The Media Review: Everton beaten on the opening day

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The newspapers react to our excellent opening day win over Everton.

Nick Szczepanik

2024-08-18T11:15+01:00

Yankuba Minteh gave Albion supporters a real taste of what he can bring this season. 📷 by James Boardman.

There are no prizes for guessing how many of the Sunday papers led their reports of Albion’s 3-0 victory away to Everton with a reference to the age of new head coach: every one of them, of course. But all were part of glowing appreciations of the team’s performance on what is almost certain to be our last visit to Goodison Park.

James Shield set the tone in The Sunday Telegraph, “‘New ground, in the Championship,’ taunted Brighton and Hove Albion’s jubilant supporters towards the end of this emphatic away victory at Goodison Park,” he wrote.

“It is too early to judge if Everton’s 132-year stay at the stadium will end in relegation. But not, on the evidence of his team’s performance, the wisdom of the visitors’ decision to appoint Fabian Hurzeler as head coach following Roberto De Zerbi’s departure last season. Aged 31 and the youngest ever manager in Premier League history, the German displayed tactical maturity and strategic nous by identifying the vulnerabilities of Sean Dyche’s side and then devising a game-plan to exploit them.

Fabian Hurzeler got his reign as Albion boss off to a perfect start at Goodison Park. 📷 by James Boardman.

“Although Ashley’s Young’s red card and some careless Everton defending providing them with a helping hand, the role Hurzeler played in Albion’s triumph should not be underestimated. After leading St Pauli into the Bundesliga earlier this year, the enterprising play which delivered a 65 percent win percentage at the Millentor Stadion was on display. Together, perhaps even more importantly for Albion given the tests which lie ahead, with a stubbornness which enabled Albion to negotiate a tricky start.”

Andy Hunter also mixed new Albion boss and old Everton ground in his intro in The Observer, along with a touch of Casablanca. “The beginning of the end for Goodison Park heralded the start of a potentially beautiful friendship for Fabian Hurzeler and Brighton,” he wrote. “The youngest permanent manager in Premier League history delivered a debut to savour as the visitors spoiled Everton’s final opening day at their home of 132 years with an emphatic victory.

“A determined start by Everton was a distant memory by the time Simon Adingra converted Brighton’s third goal. The margin of victory should have been much bigger. Brighton were full of energy and ideas against opponents that ran out of both and whose performance unravelled in the second half. For the 31-year-old Hürzeler, however, first impressions were hugely positive.

Simon Adingra slotted in expertly to build on Albion's advantage. 📷 by James Boardman.

“Everton were vulnerable to the pace and movement of the visitors’ front line whenever they struck. João Pedro hit the base of a post with Jordan Pickford well beaten before Brighton took the lead against the run of play, but with a goal that demonstrated the individual quality of Yankuba Minteh, their summer signing from Newcastle, and the collective strength of their attacking options.”

Joe Bernstein of The Mail on Sunday found a slightly different twist, writing that “Fabian Hurzeler is the first Premier League manager to be born after the competition begun in 1992. Not that he found it too difficult to figure it out yesterday.

“Against one of the league’s most experienced current managers, Everton’s Sean Dyche, Hurzeler’s Seagulls ran riot. Kaoru Mitoma scored on his first appearance since February. Danny Welbeck, two years older than his gaffer, added a second and concussion substitute Simon Adingra the third.

Kaoru Mitoma was back in action for the first time since February, but it was like he'd never been away. 📷 by James Boardman.

“The first two assists were provided by the Seagulls’ big summer signings. After 25 minutes, Yankubu Minteh sped past Mykolenko and had the composure to cross into the six-yard box, where Mitoma stretched to convert.

“Brighton’s second goal after 56 minutes was also assisted by a new boy. Wieffer threaded a pass for Welbeck and as Everton’s central defenders stood off he advanced to the edge of the penalty area and finished low with his left foot.

“[James] Milner was given a big ovation when substituted late on but the visitors hadn’t finished tormenting their demoralised opponents. After 86 minutes, Adingra advanced to within shooting range and buried a finish similar to Welbeck’s.”

Danny Welbeck opened his account for the season at Goodison Park. 📷 by James Boardman.

Merseyside being Merseyside, not all the reports were unanimous in cheerleading for Albion, with some preferring to concentrate on scouse misery. In The Sun on Sunday, long-time Liverpool man Phil Thomas could not resist seeing the game from an Everton perspective, although he wins this column’s Intro Of The Day award: “Fabian Hurzeler must wonder what all the fuss is about,” he wrote. “This Premier League management lark is clearly kids’ stuff.

“The coming months will prove otherwise, of course. Yet after this flying start, the Prem’s youngest ever gaffer can make the most of it for now. A three-goal stroll gave Hurzeler, 31, the dream beginning to his life as Brighton boss.

“Yet while it was all calm in the visiting dugout, Sean Dyche looked ready to blow in the home one, as his side were torn to shreds. Not helped by a controversial call going against them and a self-inflicted red card from veteran Ashley Young, eight years older than the opposing gaffer.

Ashley Young was sent off by Simon Hooper for dragging down Kaoru Mitoma when the Japan international raced through on goal. 📷 by James Boardman.

“It started to go wrong on 25 minutes when Kaoru Mitoma – playing his first game after a back injury in February – prodded in at the far post from Yankuba Minteh’s cross. It was debut boy Minteh’s high spot on an afternoon that saw him subbed when he was clattered, throwing himself to stop Vitalii Mykolenko from having a far post volley.

“Brighton medics insisted he heads for the bench as a concussion substitute. Minteh, signed from Newcastle, was far from dazed as he vainly argued his case to go back on. Not that the Seagulls needed him, or missed him, either.”

The Sunday Times headline, “Fans storm out in droves on dismal day” threatened a chewing up and spitting out of the Toffees, but the report, by Paul Joyce, was enthusiastic about the visitors. “Whatever Hurzeler is lacking in experience, he appears to make up for in coaching know-how and he looked in his element here,” he wrote.

Three points in the bag for Fabian Hurzeler and his team. 📷 by James Boardman.

“This was a dream start, one that will cement his credibility, and the celebrations in front of the away fans were suitably raucous.

“Brighton seemed more direct and, once in the opposition half, possessed the sort of pace, tricky attackers who can cause issues for many sides. The contest ran away from [Everton] as Brighton players waltzed around their rivals at will.”