Premier League: Everton thrash Brighton to move out relegation zone

• Brighton hosted Everton in a Premier League clash on May 8, 2023, at the Amex Stadium
• Brighton headed into the match fighting for a European spot while Everton fighting to stay in the League
• Dwight McNeil and Abdoulaye Doucoure each scored a brace for Everton and another own goal for Brighton sealed the points for the visitors

Dwight McNeil scored a second-half brace as Everton moved into 16th place and two points clear of the Premier League relegation zone with a 5-1 victory over Brighton at the Amex.

The seventh-placed hosts were stunned in the first half, falling behind after only 33 seconds to Abdoulaye Doucoure, who later scored a first-half brace.

Albion’s difficulties were increased when goalkeeper Jason Steele diverted the ball into his own net, and McNeil added another in the second half for Everton.

Alexis Mac Allister pulled one back for the hosts, but McNeil sealed the deal late in stoppage time with his second goal.

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The away end, like their Merseyside rivals on Saturday, mostly ignored the invitation to sing the national song in honour of the King’s coronation, instead opting to drown it out with a performance of Spirit of the Blues.

When Dominic Calvert-Lewin collected the ball with his back to Brighton’s goal and – with a beautiful pivot – crossed to Doucoure at the far post, who obligingly tapped home, the chanting swiftly converted to ecstatic cheers.

Brighton moved a free-kick to the right for Facundo Buonanotte, but Jordan Pickford was alert to his headed effort from a tight angle, scooping it out of the air with minimal effort.

At the 25-minute mark, it was the visitors putting on the pressure thanks to some superb work from Alex Iwobi, who collected the ball inside his own half and coolly handled it in the final third, where Albion were eventually able to shut off the initial wave of assault.

Kaoru Mitoma attempted to set up Danny Welbeck, who was unable to make contact as he glided toward the Everton goal, as control became an elusive chase for the hosts, who found themselves at the mercy of Doucoure.

On 29 minutes, he latched onto McNeil’s left-wing cross before volleying the ball past Steele to double Everton’s lead.

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Brighton hoped it would be the end of their dreadful first half, but McNeil had other plans. He fired in a cross that Steele bent forward to save, but the ball bounced in off the back of his leg, further burying his side.

Everton forward Dwight McNeil celebrates after scoring against Brighton in a Premier League clash at the Amex on Monday, May 8 2023. | PHOTO: Sky Sports |

To begin the second half, Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi made four changes, including the inclusion of Evan Ferguson, who was available for the first time after missing four matches due to an ankle injury.

Solly March, another substitute, was the first to challenge Pickford and provide the Seagulls with the spark they needed, getting sunk in and winning a corner.

Ferguson came near with a headed effort at the far post on the following set-piece, forcing a brilliant save from the Toffees shot-stopper.

Albion began to appear like a better team and remained camped in Everton’s half as Ferguson came inches away from equalizing with a left-footed attempt turned away by Pickford before Mac Allister hit the crossbar.

However, it was the visitors who increased their lead against the run of play when Iwobi broke down the left and passed the ball to McNeil, who escaped Lewis Dunk’s late sliding attempt and patiently tucked in the Toffees’ fourth.

Three minutes later, Mitoma’s rebound took a lucky bounce off Mac Allister and in, but McNeil was not done for the night, scoring Everton’s fifth in additional time.