A desperately unlucky Ashley Young own goal six minutes from time was the only way a tireless Everton could be denied another victory as the Blues had to settle for a 1-1 draw against high-flying Brighton at Goodison Park.
Vitalli Mykolenko’s seventh-minute opener looked enough for Sean Dyche’s men to make it six wins from their past eight matches as they put in another resolute display packed with heart and character – combined with a constant threat on the counter.
But just as they looked to have seen off Brighton’s attackers with a fourth clean sheet in five, Karoru Mitoma’s cross took a horrible deflection off Young to beat Jordan Pickford.
The Blues, however, were rightly applauded off the pitch at full-time in appreciation for a performance that once again showed the ‘sweat on the shirt’ that Dyche demands from his team, who continue to show clear progress under his management.
Dyche made two changes from the XI that saw off Burnley 3-0 on Wednesday night to set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Fulham next month.
Fresh from penning a new one-year contract on Friday, Abdoulaye Doucoure came back into the side ahead of Arnaut Danjuma, while Idrissa Gana Gueye lined up alongside him in midfield, with Amadou Onana out with a minor calf problem.
It was Doucoure who had the first chance on three minutes, too, Dwight McNeil’s left-wing cross falling to the Mali international from 12 yards out as he smashed a volley that was punched away by keeper Bart Verbruggen.
There was no denying the Blues four minutes later, however. McNeil was the creator once more, swinging in a cross from the left flank to pick out Mykolenko. The Ukrainian saw his initial shot from the edge of the six-yard box parried by Verbruggen before thundering the rebound into the roof of the net via a deflection off Lewis Dunk.
Dunk thought he had grabbed an equaliser with 14 minutes on the clock when Pascal Gross lofted a 35-yard free-kick to the left side of the penalty area for the England international to net a precise finish in off the bar. To the delight around Goodison, though, a long VAR check confirmed Dunk was inches offside and Everton preserved their advantage.
The Blues continued to look a threat going forward, Dunk receiving a yellow card for bringing down Calvert-Lewin on the edge of the area following a powerful run down the middle from the No.9, James Garner hitting the resulting set piece over the bar.
Calvert-Lewin was back at it again on the half-hour mark, collecting possession on halfway and driving to the edge of the area before dragging his finish wide of the right-hand post.
Brighton were the first to threaten after the break, Dunk in the thick of the action again with a 20-yard free-kick that was heading for the top right-hand corner only for Jordan Pickford to tip the shot out for a corner.
The visitors went close again on 67 minutes as the dangerous Kaoru Mitoma cut a path down the left byline, his cutback falling to Gross who blasted over from 15 yards.
Everton had to soak up pressure from Brighton’s talented attackers and it took a superb block from Tarkowski to keep out substitute Joao Pedro’s finish after a flowing move.
McNeil had sight at goal following good work down the right by Young and Harrison, drilling a low shot inches past the post.
Brighton came into the contest having scored in 18 straight Premier League away games but it took a huge slice of fortune for them to make it 19 with six minutes to go.
Mitoma cut in from the left touchline and watched his cross hit Young and loop over a helpless Pickford into the net.
Despite the suckerpunch, Everton showed great character to pick themselves up and push for a late winner, going agonisingly close when Garner’s corner fizzed along the goalline but a blue shirt couldn’t turn it over the goalline.
Brighton threatened themselves in the final seconds, with both sides settling for a point in what was an entertaining encounter at Goodison.
