What it was like in Everton away end as David Moyes response speaks volumes about what is required
After just three games in charge, David Moyes has reignited the hopes of Everton. Heading down to Brighton, I went with the usual pessimistic approach of praying for a point.
As someone who makes an attempt to attend at least one away game per season, a point would look gleaming on my record of away days.
So to witness my first Premier League away win since 2014 gave even more reason to celebrate.
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Making the poor decision to join the Seagull’s faithful on the train to the Amex Stadium, upon walking through the sea of blue and white stripes, Toffee anthems could be heard clearly.
Prior to the match, the buzz from Spurs was evident. Chatter about Iliman Ndiaye’s sizzling goal remained, and questions about our transfer business were asked, but it was obvious the win had lifted an ounce of pressure.
Once the match began, every Blue on earth likely felt we were in for a long afternoon. Positioned in the South Stand, the low block was evident.
But the prospect of Kaoru Mitoma terrorising Everton's right side once again unnerved me. Fortunately, Jake O’Brien proved to be the answer to Mitoma’s usual joy against the Blues.
The Irishman’s performance galvanised the away end to push the team further. Every tackle and every block was celebrated with a cheer of approval, and we could see their commitment to the cause.
Everton's defensive wall stood firm to the delight of the travelling faithful, but stealing a goal was the cherry on the icing.
Having won a corner prior to the VAR penalty check, the atypical set-piece celebration was only heightened by Tim Robinson’s indication he was off to study the monitor.
Once the penalty was given, the nerves only intensified. Up stepped Ndiaye, whose clinically placed penalty caused my heart to skip a beat seeing that Bart Verbruggen did in fact dive the correct way.
Although the Senegalese star caught attention with his mocking seagull celebration, this was something I did not pick up on amongst the hugging and cheering of the winning goal.
The second-half quite simply dragged. As Everton got deeper, Brighton got bolder. Scars remain from numerous games this season, but with the recent change of manager, the squad holds a clean page.
Just as the losses against Bournemouth and Villa proved to be mentally damaging, this win can have the opposite effect. As supporters, we watched Everton claim a goal from nothing, and protect it.
We saw a team that stood firm and held their nerve.
Although as a fanbase we’re more pint half-empty than pint half-full, the win against Brighton has only generated optimism.
The full-time whistle was a heavenly sound, but not as heavenly seeing David Moyes serenaded by a winning Everton away end once again.
“He’s got red hair and we don’t care” got louder and louder until we went hoarse.
We all know not to get ahead of ourselves, but the win against Brighton showcased the fundamentals of what we expect as a fanbase.
Discipline and effort.
These two qualities shone under the lights at the Amex, and if this remains a constant, I suspect I won’t be waiting another decade for my third Premier League away win.