Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Everton 0.
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion1EvertonEverton0
Jurgen Locadia's second-half goal proved decisive as Brighton beat Everton to end 2018 with another win at the Amex Stadium.
The Dutchman's strike just before the hour mark came after Toffees midfielder Andre Gomes inadvertently diverted the ball into his path from a corner.
It means the hosts have now gained 33 of their 43 points this calendar year at home.
Richarlison, restored to the Everton line-up after appearing as a substitute at Burnley on Wednesday, twice went close to scoring for the visitors.
But home goalkeeper David Button saved well from point-blank range in the first half and pushed a shot on to the post in the second period.
Kurt Zouma's late header almost rescued a point for the visitors but he hit the crossbar as Brighton held on.
The result leaves Everton in 10th and Brighton 13th.
Brighton well placed to survive with something to spare
Brighton may no longer be top-flight novices but their primary aim at the start of this campaign will have been to retain their Premier League status.
On this evidence they are well placed to do that, and to surpass their achievements from last season when they finished on 40 points in 15th position.
This hard-fought victory ensured the Seagulls are four points better off than at the same stage a year ago and can boast a better goal difference.
Manager Chris Hughton will also be delighted with an 11-point cushion to the relegation zone, especially given their formidable home record.
While they were hanging on in the closing stages against Everton, their resilience at the Amex was epitomised by the central defensive pairing of Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy as well as the performance of stand-in goalkeeper David Button.
Dunk played a captain's role, cajoling his team-mates to maintain their effort, and Duffy made more than double the number of clearances (11) of any other player on the park.
In Button, featuring because Mat Ryan was absent on international duty with Australia, they also had the game's outstanding performer, with the goalkeeper twice superbly repelling efforts from Richarlison that could have turned the contest.
Predictably unpredictable Everton
Everton's biggest problem is that you are never quite sure which face Marco Silva's side will display.
Having being thrashed 6-2 by Spurs before Christmas, Silva's side then produced a wonderful attacking display to deliver a thumping 5-1 victory at Burnley on Boxing Day.
This performance saw them revert to something rather less than wonderful, their passing often too one-paced to outfox the well-drilled hosts.
While Silva attempted to retrieve a point by introducing Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Oumar Niasse to support Theo Walcott and Richarlison, the visitors' forward line shared the same attributes - pace and movement but little physical presence.
Richarlison may have a creditable return of nine goals from 18 league games this season but this was one of those days when they missed the presence of a prolific centre-forward - an issue since Romelu Lukaku's departure to Manchester United in 2017.
The Brazil forward twice went close but he did so coming in from wider positions, away from Duffy and Dunk who dominated the central areas.
And he stayed on the periphery throughout, managing just 33 touches in total.
Man of the match - David Button (Brighton)
'It's been a good year' - What they said
Brighton manager Chris Houghton speaking to BBC Sport: "We were holding on a bit at the end - they went to a 4-2-4 with real quality up front. But I thought we were good value for our win against a team in very good form.
"We wanted start this well in other matches, and sometimes a bit of fear sets in against the big teams. Generally at home we are good and start well. That lifted the crowd, and the players had the confidence to go through the game. We had good enough passages throughout to win the game.
"For all David Button's experience it is not easy for a keeper to just step in. Mat Ryan has been good for us. Button was excellent today. You train as hard as he does, when you step into a match you're going to play well.
"Locadia had a bit of fortune, but he was in the right place. He is used to scoring goals and had to wait a while.
"It has been a good year on the back of two good performances against two good teams. It puts us in good stead."
Everton manager Marco Silva speaking to BBC Sport:
"It wasn't out best performance. Tough match - we expected that. They do well at home, they take most of their points here and we knew that.
"If you look through and analyse the match we had the best chances to score. In one moment one deflection gave them a chance to score. But we had the most chances to score.
"It is something we don't want. We had a good run in our performance and in our results. Now we are in a different moment, we have to react. The result was not fair but that's football. Now we have to prepare for the next game.
"What I spoke with the referee at the end and maybe the reason the players were angry in that moment is the referee has to control the game. It was a difficult match for both teams. It was really really difficult for the referee. We as a team have conditions to do better - I think the referee has too, but that's football. It wasn't a good game to see."
