Everton frustration gives the game away about real story of Brighton draw

If you were looking for signs of progress then you would have found them at Goodison Park against Brighton & Hove Albion. Everton may have been denied a win by a cruel deflection but the disappointment that greeted Ashley Young’s late own goal told a story of its own.

This fixture last year represented one of the worst points of a dismal campaign as Brighton destroyed what was then Frank Lampard’s Blues. The contrast in the directions these two clubs were heading could not have been more stark.

Ten months later and Everton were a slice of bad luck from a hard-fought victory that would have sent this team soaring into mid-table off the back of six wins in eight games.

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The easy reaction to Brighton’s late equaliser would be to complain about officiating - Everton had several good claims for a penalty as they sought to protect their lead - or to bemoan the tired legs of a small squad, or the decision by Sean Dyche to turn to his substitutes bench only after his side had conceded to an opposition fresh with talented additions. But that would be to miss the real story of this cold, wet afternoon in L4.

Back in January the defeat to Brighton was indicative of so much that was going wrong at Everton. Now, all of a sudden, a lot is going right. Progress is in its early stages. In Everton’s circumstances it will be slow, tentative and there will be setbacks. But momentum, as fragile as it can only ever be, is building.

This result means one more point, it was another case of two in-form centre backs thwarting another excellent attack, three home