Everton supporters send blunt Premier League message as Ashley Young hits back at social media jibes

Idrissa Gueye’s strike on the hour mark ensured Everton secured the win they needed against Brentford to confirm their Premier League status for next season.

But after a hat-trick of victories at Goodison Park in the space of a week, here are some moments you might have missed....

Young at it again as stars take to socials

Blues boss Sean Dyche doesn’t do social media but several of his playing squad are active on the platforms and while it might be viewed as more of the preserve of the younger generation, it was the elder statesman in the Everton team who was causing waves again. Fresh from his ‘Cry Me A River’ post on the back of Nottingham Forest’s controversial full-time tweet complaining about the match officials’ decisions in their 2-0 loss to the Blues six days earlier, Ashley Young was logging on and settling scores.

READ MORE: James Tarkowski reveals Sean Dyche's stark four-word message to players that saved Everton's season

READ MORE: 'Many would have wilted' - National media make Sean Dyche point after Everton beat Brentford

The 38-year-old proclaimed: “WOW……What A Massive Week. Written off non-stop but we never say die, Stuck Together through all the noise outside, our job was to talk on the pitch and that’s what we have done. UTFT.”

In the same message, Young added: “Another Personal Milestone for me 450 Premier League Games NOT OUT. Fine (wine emoji) Age is nothing but a number! Here’s to the next 450.”

Young, who also won a clean sweep of domestic honours with Manchester United in a 261-game spell at Old Trafford, also hit back at a supposed fan of the Red Devils who had taken exception to his Justin Timberlake reference. The account replied with: “You’re getting relegated pal,” to which Young responded: “UNLUCKY PAL, I DON’T THINK SO.”

Other Everton players who posted following the win over Brentford included match-winner Idrissa Gueye who wrote: “SURVIVAL. Thank you for believing,” Abdoulaye Doucoure who remarked: “WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. EVERTON 1878,” and Jarrad Branthwaite who said: “What a week. Enjoy it Toffees.”

Everton fans issue new message to the Premier League

The aforementioned old Everton battle anthem “We Shall Not Be Moved” blared out over the Goodison Park PA system following the final whistle as the Blues’ top-flight status was secured for a 71st consecutive season but the home supporters in the stands had already let their own feelings be known on the matter in rather less sedate fashion.

Earlier in the match, there were still a few “You lost the league at Goodison Park” chants still flying around less than 72 hours after Everton’s first home win over Liverpool in 13-and-a-half years. But once Gueye had broken the deadlock and put Dyche’s side ahead, the focus quickly shifted to the unprecedented sporting sanctions that have been dished out to the club this term. Despite being given a 10-point deduction in November – the most-severe punishment in 135 years of English top-flight football at the time – which was later reduced to six points on appeal, only for a further two to be added on after a second case, the Blues have still survived and before the season entered its final month.

Furious fans, who continue to boo the Premier League anthem before every fixture, issued a blunt response to the game’s authorities by telling them “You can shove your points deduction up your a**e.”

While it was far from subtle, it carried a far stronger message than the tired collection of generic dirges coming out of the away end. The repertoire was like an ironic 'greatest hits' from the lower divisions but as Everton moved above them in the table – despite their points deductions – wild claims that home patrons were “Only here to see the Brentford” were unintentionally funny given that next year the Blues will be moving to a new stadium that will be more than three times the size of where the west Londoners play.

The gloves are on

This game was a significant milestone for Everton striker Youssef Chermiti as he started in the Premier League for the first time.

With Merseyside derby goalscoring hero Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Chermiti’s Portuguese compatriot Beto both ruled out, Dyche turned to the teenager to spearhead the attack. Captain James Tarkowski proclaimed Chermiti to be “a very exciting prospect” but after 14 brief substitute appearances in the competition, the youngster couldn’t mark the occasion with a goal.

He did have one significant opportunity when he was played through in the second half but he hit his dinked effort wide and it would have been ruled out anyway as the flag went up for offside. Having arrived from Sporting CP last summer, it’s been a steep learning curve for Chermiti adapting to English football this term but given that he hails from the Azores, evenings in the North West of England might seem a bit chilly for him – even in the last days of April – as seen when the player donned a pair of gloves for the start of the second half.

In contrast, a tiny Everton mascot was keeping everyone’s hands warm just before kick-off with an enthusiastic display during the pre-match handshakes. Accompanying Tarkowski as they went down the line to greet the match officials and Brentford players, the pint-sized Blue was leaving everyone red raw by reaching upwards to deliver a series of forceful high-fives.