Everton's south coast blues - the stats
- Brighton have lost only two of their past 13 Premier League home games (W6 D5), scoring at least once in each fixture.
- Everton are without a win in their past eight Premier League away games against south coast teams (D3 L5), since a 3-0 victory against Southampton in August 2015.
- This was Brighton manager Chris Hughton's first Premier League win against Everton since February 2013 (2-1 in charge of Norwich).
- Brighton kept their first clean sheet in the Premier League since October (1-0 v Wolves), ending a run of nine consecutive games without one.
- Everton have not won back-to-back away games in the Premier League since September 2016 (under Ronald Koeman).
- Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has conceded 15 goals in the Premier League in December, as many as he had in August, September, October and November of this season combined (15).
What's next?
Brighton resume Premier League action on Wednesday 2 January at West Ham (19:45 GMT). Everton welcome Leicester City to Goodison Park a day earlier, on Tuesday 1 January (12:30 GMT).
Line-ups
Brighton
Formation 4-5-1
- 27Button
- 22Montoya
- 4Duffy
- 5Dunk
- 30Bernardo
- 20March
- 13Groß
- 6Stephens
- 24Pröpper
- 9Locadia
- 10AndoneSubstituted forMurrayat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Bong
- 7Kayal
- 8Bissouma
- 14Balogun
- 17Murray
- 23Steele
- 42Gyokeres
Everton
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Pickford
- 13MinaBooked at 56minsSubstituted forG Sigurdssonat 65'minutes
- 4Keane
- 5Zouma
- 23Coleman
- 8André GomesSubstituted forCalvert-Lewinat 72'minutes
- 17Gueye
- 12Digne
- 11Walcott
- 20BernardBooked at 53minsSubstituted forNiasseat 80'minutes
- 30Richarlison
Substitutes
- 3Baines
- 6Jagielka
- 10G Sigurdsson
- 19Niasse
- 22Stekelenburg
- 26Davies
- 29Calvert-Lewin
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 30,597
Match Stats
Home TeamBrightonAway TeamEverton
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Everton 0.
Post update
Attempt saved. Oumar Niasse (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Idrissa Gueye with a cross.
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Attempt blocked. Lucas Digne (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Kurt Zouma (Everton) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Gylfi Sigurdsson with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Gylfi Sigurdsson (Everton) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Jürgen Locadia (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Foul by Oumar Niasse (Everton).
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Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Oumar Niasse (Everton).
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Martín Montoya (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Idrissa Gueye (Everton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jürgen Locadia (Brighton and Hove Albion).
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Corner, Everton. Conceded by Lewis Dunk.
Substitution
Substitution, Everton. Oumar Niasse replaces Bernard.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jürgen Locadia.
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Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Theo Walcott.
Post update
Attempt missed. Lewis Dunk (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the left from a direct free kick.
Comments
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Again the Lpoo fans are the very first to jump on an Everton story.
Their team is top,best defence,playing top football,yet they have to,just HAVE to slag off Everton.
Yet they wonder why they are the most despised fans in Europe.
I expected a result against Brighton, but Brighton decided to make a game of it in the second half.
All credit to Brighton, you defended well and never panicked, hope you stay up. Good manager, team and supporters👍
"Motm...Button. says it all you mugs. Bent community. Favorite player is Gana Gueye. Not pronounced your way relegation club."
Haha! You think that's original and funny do you? knuckle draggers always bring the best comedy upon themselves. How does it feel being on the losing side, intellectually and athletically? Crawl back under your stone.
What does the Manager do...changes the team,omitting their best player.
Pillock !
" Should be hammering these if we want top 6 lol"
Name one teams that's hammered us at home this season? The Amex is a tough place to come to, don't ever take a win for granted coming down here mate! There's only 2 teams that worry me when they visit at the moment, one happens to be hammering Arsenal as we speak!
Good result for Brighton, Everton like Tottenham need to be far more consistent.
Something is seriously wrong at this club!
Richarlison's ego got the better of him today. Such a wimp. Pretending to be injured & punching the air in frustration because someone dared to breathe on him.
Pathetic.