant as Dunk nicks point

THIS was an opportunity missed by Everton. A goal up, a man up and minutes away from their first league win since December, only for Lewis Dunk to equalise in injury time and rescue a point for 10-man Brighton.

Manager Sean Dyche admitted earlier in the week that he did not have a clue about when Everton would hear the outcome of their appeal against a 10-point deduction. There is even the possibility of the outcome of a second charge not getting decided until after the end of the season, so all the more reason for Everton to try to control their own destiny.

With 17 minutes to go, defender Jarrad Branthwaite produced a striker’s finish and when Brighton’s Billy Gilmour was then sent off in the 81st minute, it should have been a formality.

Victory would have put Everton three points clear of the drop but Dyche, whose side are now winless in nine, argued it was a point gained.

‘It’s a good point and another valuable point,’ he said. ‘Before the game, you’d take a point. It’s a tough place to come. We should be on 31 points, don’t forget.’

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi insisted his team deserved all three. ‘We lost two points. We deserved to win,’ he said.

It began as an afternoon of celebration. Simon Adingra was given the honour of walking out on the pitch before everyone else after his success with Africa Cup of Nations champions Ivory Coast. Brighton dominated possession but did not make it count and, on the hour mark, De Zerbi made a triple substitution as his team pushed.

Everton held firm, with James Tarkowski’s block denying Ansu Fati. Minutes later, Jordan Pickford launched a free-kick that fell to the feet of Branthwaite, who took one touch before arrowing a left-footed strike into the top corner.

It went from bad to worse for Brighton when Gilmour was given a straight red card for a nasty tackle on Amadou Onana.

Nine minutes were added on and in the fifth of those, Pascal Gross’ cross was met by a leaping Dunk, who guided a fantastic header past Pickford.