Jeff Stelling stunned live on Sky Sports as Seamus Coleman repeats Everton history in win over Leeds United
Jeff Stelling branded it “absolutely amazing” as Seamus Coleman scored for Everton against Leeds United for the second season running.
The Irishman scored the only goal of the game as Sean Dyche’s side recorded a crucial 1-0 victory over the manager-less visitors at Goodison Park on Saturday, repeating his feat from a year ago.
For two seasons running both clubs have been locked in relegation battles, and despite the Toffees captain being a rare feature on the scoresheet, and victories hard to come by in the past year, his last two goals have now come in home wins over the same opponent in the same month, to the amazement of Stelling.
Reacting to the goal on Sky Sports Soccer Saturday (18 February, 4.24pm) Stelling said: “Absolutely amazing. It’s his first goal in a year since he scored against Leeds. He’s done it again today hasn’t he?
“And by the way, bottom of the table now as it stands: Southampton – 18 points, bottom of the table; Leeds – second from bottom, 20 points; West Ham United – third from bottom on 20 points; and then Bournemouth and Everton both on 21.”
Massive
With Southampton beating Chelsea it was all the more important for Dyche and his players to record a positive result over another of the teams at the bottom of the table, as Stelling’s run-down showed.
Coleman scored once last season, and has now scored once in this campaign, so for both to come in wins over Leeds almost exactly a year apart will have the West Yorkshire side sick of the sight of him.
The 3-0 win at Goodison on 12 February 2022 was more comfortable, but no less crucial in keeping Everton in the Premier League.
And if the captain has scored a goal that ends up proving decisive in May it will only add to his legend on Merseyside.
The arrival of Dyche looks like it might have changed the landscape of the relegation battle, especially with Leeds having sacked Jesse Marsch since and been unable to find a permanent replacement.
Coleman took advantage of some odd positioning from the visiting goalkeeper Illan Meslier to find the far side-netting from out wide.
Whether it was a wayward cross or an ingenious improvised shot having spotted the keeper out of position is up for debate, but Evertonians will not care either way after a second win in three under the new manager lifted the club out of the drop zone.