Despite controlling the early stages, Sean Dyche’s team fell behind when an unmarked Kaoru Mitoma scored after a strong setup by debutant Yankuba Minteh. The second half turned into a nightmare for Everton as Danny Welbeck capitalized on an Idrissa Gueye mistake to double Brighton’s lead. The situation worsened when Ashley Young was sent off for a foul on Mitoma, and Simon Adingra sealed the 3-0 win with a late goal.
In the aftermath of the defeat, James Tarkowski urged his teammates not to be too discouraged, despite the heavy scoreline. He remained confident that Everton could have secured a result before going down to 10 men. Reflecting on the performance, Tarkowski highlighted positive aspects of their play, particularly in the first half, where they successfully disrupted Brighton’s possession.
Tarkowski also pointed out key moments that could have changed the game’s outcome, such as Jack Harrison’s close offside call and a penalty decision involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Despite the loss, Tarkowski emphasized that there’s a long season ahead, and they must focus on improving their goal-scoring and overall play.
He acknowledged that Everton’s preseason had been disrupted by injuries, but stressed that the team is slowly coming together. Tarkowski called for patience, insisting that the squad should be judged at the end of the season rather than after one poor result, and expressed optimism that the team will improve as the campaign progresses.
