Everton secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season with returning manager David Moyes enjoying a 1-0 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion on his first away day of his second tenure as Blues boss. Iliman Ndiaye’s 42nd minute penalty was enough to pick up the three points for the visitors at the Amex Stadium.

The spot-kick was awarded after a VAR check spotted Joel Veltman had handled the ball and Everton stood resolute in the second half, restricting the hosts to just one shot on target of note, despite having to finish the game with 10 men after Orel Mangala went off injured after they had used up all their allotted substitution slots.

And here’s what the national media, and our own Joe Thomas, had to say about the game...

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Old dog teaches young pup a lesson

James Sharpe, of the Daily Mail writes: They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks but David Moyes proved that these old hounds can still teach young pups a lesson or two.

Everton boss Moyes celebrated his 700th Premier League game as a manager with a 1-0 win at Brighton, leaving the league’s youngest coach Fabian Hurzeler scratching his head and wondering what had just happened.

Brighton had all the possession, all of the passes and all of the shots but neither the goals nor the points as Iliman Ndiaye’s first-half penalty secured a victory for Everton that came straight out of chapter one of the Moyes managerial instruction manual.

Everton relished the waves of Brighton pressure that crashed on their shores, throwing heads and any body part possible in the way of cross after cross and shot after shot. They never lost their shape, they never lost their composure, they never lost their desire.

It was fitting, too, that he brought up such a milestone against Hurzeler, a man 30 years his junior, and the embodiment of the new age of exciting, young managers.

For many of us, it only feels like five minutes ago that it was a 39-year-old fresh-faced Moyes who was the youngest Premier League manager when he walked into Everton for the first time in 2002. How different Moyes looks now, grey hair having long replaced the auburn, and how different this club looks too. This was a side, before today, that had won just one of their last 21 away games in the league.

The Scot would have been concerned that might become 22 when he was forced into an early change after striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who had ended a run of 16 games without a goal with his finish in the win over Tottenham last time out, appeared to jar his leg after an aerial challenge with Lewis Dunk.

Other than losing his striker, the game went just as Moyes would have wanted. Brighton had lots of the ball as expected, and moved it in their usual sharp manner, but did nothing of note as the well-set, well-drilled Toffees gave not an inch.

Moyes may as well have pressed his fingertips together like Mr Burns in The Simpsons and whispered ‘Eeeeexcellent’ to himself with a sinister grin on his face as he waited for his Everton side to pounce when the chance came. That’s just what they did.

Moyes remained on the touchline with his arms folded, showing not a hint of worry or stress. When his side looked to break late on, he pointed straight towards the corner flag.

It was only when the final whistle blew, and tempers boiled over between the players and backroom staff, did he allow himself a roar and a fist pump before he strode on to the pitch to hug his players for putting on the ultimate Moyes masterclass.

Victory was a Moyes speciality

Ed Aarons, of the Guardian writes: The second honeymoon continues for David Moyes. Taking charge of his 700th Premier League game and up against the division’s youngest manager who is 30 years his junior, a controversial penalty from Iliman Ndiaye made it two successive victories since the 61-year-old’s return to Everton and proved there is no substitute for experience.

This was the kind of backs-to-the-wall victory Moyes has made his speciality since taking charge of his first match back in March 2002 when he was the new manager on the block. While Fabian Hurzeler’s side improved after an insipid first half display in which they fell behind following Joel Veltman’s senseless handball, Brighton could not overcome Everton’s organised defence and incessant timewasting as they kept up a worrying propensity for dropping points at home against teams below them in the table.

EVERTON KEEP THEIR HEADS: Chris Beesley's video verdict

Everton won just one of their past 21 matches on the road under Sean Dyche, with their solitary away victory this season coming at Ipswich back in October. But having seen off Tottenham at Goodison Park last week in his first match, Moyes has already matched his predecessor’s record as Everton now find themselves seven points clear of the relegation zone with Leicester to come next at home.

The away side doggedly held on

Ed Elliot, in the Independent, writes: Iliman Ndiaye converted a disputed first-half penalty as Everton moved seven points clear of the Premier League relegation zone by beating Brighton 1-0. Toffees boss David Moyes celebrated victory in his 700th top-flight match as a manager after Ndiaye capitalised when Seagulls defender Joel Veltman was punished for handball following VAR intervention.

Albion players and fans felt Veltman was fouled as he brushed the ball behind with his right hand while going to ground under pressure from Everton substitute Beto. Referee Tim Robinson disagreed and the ninth-placed hosts were unable to find a way back into the contest, despite relentless second-half pressure.

MASSIVE WIN: Joe Thomas' video verdict

Everton’s success secured only a second top-flight away victory in 22 games, stretching back to December 2023, to further ease relegation fears following last weekend’s win over Tottenham. Brighton were given a minimum eight minutes of added time to chase an equaliser.

But the away side doggedly held on to make it six points from nine since Moyes returned to Merseyside to replace Sean Dyche a fortnight ago. Players from both teams then had to be pulled apart on the pitch during a flashpoint following the full-time whistle.

Emotions were running high everywhere

And Joe Thomas, for the ECHO, writes: James Tarkowski pulled himself from the scrap that erupted on the final whistle, charged over the halfway line and roared at the jubilant away end. Jordan Pickford followed him, fist-pumping as he ran. Iliman Ndiaye joined them, flapping his arms as he repeated the goal celebration that earned him a first half-booking after he wheeled towards the Seagulls supporters.

Emotions were running high everywhere. Brighton and Hove Albion fans jeered that Everton were “embarrassing” and questioned “how do you watch that every week?” as they shuffled past the travelling staff in the media seats. Behind the goal, 2,699 Blues drained the last of their strength after having provided the soundtrack to a surprise victory on the south coast.

Clearly, this was a win that meant far more than three points. For Everton, it is a game changer. Two hard-fought victories have moved them seven points clear of the bottom three and a month that began with turmoil is ending with hope, with belief.

Central to that is David Moyes, the returning manager whose experience and understanding of the privileged position he once again finds himself in has reinvigorated a club that was staring down the barrel of a fourth consecutive relegation fight. Challenges still lie ahead and it is far too soon to rule out further jeopardy. But three weeks ago Everton supporters looked towards the new year with a sense of exhaustion after failing to muster a single shot on target as they fell to a miserable defeat at Bournemouth. This is a different club.