Hit and run in Brighton! Everton take a leaf out of Seagulls' book and get a priceless victory

Would you believe it, Everton won! They stunned Brighton with a 5-1 stunner on the south coast of England to escape the drop zone and boost their chances of survival.

This is why Sean Dyche was brought in to Everton! Not to play pretty football, to dazzle the audience or to revolutionise the game. Oh, no. His task is to get Everton to stop conceding too many goals and to get wins - any kind of wins. It doesn't have to be nice; it doesn't have to be convincing; it doesn't even have to be deserved - just win!

The relegation-battling Toffees got the victory they needed so much with a smash and grab win at Brighton and Hove Albion. The hosts passed the ball around nicely, created spaces - but Dyche's boys kept scoring.

It was a perfect start for the visitors at the Amex Stadium. Dominic Calvert-Lewin hit a well-timed cross for Abdoulaye Doucoure and the Malian put it into the net with just 34 seconds gone! The same player doubled the lead with a nicely-taken volley to finish off a swift counter-attack.

Brighton tried to get back into the game and pushed forward, giving the opponents more space to break. And the visitors knew how to exploit it. Dwight McNeil crossed the ball from the left, but it took a heavy deflection off the unfortunate goalie Jason Steele and ended up in the net. Brighton, who enjoyed well over 70 per cent of ball possession, found themselves three goal behind.

Everton have scored three goals in a Premier League away game for the first time since February 2021, and in the first half of an EPL away game for the first time since November 2020.

Roberto De Zerbi made FOUR substitutions ahead of the second half in a desperate attempt to turn his team's fortunes around. As a result, the hosts looked even more dangerous in the final third. But it was written in the stars that Everton would win this game. They battled hard, went hard for every ball, and above all - they had the amazing Jordan Pickford between the sticks. The England international was often to blame for some calamitous goals his team conceded this season, but on this particular occasion, he was absolutely immense. He stopped promising efforts from Evan Ferguson and Alexis Mac Allister in quick succession.

On the other end, McNeil piled more misery on the hosts, running onto a pass from Alex Iwobi, rounded Steele and slotted into the unguarded net to make it four.

Mac Allister got his goal with ten minutes of the regulation time remaining when he nipped in to force the ball in from close range, but the damage has been done - and McNeill made it five deep in added time with another well-struck hit from a counter attack. It was a perfect night for the travelling fans - and they celebrated wildly, not caring about getting wet in the relentless rain.

Everton got only their second PL win away from home this season - and it could be a precious one. The three points took them above Nottingham, Leeds and Leicester into 16th place. They are still far from being safe, but this could prove a pivotal day in their season.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 35

Saturday

Wolverhampton - Aston Villa 1-0 (1-0)

/Toti 9/

Bournemouth - Chelsea 1-3 (1-1)

/Vina 21 - Gallagher 9 - Badiashile 82/

Tottenham - Crystal Palace 1-0 (1-0)

/Kane 45+1/

Manchester City - Leeds United 2-1 (2-0)

/Gundogan 19, 27 - Rodrigo 85/

Liverpool - Brentford 1-0 (1-0)

/Salah 13/

Sunday

Newcastle - Arsenal 0-2 (0-1)

/Odegaard 14, Schar 71 og/

West Ham - Man Utd 1-0 (0-0)

/Benrahma 27/

Monday

Fulham - Leicester 5-3 (3-0)

/Willian 10, 70, Vinicius 18, Cairney 44, 51 - Barnes 59, 89, Maddison 81 pen/

Brighton - Everton 1-5 (0-3)

/Mac Allister 79 - Doucoure 1, 29, Steele 35 og, McNeil 76, 90+6/

22.00: (2.19) Nott.Forest (3.35) Southampton (3.45)

***odds are subject to change***