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Brighton & Hove Albion 0-2 Everton: Gray and Calvert-Lewin strike to extend Toffees' unbeaten start

By Matt GaultBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments227

England striker Calvert-Lewin scored his third goal - and second penalty - of the season
England striker Calvert-Lewin scored his third goal - and second penalty - of the season

Everton extended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season as they produced a classy display to deservedly beat Brighton.

Demarai Gray opened the scoring with a fine individual effort four minutes before the break as the Toffees managed a first win at Brighton in five attempts stretching back to April 1983.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored his third goal of the campaign from the spot, but only after Richarlison - who wanted to take the penalty - reluctantly gave up the ball.

Seamus Coleman won the penalty after the Everton captain was brought down by Brighton substitute Joel Veltman, and the Republic of Ireland right-back quickly asserted his authority when he convinced Richarlison to hand the ball over to England striker Calvert-Lewin, who converted from 12 yards for the second game in a row.

The result ends Brighton's 100% start to the season and leaves Everton second in the table, if only until the late game between Liverpool and Chelsea.

It was another positive performance from Everton, who have made an impressive start to life under new boss Rafael Benitez with two wins and a draw from three games - the first time the Spaniard has gone unbeaten in each of his opening three Premier League fixtures at a club, having lost at least one of his opening three in charge of Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle.

The Merseyside club also began the 2020-21 campaign in style with four straight wins under Carlo Ancelotti only to fail to win their next four, so Benitez will be keen to avoid a repeat of his predecessor's struggles after the international break.

Gray and Calvert-Lewin continue fine form

Brighton 0-2 Everton: Rafael Benitez hopes to strengthen after 'great' Everton performance

After a reasonably timid opening quarter, Everton began to open up the Brighton defence with regularity as the tireless Andros Townsend forced a save from Robert Sanchez before Abdoulaye Doucoure shot over after the Seagulls goalkeeper had gifted the ball to Townsend.

Gray made no such mistake, however, as the summer signing from Bayer Leverkusen got his second goal in as many games after surging past Adam Webster to send a low shot beyond Sanchez.

Everton could have doubled their lead just three minutes later, but Calvert-Lewin dragged his shot wide from a tight angle.

Thankfully for the visitors, the 24-year-old found his range to confidently smash his penalty past Sanchez and wrap up the points.

Allan and Coleman had to convince Richarlison to give up the ball for the penalty
Allan and Coleman had to convince Richarlison to give up the ball for the penalty

Setback for wounded Seagulls

Having put two past Burnley and Watford in their first two games, this was a disappointing setback for Brighton, who failed to click in attack.

The hosts managed only three shots on target, and while Leandro Trossard and Yves Bissouma looked sharp at times, Jordan Pickford was largely untroubled in the Everton goal, with Neal Maupay well-marshalled by the away side's defence.

The French striker had hoped to become the first player to score in each of Brighton's first three league games in a single campaign since Nicky Forster in 2008-09, but was unable to create a clear-cut chance up against a solid Everton defence.

After such a smooth start to the campaign, there will be plenty to ponder for Brighton boss Graham Potter before the return to action after the international break, with the Seagulls travelling to Brentford on Saturday, 11 September (15:00 BST), while Everton host Burnley two days later (20:00 BST).

Player of the match

GrayDemarai Gray

with an average of 8.22

Brighton & Hove Albion

  1. Squad number8Player nameBissouma
    Average rating

    6.25

  2. Squad number1Player nameSánchez
    Average rating

    6.02

  3. Squad number24Player nameDuffy
    Average rating

    5.97

  4. Squad number5Player nameDunk
    Average rating

    5.76

  5. Squad number14Player nameLallana
    Average rating

    5.73

  6. Squad number11Player nameTrossard
    Average rating

    5.59

  7. Squad number15Player nameModer
    Average rating

    5.58

  8. Squad number9Player nameMaupay
    Average rating

    5.54

  9. Squad number4Player nameWebster
    Average rating

    5.54

  10. Squad number13Player nameGroß
    Average rating

    5.49

  11. Squad number10Player nameMac Allister
    Average rating

    5.41

  12. Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
    Average rating

    4.92

  13. Squad number30Player nameRichards
    Average rating

    4.91

  14. Squad number34Player nameVeltman
    Average rating

    4.71

Everton

  1. Squad number11Player nameGray
    Average rating

    8.22

  2. Squad number6Player nameAllan
    Average rating

    7.85

  3. Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
    Average rating

    7.77

  4. Squad number9Player nameCalvert-Lewin
    Average rating

    7.72

  5. Squad number17Player nameIwobi
    Average rating

    7.66

  6. Squad number23Player nameColeman
    Average rating

    7.50

  7. Squad number14Player nameTownsend
    Average rating

    7.48

  8. Squad number7Player nameRicharlison
    Average rating

    7.42

  9. Squad number1Player namePickford
    Average rating

    7.40

  10. Squad number12Player nameDigne
    Average rating

    7.35

  11. Squad number21Player nameAndré Gomes
    Average rating

    7.33

  12. Squad number4Player nameHolgate
    Average rating

    6.89

  13. Squad number5Player nameKeane
    Average rating

    6.84

Line-ups

Brighton

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 1Sánchez
  • 4Webster
  • 24Duffy
  • 5Dunk
  • 13Groß
  • 14LallanaSubstituted forWelbeckat 59'minutes
  • 8BissoumaBooked at 61mins
  • 15ModerSubstituted forRichardsat 73'minutes
  • 11Trossard
  • 10Mac AllisterSubstituted forVeltmanat 45'minutes
  • 9Maupay

