Everton 2 Brighton & Hove Albion 0
An out of sorts Albion lost at Everton as second half goals from Theo Walcott and Cenk Tosun saw off the Seagulls.
Albion were without Dale Stephens – and Beram Kayal came in for his first Premier League start.
Chances were few and far between in the first half.
Theo Walcott went close for Everton and Glenn Murray had Albion’s only effort of note, stinging the hands of Jordan Pickford as the England keeper parried the shot away.
Everton’s first goal came after Anthony Knockaert lost the ball in possession.
Bolaise’s cross appeared to get a final touch from Gaetan Bong before whizzing past Maty Ryan to put Everton in front.
Everton’s second goal came after great work from the fit-again Leighton Baines, with a slide rule pass across the area.
Tosun fired the ball high into the net for 2-0
Knockaert was sent off after a challenge on Baines on 80 minutes. It happened after Ezequiel Schelotto failed to clear his lines effectively and Baines – accidentally – whacked the ball into Knockaert’s face.
There was no excuse for Knockaert’s challenge though, which was ugly and with studs showing. The Frenchman is now out for three matches.
With five minutes left Shane Duffy bundled over Walcott. Wayne Rooney took the resulting penalty which was brilliantly saved by Ryan.
Pascal Gross forced Pickford into a good save in stoppage time, with the Toffees keeping a clean sheet for only the second time this year.
