POTTER EASING ALBION NERVES

THE sound of Big Sam Allardyce coming up on the rails in the danger zone is causing some nerves to seriously jangle.

West Brom’s late burst of form, courtesy of their second win on the bounce against Southampton earlier last night, would have caused Brighton more than a nervous glance over their shoulders before kick-off.

But this hard-won point should be enough to keep Brighton safe, with Graham Potter’s side now seven points clear of danger.

This was not a point, though, that will have done Everton’s European hopes much good.

Carlo Ancelotti’s team are still four points off the top six and struggling badly with injuries.

Potter said before the game that he admired Ancelotti and his people skills.

But the wily old Italian needed all his tactical nous to put together a performance that earned a point, with nine senior players injured and two 17-year-olds on the bench. It was tight, tense, nervy stuff at the Amex Stadium, with Brighton’s neat passing moves often frustrated by Everton’s stubborn defence.

Jakub Moder shot wide for Brighton early on before Ancelotti’s team began to find their rhythm.

Ben Godfrey drove over and after Seamus Coleman had been brought down, James Rodriguez lifted his free-kick over the bar.

Moder volleyed wide after Everton dithered, but Brighton were almost caught when keeper Robert Sanchez dallied on the ball and Richarlison was a toenail away from capitalising.

Everton were dangerous on the counter-attack and when Coleman again burst down the right, Tom Davies should have done better than direct his header wide.

Brighton went closest when Neal Maupay found room in the box, only for an Everton boot to deflect his shot inches wide. After more sloppy Everton defending, Danny Welbeck’s overhead kick dropped onto the top of the net.

It was not the most scintillating of contests but it was Potter’s team who pressed Everton back in the second half.

Moder’s fierce shot just cleared the Toffees’ bar and Adam Lallana missed from 10 yards.

James then nipped in to see his shot saved by Sanchez as Everton broke again – but it was a rare attacking moment from the visitors.

Maupay had a golden chance to win it late on but the former Brentford forward, found by Welbeck, wastefully fired over before Everton keeper Robin Olsen saved superbly from Lewis Dunk.

Those Brighton nerves will be jangling just a little less this morning.

BRIGHTON (3-4-1-2): Sanchez 6; White 7, Dunk 7, Veltman 6; Gross 6, Lallana 8, Bissouma 7, Moder 6; Trossard 7; Maupay 6, Welbeck 6.

EVERTON (5-3-2): Olsen 7; Coleman 7, Godfrey 7, Mina 6 (Iwobi 57 6), Keane 6, Digne 6; Davies 6, Holgate 7, Sigurdsson 7; James 6, Richardson 7.