Substitutes

  • 7Connolly
  • 12Mwepu
  • 17Alzate
  • 18Welbeck
  • 19Zeqiri
  • 23Steele
  • 28Roberts
  • 30Richards
  • 34Veltman

Everton

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1PickfordBooked at 83mins
  • 23Coleman
  • 4Holgate
  • 5Keane
  • 12Digne
  • 14Townsend
  • 6Allan
  • 16Doucouré
  • 11GraySubstituted forAndré Gomesat 81'minutes
  • 7RicharlisonBooked at 62mins
  • 9Calvert-LewinSubstituted forIwobiat 69'minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Kenny
  • 15Begovic
  • 17Iwobi
  • 18Nkounkou
  • 21André Gomes
  • 24Gordon
  • 31Lonergan
  • 32Branthwaite
Referee:
Jonathan Moss
Attendance:
30,548

Match Stats

Home TeamBrightonAway TeamEverton
Possession
Home66%
Away34%
Shots
Home14
Away14
Shots on Target
Home3
Away5
Corners
Home4
Away5
Fouls
Home7
Away9

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Everton 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 0, Everton 2.

  3. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Lucas Digne (Everton) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Allan.

  4. Post update

    Corner, Everton. Conceded by Shane Duffy.

  5. Post update

    Attempt blocked. André Gomes (Everton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Iwobi.

  6. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Taylor Richards (Brighton and Hove Albion) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leandro Trossard.

  7. Post update

    Leandro Trossard (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Foul by André Gomes (Everton).

  9. Post update

    VAR Decision: No Penalty Everton.

  10. Post update

    Attempt saved. André Gomes (Everton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

  11. Post update

    Corner, Everton. Conceded by Adam Webster.

  12. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Alex Iwobi (Everton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Richarlison.

  13. Booking

    Jordan Pickford (Everton) is shown the yellow card.

  14. Post update

    Attempt missed. Neal Maupay (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Pascal Groß.

  15. Substitution

    Substitution, Everton. André Gomes replaces Demarai Gray.

  16. Post update

    Attempt saved. Leandro Trossard (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Joël Veltman.

  17. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Yves Bissouma (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Taylor Richards.

  18. Post update

    Attempt saved. Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Demarai Gray.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Richarlison (Everton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Alex Iwobi following a fast break.

  20. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Leandro Trossard (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Neal Maupay.

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Comments

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227 comments

  • Comment posted by Toryslime, at 17:10 28 Aug 2021

    YEEEEAHHHSSSSS! eat that Lawro ya whopper.

    • Reply posted by ABall , at 17:21 28 Aug 2021

      ABall replied:
      He will never predict a win for us ......I never feel more like singing the blues when we win after Lawro predicted a lose.

  • Comment posted by jimbob, at 17:07 28 Aug 2021

    Gray could well turn out to be the bargain of the season.

    • Reply posted by Smile and be happy, at 17:38 28 Aug 2021

      Smile and be happy replied:
      Gray and Townsend are very much Everton signings I think Evertonians like to see come in and do well. Cheap, but effective. Much like Coleman and Cahill.

      I think one of Kean or Richarlison could be a big move away, but hopefully a striker comes in before the window is shut

  • Comment posted by Smudgerglory, at 17:10 28 Aug 2021

    Great result again for Everton. Hope Lawro keeps predicting us losing rest of season lol

  • Comment posted by Lawrence Howard, at 17:14 28 Aug 2021

    So far, so good. Let’s hope that is not another start of a false dawn for Everton. Oh & Lawro stop with your anti-Everton bias by only predicting them to win only 2 league games every season. It’s embarrassing… 😂😂😂

  • Comment posted by John M, at 17:07 28 Aug 2021

    Best performance for over a season. Passion, commitment and energy. Benitez has done in one game what Ancelotti couldn't do in 40 odd.

    • Reply posted by Smile and be happy, at 17:41 28 Aug 2021

      Smile and be happy replied:
      I thought there were signs of it for the few games Big Dunc was in charge, but Rafa has certainly intensified the focus on high energy and a lot of natural quality is shining through as a result.

  • Comment posted by silver surfer , at 17:00 28 Aug 2021

    Gray your the talent . Shame it didn’t work out at Leicester , just different directions we were both going . Best of luck , you deserve it , lcfc fan

    • Reply posted by Towelie, at 17:12 28 Aug 2021

      Towelie replied:
      And another here - you could always see there was a good player in there but it just didn't happen for us.

      Not sure if he ever got a good enough run starting games for us and not too surprised to see him starting so well.

