We live in the five substitute era now in the Premier League when managers can regularly replace half of their outfield team in every fixture, but not it seems if you’re Everton. Brighton & Hove Albion duly used their full complement as they chased this game, with those changes occurring on four separate occasions but their first switch came at half-time, so that doesn’t count as a slot.

In contrast, Everton who lost two of their players to injury, striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin after just 13 minutes, and then Orel Mangala in the closing stages after they had made their earlier changes, were forced to battle on with just 10 men.

After the visitors’ early enforced switch up front, David Moyes brought on Nathan Patterson for Jesper Lindstrom just after the hour mark and after another change – at least this was a double one, ensuring they also got a fourth substitute on – with Ashley Young and James Garner replacing goalscorer Iliman Ndiaye and Abdoulaye Doucoure – the Blues had reached their limit.

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It was backs to the wall stuff but Everton defended resolutely and despite the spades of talent in this Brighton & Hove Albion side, they restricted them to half-chances. The home players and many of their fans were angry at the final whistle but that just made this success all the sweeter for the visitors ahead of their long trip back up to Merseyside.