Ashley Young a total liability as Tim Ireogbunam excellent on debut – Everton ratings v Brighton
Everton began their final season at Goodison Park with a 3-0 defeat to Brighton in familiar circumstances as a good start gave way to wasted chances, VAR controversy and a self-destruction.
Jack Harrison’s early opener was ruled out for offside as the Toffees made the better start, but were punished for not taking their chances and went behind when Kaoru Mitoma tapped in after Yakuba Minteh had beaten Vitalii Mykolenko down the left.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin was awarded a penalty immediately after the half for a Lewis Dunk challenge but Simon Hooper overturned it after a VAR review, before a second appeal for handball on the same man was dismissed soon after.
Danny Welbeck capitalised on an Idrissa Gana Gueye error to drive forward and double the lead after 56 minutes and Ashley Young was carelessly sent off 10 minutes later for a last-man foul on Mitoma to end the contest, before Simon Adingra added a late third and Yasin Ayari had a fourth ruled out for a narrow offside.
Here, Goodison News rates the Everton players out of 10 for their performances at Goodison Park.
Jordan Pickford – 6
Very little preparation after his run to the Euro 2024 final with England, and it showed as he didn’t really get started for an hour. Got down extremely slowly as Joao Pedro beat him easily to hit the post just before the ninth-minute tribute to Toffees legend Kevin Campbell. Picked two out of his net he couldn’t do much about but much sharper work later on as Brighton pressure mounted but the damage was already done. Could have been a thrashing without his performance in the final half-hour.
Ashley Young – 2
Dreadful. The oldest man on the pitch, despite James Milner’s presence, had been okay early and combined reasonably with Harrison. Threw any hope of a comeback away and created a selection crisis for his manager as he got himself caught in possession by Mitoma as the last man then dragged the Japanese forward down and was sent off. The last thing Sean Dyche needed with Nathan Patterson and Seamus Coleman already injured. As with his red card in the Merseyside derby and penalty concession against Manchester United he once again proved unreliable for his manager in a time of need.
James Tarkowski – 6
In the thick of the action while the game was a contest. Got away with an early penalty appeal when Pedro threw himself over after causing the defender problems in the box then planted a header onto the roof of the Brighton net. Made a number of key blocks to keep the score down.
Sean Dyche let down by veteran Ashley Young
Michael Keane – 6
Surprise start for the injured Jarrad Branthwaite with new signing Jake O’Brien on the bench, he wasn’t overly exposed until the game was lost and the defence lost all shape. Wasn’t actually the issue here but could do little to rescue matters.
Vitalii Mykolenko – 4
Showed why left-back has been tipped as a priority in the transfer market this summer [Alan Myers, 30 July] amid his injury concerns. Beaten with ease by Minteh to set up the opener in a potential sign of his lack of match fitness. Part of a heavy collision in the Seagulls box which saw the winger withdrawn as a concussion sub, which was a relief from a defensive perspective. Final ball was poor going forward. Far better without Minteh on the pitch but again beaten down the outside for the disallowed fourth.
Idrissa Gana Gueye – 5
Had been okay with decent disruptive work in the middle but let himself down after the break with a sloppy error. Gave away possession with a terrible pass in midfield for Welbeck to double the lead.
Vitalii Mykolenko struggles for Everton on return from injury
Tim Ireogbunam – 9 (Man of the Match)
Very impressive debut with an excellent all-round midfield display for the best part of an hour. Strong challenges in the opening minutes to set out his stall early, winning possession multiple times and going close with a shot on the break. Also looked extremely comfortable on the ball. Dyche wanted Kalvin Phillips [i News, 12 August] but this performance will have gone a long way to help him get over missing out on the Manchester City man. It was him who seized on a loose ball leading to the penalty. Faded late on as his teammates fell apart and he looked understandably exhausted. The clear bright spot on the day.
Jack Harrison – 7
Pretty good while the game was a live matter. Main attacking threat early with some purposeful driving runs and shots from the right and had a goal ruled out for offside. Left something to be desired with his final delivery at times as Everton, as so often, didn’t make the most of their attacks while in the ascendency.
Abdoulaye Doucouré (off for Ndiaye ’62) – 6
Energetic pressing off the ball and involved in some build-up play but that was about it and was unable to have a telling impact in attack
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has penalty award overturned by VAR
Dwight McNeil – 4
Often crucial under Dyche but very poor here. Rescued by the offside flag when he hit the post with a sitter early on then virtually disappeared for the rest of the game.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (off for Beto ’67) – 4
Got a few flick-ons but the exit-linked striker was peripheral at best for the opening 45. Unlucky to have the penalty overturned for what did look like a foul, albeit a soft one, but offered zero goal threat.
SUBSTITUTIONS
Iliman Ndaiye (on for Doucouré ’62) – 5
Far from ideal circumstances to make his Everton debut. Unable to get into the game as Young got sent off soon after his introduction. Will surely have better days at Goodison.
Beto (on for Calvert-Lewin ’67) – 5
Put himself about but the contest was already lost when he came on.
Mason Holgate (on for Harrison ’85) – 5
Introduced to boos from the crowd. Summed up the day. On a hiding to nothing under the circumstances.
In other Everton news, John Textor developments have been tipped to be “controversial” in comparison to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival at Manchester United.
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