Dunk's last-gasp goal denies Everton and saves a point for 10-man Brighton | first division

A crushing raid courtesy of a beautiful shot from Jarrad Branthwaite, pouncing on a second ball after a set piece – this was Dyche-ball in its purest form. As the 90 minutes ticked down, their philosopher king, Sean Dyche, looked set to celebrate another victory over Roberto De Zerbi, the skilful dodger who denied the aesthete. Everton's muscle and antics had caused Brighton to lose discipline, Billy Gilmour was sent off for a spiked tackle on Amadou Onana.

But the problem with buying time in modern football is that it is now often added. In the fifth minute of nine in injury time, Lewis Dunk, after the skill and composure of the ever-reliable Pascal Gross, headed in the first header Everton had conceded all season. “We pressed all game, then they went down to 10 men and we stopped pressing,” Branthwaite said.

“We all know the drama around these minutes,” Dyche said. “Nine changes the atmosphere in the stadium and we didn't handle it well.”

After not winning in the Premier League since December 16, his club could soon depend on its lawyers. Everton expect an update at the end of the month on his appeal against a 10-point penalty. Meanwhile, his players must operate in a state of purgatory. “We should be on 31, remember,” Dyche said. “Pretty healthy, that's how you measure it. “My job is to look at the bigger picture.” Those pressures eventually revealed themselves.

This would not be a matter of free scoring. Perhaps the team selections revealed it. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Evan Ferguson, the starting forwards, had gone a combined 34 games without scoring. Add up to 36. Ferguson, retired after the Everton goal, is going through the growing pains that even the best young strikers must endure: Alan Shearer, an admirer often compared to the teenager, was not prolific at Southampton, but here he is often It was too much. peripheral in what became a desperate search for a breakthrough.

“He's not having the best time but we understand,” De Zerbi said. “He can play better. We can help you. The team needs Evan at 100% of his physical and mental condition.”

When Danny Welbeck shot wide in the opening minutes, and then Jordan Pickford ran out to clear the same player's danger, Dyche's guttural outburst shouting instructions from the touchline underpinned the soundscape, as it did throughout. The plan was to sit back and take advantage of counterattacks and set pieces. A similar strategy He was effective for David Moyes' West Ham in August. but Brighton had not lost any of their 10 home league games since then. Dunk, in his 400th league appearance, finally extended that streak. “It's a valuable point on the table,” Dyche said, brusquely taking the positives rather than gloating.

Calvert-Lewin had probably Everton's best chance in the first half, only for a smarter Dunk to get there first. By then, the home fans were agonizing over their team's inability to convert dominance (62% possession in the first half) and chances, and the absences of João Pedro and Kaoru Mitoma were keenly felt. Those frustrations increased after the break, with De Zerbi booked. Meanwhile, Dyche and his assistants put on a spectacle on the sidelines, a constant pantomime dialogue with the fourth official, Dean Whitestone, as Everton deliberately slowed the flow of the game.

On the hour mark, Tariq Lamptey headed in Abdoulaye Doucouré's volley from the goal line, Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was already beaten, and Everton's continued danger from set pieces was confirmed by James Garner, who He took a free kick wide. Those warnings were not heeded. “Everton's most important feature is the second ball,” said De Zerbi. “We worked in training camp, but maybe not enough.”

After Brighton introduced Julio Enciso before a free kick, their reorganization failed them. Pickford flicked the ball into the box, Ben Godfrey's run took Gross and Ferguson with it before Branthwaite unleashed a fierce shot. After Gilmour, perhaps unluckily but also rightly, was sacked, Everton failed to relieve the pressure of 10 men. Gross, turning Beto upside down, showed a poise and incision that his teammates had lacked all afternoon. Dunk did the rest.