A new dawn for Everton as their Hill Dickinson Stadium opened for business could not have gone much better. **David Moyes**’s side put two goals past Brighton & Hove Albion without conceding as the positivity from the stands cascaded to the players on the pitch.
More of this and Everton will quickly establish their new ground as a tricky place for opposition teams to visit.
Jack Grealish racing down the wing on his home debut and crossing for Iliman Ndiaye to score along with James Garner lashing in a drive from distance were exhibits of what Moyes, and Everton supporters, will want to see on a more frequent basis.
Ndiaye’s opener means he takes a unique place in the club’s history by becoming the last scorer at Goodison Park and the first at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Grealish’s home debut of two assists, along with a fine first showing by Thierno Barry, certainly added to Everton’s attack.
However, the hosts did have to ride their luck. Brighton were twice denied by the frame of the goal, a rare lapse from James Tarkowski almost proved costly before half time and Jordan Pickford saved a weak penalty from Danny Welbeck.
Victory made this significant moment all the sweeter for Everton. There was a feeling in the air of a page being turned in the club’s history. After 133 years at Goodison Park, playing anywhere else was going to be a surreal moment.
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Everton have long toyed with the idea of moving, and the early signs are that this is an arena that pulls the club into the modern day. Dan Meis, the American architect who designed the stadium, was present and he can be proud of his work.
Story of the game
Yet, Moyes has eluded plenty of times already about now building a team that is worthy of playing in such a plush new venue and talked of the supporters’ “new romance” with the stadium only lasting if the players perform inside it.
A good first impression at the start of this new era was therefore key and Moyes’s team selection attempted to rectify the meekness that was present in their attack during last Monday’s 1-0 loss at Leeds United.
First starts for Grealish and Barry, who came in for Carlos Alcaraz and Beto, gave Everton more of an outlet. Noticeable, too, was how the home team tried to play through the thirds more along with using the wings.
It was Ndiaye who had their first shot in anger when he nipped around a handful of Brighton players with shimmies and a step-over but his shot was too close to Bart Verbruggen. The Senegal international would open the scoring midway through the first half.
Barry held the ball up and it was worked across to Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who released Grealish down the left wing. He turned on the turbo charges to push past **Mats Wieffer**before firing a fierce cross into the six yard box that Ndiaye stuck out his right leg to convert at the back post.
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A historic moment in the new stadium had come against the run of play, though. Brighton had been somewhat of an after-thought given the pre-match hoopla, but **Fabian Hurzeler**’s side quietened the crowd with their patient possession.
They should have taken the lead themselves. Welbeck, in for the injured Georginio Rutter, was given a great opportunity on 19 minutes when Yankuba Minteh eased past Idrissa Gueye on the right. The former England striker turned the ball over from close range — but, admittedly, the pass was slightly behind him.
Brighton also struck the woodwork twice. Kaoru Mitoma showed his class when racing on to a long ball that caught out Tarkowski and flicking it back over the centre-back’s head before rifling a right-footed volley against the crossbar. **Jan Paul van Hecke**’s had a shot deflect onto the upright, too.
Everton almost gifted the visitors an equaliser on the cusp of half time. Tarkowski uncharacteristically played a blind back pass straight to Matt O’Riley but Pickford was sharp to thwart the Brighton player and save his team-mate’s blushes.
If the hosts had been fortunate to remain ahead at the break, they quickly doubled their lead seven minutes into the second half. Barry again played a part with a one-two with Ndiaye and then passing to Gueye who flicked a fine pass out to Grealish.
When Grealish rolled the ball for Garner, it screamed shoot. And the midfielder, deputising at left back for a second successive game, unleashed a drive that flew past the diving Verbruggen into the bottom corner.
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That certainly had those in the towering South Stand on their feet. And although Brighton returned to dominating the ball, Everton were largely comfortable.
That was until the 75th minute when Minteh’s shot was blocked by Dewsbury-Hall’s arm which was away from his body but in a natural position. Given how close the Everton player was, it was harsh for the penalty to be awarded. Pickford guessed right, however, and stopped Welbeck’s tame spot-kick.
It summed up Brighton’s start to the season whereby their two displays have deserved more than the one-point return they must try and build on when they host Manchester City next Sunday. Alas this wasn’t Brighton’s day, it was Everton’s — a significant one and a winning one.