  • Comment posted by paul hirst, at 17:33 28 Aug 2021

    I was at Elland Road last week and even though I was obviously disappointed my Leeds didn't get the three points, I was impressed by Everton. Because of his history Rafa wasn't going to be the choice of many toffees supporters but I think they'll be alright under Benitez who's a very underappreciated coach. I bet Newcastle fans would take him back in a heartbeat compared to Steve Bruce.

    • Reply posted by big G, at 17:39 28 Aug 2021

      big G replied:
      Course they would Paul but only because they love him and hate Bruce, it could have had anything to do with his results there or style of play.
      As a Chelsea fan I was very happy with him when he was at our club but I'm not sure he pulled up any roses at Newcastle

  • Comment posted by paul123, at 17:06 28 Aug 2021

    Well done lads, great win, Benitez is proving a lot of doubters wrong.
    I like his energy on the touch line, he never stops moving and shouting instructions
    COYB

    • Reply posted by PhillyBlueBoy, at 18:00 28 Aug 2021

      PhillyBlueBoy replied:
      Rafa is a world class coach.

      Playing with a shape and fight we haven't had in years.

      And......pace; at last. Iwobi looming the part too.

      Get the window shut and get shut of any dissenters.

      The cyclops knuckle draggers will be frothing at the mouth.

      Glad and lucky to have Signor Benitez on board.

  • Comment posted by frankie, at 17:07 28 Aug 2021

    Really good win - good performances all round but Allan and Doucoure immense in the middle of the park by all accounts. Maybe Benitez was just what we needed to get us playing as a team and difficult to beat

    • Reply posted by Scousepower, at 17:17 28 Aug 2021

      Scousepower replied:
      Agree... and Iwobi looking better now too. Good signings in Gray and Townsend too. Workrate MUCH better all around :)

  • Comment posted by higgipop, at 17:22 28 Aug 2021

    Trust in Rafa, if you think Everton have made a good start you haven’t seen anything yet. They will get better and better as the season progresses.

    • Reply posted by onionbag, at 17:24 28 Aug 2021

      onionbag replied:
      Well said good shout I concur 👍

  • Comment posted by McNulty, at 17:19 28 Aug 2021

    Iwobi looks like a completely different player.

  • Comment posted by Royal Blue, at 17:18 28 Aug 2021

    A shout to out for Demarai Gray. Like Jude Bellingham, and soon to be Jobe Bellingham too, Jude's brother, Demarai has come from the Birmingham City Acadamy and is a fantastic talent. It's great to see Damarai progressing and again is very capable of making that England shirt. I hope he keeps pushing on now for Everton, and get the rewards he really deserves. He's a great Character. KRO

    • Reply posted by Stephen, at 18:58 28 Aug 2021

      Stephen replied:
      Please judge Gray after 10 games or so. You may find, Everton fans ,he is not the real deal.

  • Comment posted by big G, at 17:37 28 Aug 2021

    Richarlison should have a bollocking for the penalty incident. There's enough pressure on the taker to score without him adding to it!

    • Reply posted by Wombat_LCFC, at 17:46 28 Aug 2021

      Wombat_LCFC replied:
      what's that guy doing? Calvert Lewin was obviously assigned pre-match to take a penalty, the Richarleson decides he wants to take it.
      Decent striker, but bad attitude 9always sulking)
      The sooner PSG stump up the $85 million, the atmosphere and team-spirit at EFC will definitely improve

  • Comment posted by Johnny Todd, at 17:24 28 Aug 2021

    Its the effort and workrate. Tons better. Our midfield was massive today. Love it

    • Reply posted by Toryslime, at 17:28 28 Aug 2021

      Toryslime replied:
      Allan is Peter Reid revisited.

  • Comment posted by hatshepsut, at 17:09 28 Aug 2021

    Well done Rafa baby, fabulous start, great to feel this good so early, forget all the hype of others , hard work gets results, COYB

  • Comment posted by Jacksgranda, at 17:00 28 Aug 2021

    Another good result for the Toffees

  • Comment posted by top bloke, at 17:04 28 Aug 2021

    Looks like Rafa means business after all.

  • Comment posted by Gaz sometimes right, at 18:27 28 Aug 2021

    As a Brighton fan have to say we made Everton's win a lot easier for them. Defence was poor, midfield sat too deep and the forwards had no service. Far too many sideways or backwards passes, only player who performed well was Biss. Everton were far more creative and deserved the 3 points.

    • Reply posted by Bajan, at 19:41 28 Aug 2021

      Bajan replied:
      That's exactly how Everton were playing last season

  • Comment posted by gary, at 17:19 28 Aug 2021

    Another great performance from the blues let’s just hope we can bring a few bodies in before Tuesday

  • Comment posted by Scousepower, at 17:15 28 Aug 2021

    Gray and Townsend. Good signings! COYB \\o// :)

    • Reply posted by toffeeforever, at 17:54 28 Aug 2021

      toffeeforever replied:
      All those so-called fans who moaned about these two signings. Good to see them start so well and shut a few people up. It's not all about spending millions.