COLEMAN CUPS EAR AND FINDS HIS FEET AFTER BARBS FROM FANS
IN THE heat of the moment, it all came tumbling out. Seamus Coleman’s face was as fierce as the shot he had ripped into Brighton’s net from 25 yards. Off he surged, his hand cupped behind his ear, shrugging aside his team-mates and never taking his eyes off the masses who were celebrating in the Gwladys Street end. The ear gesture continued until he slid on his knees and was engulfed by the Everton substitutes. This was Coleman’s first goal since he broke his leg playing for Ireland in March 2017 — a horrific injury that took nine months out of his career. But, for a few seconds, his joy was put on hold. ‘I’ve been getting a bit of stick,’ Coleman said. ‘I’m the first to criticise myself and the last couple of games I’ve not been where I want to be. As footballers, we all get stick, so it’s not like I’m having a go back at the fans. It was just me saying, “I’m all right”. When I’m fit and at it, I’m OK.’ He is more than that. Arguably, Coleman has been the best value-for-money signing made by any club in the Premier League during the last decade, a £60,000 snip from Sligo Rovers who has made 266 appearances and plundered 25 goals. Everton have never lost when he has scored. Yet the grumbles he referred to surfaced after a couple of rusty displays against Crystal Palace and Manchester United following his return from a stress fracture in his foot suffered while on international duty in September. The mutterings he has heard are symptomatic of modern football. It seems — for some — that long service holds no credit. Such a shame. The majority continue to hold him in high regard but some of the barbs have clearly hurt. ‘I didn’t do a lot of training and part of my game is my fitness,’ said Coleman, whose raids down the right on Saturday caused Brighton all kinds of trouble. ‘I feel much fitter and I just wanted to prove a point. More importantly, we won the game. ‘I’ve been here nine years and had good and bad spells of form. Players can be very precious over criticism. The only way you can keep going is keep battling and doing the right things, keep working hard in training and listening to the manager and your luck will turn around. That is what happened to me.’ Coleman’s display was one of many encouraging strands for Marco Silva. Richarlison —
scorer of two superb goals — was terrific, as were Andre Gomes, Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane, who sparkled in front of the watching Gareth Southgate and could return to the England squad this week. Brighton, simply, could not contain their hosts and Chris Hughton’s observation about Everton struck a chord. ‘We got beaten by a side who can challenge for the top six,’ he said. They are finding their feet under Silva. Nobody embodies that more than Coleman. EVERTON (4-2-3-1): Pickford 6; Coleman 7, Keane 7.5, Zouma 6.5, Digne 7; Gueye 8, Gomes 8; Walcott 6 (Calvert-Lewin 85), Sigurdsson 7 (Mina 90), Bernard 6.5 (Lookman 68, 6); RICHARLISON 8.5. Subs not used: Stekelenburg, Baines, Tosun, Davies. Scorers: Richarlison 26, 77, Coleman 50. Manager: Marco Silva 7. BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (4-4-1-1): Ryan 7; Bruno 6, Duffy 6, Dunk 5.5, Bong 5; Jahanbaksh 5, Stephens 6, Kayal 6 (Andone 78), Izquierdo 6 (Knockaert 63); March 6.5 (Bissouma 70); Murray 6. Subs not used: Steele, Locadia, Balogun, Bernardo. Scorer: Dunk 33. Booked: Dunk. Manager: Chris Hughton 6. Referee: David Coote 7. Attendance: 38,966.