Everton move clear of drop zone after spot-on Ndiaye sees off Brighton

The second honeymoon continues for David Moyes. Taking charge of his 700th Premier League game and up against the division’s youngest manager who is 30 years his junior, a controversial penalty from Iliman Ndiaye made it two successive victories since the 61-year-old’s return to Everton and proved there is no substitute for experience.

This was the kind of backs-to-the-wall victory Moyes has made his speciality since taking charge of his first match back in March 2002 when he was the new manager on the block.

While Fabian Hürzeler’s side improved after an insipid first half display in which they fell behind following Joël Veltman’s senseless handball, Brighton could not overcome Everton’s organised defence and incessant timewasting as they kept up a worrying propensity for dropping points at home against teams below them in the table.

The loss of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Orel Mangala to injury was the only negative for Everton, although nothing could dampen the spirits of the travelling fans, who serenaded their manager at the final whistle as the home crowd turned their ire towards the referee, Tim Robinson.

Moyes recognised that becoming only the third manager to reach the milestone after Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger was “a fair achievement”, although he was doubtful about ever matching their records of more than 800 games in charge.

“That would probably be another four seasons in the Premier League,” he said. “You never know in life but the sport itself is getting much younger – the coach here is doing a wonderful job. At the time when I started young I didn’t think I would ever get to this point but I’m proud of it and why should I not be?”

Everton won just one of their past 21 matches on the road under Sean Dyche, with their solitary away victory this season coming at Ipswich back in October. But having seen off Tottenham at Goodison Park last week in his first match, Moyes has already matched his predecessor’s record as Everton now find themselves seven points clear of the relegation zone with Leicester to come next at home.

Brighton had not played at home since drawing with Arsenal three weeks ago and came into this game off the back of three successive away wins. Everton were dealt a significant blow in a first half in which a devastated Calvert-Lewin limped off with a suspected hamstring problem after only 13 minutes.

Everton – who are hoping to send on-loan striker Armando Broja back to Chelsea – had offered nothing in attack until five minutes before half-time when Calvert-Lewin’s replacement, Beto, chased a speculative punt downfield. Only Veltman will know what possessed him to scoop the ball away with his hand, with the Dutchman claiming that he had been pushed by the Everton striker.

“He felt a touch and then, of course, the normal reaction is that the hands are coming towards the ball,” said Hürzeler. “It can’t be a penalty. But we weren’t on our highest level today.”

Robinson was sent to review his decision not to originally award a penalty by the video assistant referee and there was uproar when a replay of the incident was shown on the big screen as Ndiaye waited to take the spot kick, which he duly tucked away but was then booked for an overzealous impression of a seagull.

Hürzeler was still shaking his head as he went down the tunnel for half-time and he withdrew Brajan Gruda at the break for Georginio Rutter. Suddenly Brighton had more purpose and Kaoru Mitoma fizzed a curling shot just past Jordan Pickford’s far post. The England goalkeeper had to react after a mix-up with Jake O’Brien forced him to tip a looping ball over the crossbar, with the outstanding Jarrad Branthwaite using his head to block a powerful goalbound shot from the resulting corner by Carlos Baleba.

The Everton defender was relieved that Rutter could not hit the target after he gave the ball away cheaply. Yet despite all their late pressure, that was as close as Brighton came to spoiling a perfect day for Moyes.