Seagulls’ heads fall off

We’ve seen the Pigeon Dance at Everton with Richarlison and now Iliman Ndiaye has given us the Seagull celebration, even if Brighton & Hove Albion and referee Tim Robinson failed to see the funny side. After keeping his cool to nail what proved to be the match-winner from 12 yards out, a jubilant Ndiaye motioned the slow-moving flaps of a wing in the manner of the coastal bird which is the home side’s nickname while also appearing on their club crest.

Whether it was this cheeky gesture, or the fact that the Senegal international also cupped his ear to the fans behind the goal, the natives were restless in Sussex by the sea, and Ndiaye was shown the yellow card. It seemed a bit harsh for what was a bit of banter from the Everton man at the same end of the ground where Dwight McNeil had saluted Albion supporters when capping a 5-1 win here in May 2023, only for several of them to give him a ‘salute’ back.

Perhaps the gesture was the start of the bad blood that simmered for the rest of the game and then boiled over after the final whistle? However, rather than point frustrated fingers at the visitors, the home side only had themselves to blame and Ndiaye, who had made way for Ashley Young late on, came back on to the turf to celebrate in front of his own side’s travelling army.

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Spot on from Everton

Everton had played 23 Premier League games since they had last been awarded a penalty in the competition when Dominic Calvert-Lewin slotted home in the 1-1 draw at Luton Town on May 3 last year. That was the first fixture after the Blues had secured their Premier League status for Goodison Park’s final season and a day that this correspondent spotted David Moyes in one of the Kenilworth Road lounges at half-time as the then West Ham United manager was diligently scouting the Hatters ahead of facing them in what proved to be his last home fixture in charge at the London Stadium the following weekend.

Despite their subsequent lack of experience from 12 yards out in top flight matches since then, with Calvert-Lewin having been forced off early on this occasion, it was Iliman Ndiaye who had netted from the spot to seal the 2-0 victory over Peterborough United in the FA Cup third round, on the day that Sean Dyche was sacked, and was also one of the five Everton players netting in the Carabao Cup shoot-out against Southampton before Ashley Young was thwarted, who stepped up again here in successful fashion. Curiously, in the intervening period since the Blues were last given a Premier League penalty in Bedfordshire, again from Tim Robinson, and again following a VAR recommendation, Jordan Pickford has saved the two he has faced, from Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

In another way, Everton were also playing something of a long game here when it came to VAR-assisted penalties at the Amex Stadium. Back on October 26, 2019, Brighton & Hove Albion completed a 3-2 comeback win in stoppage time after a Lucas Digne own goal having earlier equalised on 80 minutes through future controversial Blues one goal in 33 games striker flop Neal Maupay. The Frenchman netted with what was the first Premier League penalty given by VAR with Michael Keane adjudged to have fouled Aaron Connolly after the on-pitch official Andy Madley had originally not pointed to the spot.

Moyes masterclass

On becoming only the third manager to reach 700 Premier League matches after the legendary pair Arsene Wenger (828) and (810) who won the competition three times and 13 times respectively, but he rolled back the years to win his first away fixture back as Blues boss just like he did in 2002 when Derby County were beaten 4-3. Up until this landmark occasion, Brighton & Hove Albion had proven to be something of a bogey team for the Scot as he went into the fixture with just a 10% win rate against the Seagulls – his lowest against any Premier League side – although that solitary success in 10 previous matches had been on his last visit to the Amex Stadium with West Ham United (3-1 on August 26, 2023).

Everton, who triumphed in back-to-back fixtures for the first time this term having beaten Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 six days earlier, had won just one of their previous 21 Premier League away days, but just as they did when going to Ipswich Town on October 19 when victorious 2-0 at Portman Road, they rewarded their loyal but long suffering away support following one of the longest trips of the campaign. For Moyes, this was also a day on which his experience told as the Premier League’s elder statesman, 61, got the better of the top flight’s youngest boss Fabian Hurzeler who is almost 30 years his junior.

Moyes still remembers Newcastle United’s venerable gaffer Sir Bobby Robson, three decades his senior, telling him it was a case of “welcome to the Premier League” after a 6-2 drubbing at St James’ Park proved to be his first loss in the competition back in 2002. On returning to Goodison Park earlier this month, he admitted he was now a different manager and this was a different Everton to the ones that parted ways in 2013, but the old Moyes magic is still burning bright for the Blues.