DUTCH & GO
Koeman arrived in Brighton a man under real PRESSURE, he looked like a man under PRESSURE as he watched the game and he left for home still a man under PRESSURE
THE pressure has been eased for now, even if a draw only served to paper over the cracks and postpone the crisis for another day.
There was certainly instant relief in Ronald Koeman’s face after Everton snatched a dramatic equaliser with Wayne Rooney’s 90th-minute penalty.
They just about deserved it but Koeman must have been fearing the worst after newlypromoted Brighton came so close to inflicting a fifth defeat on the Toffees in their last six Premier League games.
Another setback would have really turned up the heat on a manager who already knows time is running out on him at Goodison Park.
The talk has been that Koeman has three games to save his job. But the reality was that defeat at Brighton would have left him hanging by a thread. It feels like Koeman is one bad defeat from the sack.
Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri paid a rare visit to the club’s training ground on Friday, with the intention of making a public show of support for his manager.
But Koeman knows that will count for very little if results do not improve, because, after spending £145million in the summer, Everton were supposed to be challenging for a top-four place. Not being in danger of slipping into the relegation zone.
They really need to start winning games and putting a run together, which is hard to imagine on current evidence. They look a team short on confidence and a top-class centre -forward.
You always had the impression Rooney was a signing more inspired by club chairman Bill Kenwright, who was desperate to bring him back to Goodison. But, actually, Rooney, with four goals already, has been something of a saviour for Koeman, as few players could have shown such composure with the stakes so high. He used all his experience to calmly step up and slot home a late penalty when the pressure was on.
You could say it was Everton’s get-out-of-jail card, from the former England captain currently doing community service after being caught drink driving. It was at times an awful game which, bizarrely, was switched to Sunday lunchtime for the benefit of an international TV audience and a fan park in India. Frankly, it was more of a turn-off than an advert for the Premier League. And you have to feel for the Everton fans who were left with a very early start on a Sunday for a 500-mile round trip. It did not feel like it was worth it at times. The visitors started brightly, but faded, as they do not appear to have much direction and even less of a plan. Their £10m summer signing Nikola Vlasic
looked their best player, Michael Keane made a vital block from Lewis Dunk, despite the suspicion of a handball, and neither side really took control.
But as the game wore on, Brighton grew in confidence as Everton wasted their openings. Dominic Calvert-Lewin fired a big chance straight at Brighton keeper Mat Ryan, and Koeman threw his arms up in the air in sheer frustration.
Brighton’s best player Anthony Knockaert became more influential, seeing his 76th-minute shot blocked by Keane. Seagulls boss Chris Hughton used his substitutes well and the pressure on Everton’s penalty box grew.
Finally, the breakthrough came after 83 minutes. Brighton skipper Bruno’s low cross found substitute Jose Izquierdo. His shot was blocked by Keane, Pascal Gross put the ball back in, and Knockaert then steered it into the net. The roof came off the place (Seagulls players celebrate, right).
The hosts went so close to a second when substitute Izzy Brown was denied by Everton keeper Jordan Pickford. But just when it seemed Brighton would get all three points, their Spanish defender Bruno undid all their hard work.
Brighton had looked rock-solid in defence with Dunk and Shane Duffy, until the latter went off injured. Then it all fell apart. Bruno lost sight of the ball, inexplicably elbowed Calvert-Lewin, and referee Michael Oliver gave what was a clear penalty. Somehow Rooney kept his nerve to convert it.
Everton could have won it at the death but for a brilliant double save from Brighton keeper Ryan who denied substitute Kevin Mirallas.
That would have been incredibly harsh on the Seagulls and a point was at least enough to avert Everton’s crisis for another day.