Ally McCoist and Laura Woods wowed by Dwight McNeil in Everton v Brighton, named as player of weekend live on talkSPORT
Laura Woods and Ally McCoist have waxed lyrical about Everton attacker Dwight McNeil after his stunning two-goal display in the 5-1 win against Brighton.
Speaking live on talkSPORT Breakfast (Tuesday, 9 May, 7:24am), Woods asked McCoist who his player of Monday’s round of fixtures was, to which he replied that McNeil was in fact his player of the whole weekend.
The 23-year-old was instrumental to the comprehensive win for Sean Dyche’s side at the AMEX Stadium, netting two goals and picking up an assist to send Everton 17th in the Premier League table with three games of their season remaining.
Woods said: “Dwight McNeil scored two and assisted one yesterday, Morgan Gibbs-White scored one and assisted one, and Willian, he continued to roll back the years, oh my god his second goal from outside the box was beautiful, he scored two as well.
“So who was your top performer yesterday?”
“My performance of the weekend might go to Dwight McNeil,” McCoist replied.
“I know the first one is probably an own goal, it comes off Steele, but he’s a little bit unlucky not to get a hat trick, you know.
“His last finish, bang and he smashed it, the composure he showed for his second goal when he just walked it in was superb.
“So you could have given it to any of the three of them, but I’m going to give it to Dwight McNeil. I liked him at Burnley and that was a big performance from him.”
Incredible performance
For possibly the first time in an Everton shirt, McNeil has lived up to his £20million price tag and shown just why the club splashed the cash on him last summer.
The winger has blown hot and cold so far this season, but this was a performance full of confidence, netting twice and getting an assist in his man-of-the-match display.
Not only was McNeil a huge threat on the counter-attack, but his defensive contributions were just as important to the team’s cause.
Time after time, the 23-year-old doubled up in defence to help Vitalii Mykolenko, especially when Solly March came onto the pitch after half-time, whilst simultaneously showing the fitness to pose a threat on the counter-attack.
His assist for Doucoure’s second goal was a brilliant cross and the attacker also showed great composure to walk his first goal into the net amid pressure from Brighton’s back-line.
What a performance and long may it continue.