Sean Dyche says 26-year-old Everton player had chance to ‘seal the game’ v Brighton

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Lewis Dunk’s 95th-minute equaliser means Everton will have to wait a little longer for their first win of 2024.

Jarrad Branthwaite had fired the Toffees into a second-half lead, with Sean Dyche’s side heading towards their first three points of the year.

However, Dunk rose highest to head a looping effort over Jordan Pickford and into the net in front of the 3000 travelling Evertonians.

Before Dunk’s effort, the away side had opportunities to seal the game with one particular effort mentioned by Dyche in his post-match presser.

Sean Dyche on Everton’s missed chances

The former Burnley boss highlighted Beto’s opportunity to double Everton’s lead in the latter stages.

“Beto has a chance to seal the game late on. I don’t know whether he stumbles, but he doesn’t strike it cleanly – these are the defining moments, and we haven’t quite found them over the past run of games, yet the performances have been very good and strong, which I thought a lot of the game today was,” he told BBC Sport.

The 26-year-old’s move to Goodison Park hasn’t entirely gone to plan yet. Just one goal and five Premier League starts have followed since he completed his £25million move in the summer of 2023.

Heartbreak on the South Coast

Dunk’s late header is a sucker punch.

The Toffees looked on course for what would have been an invaluable three points. The signs are certainly there, and the upcoming fixture against West Ham United looks like an excellent opportunity to put three points on the board finally.

Dyche was also aggrieved with the additional time awarded after the clock struck 90.

He added: “But inevitably, they get nine minutes [stoppage time], and everyone is wondering where that came from, and the crowd get a lift, and they have the freedom to throw things forward.

“If anything, we should have kept the ball better, and the final moment, you’ve always got to stop a cross.”

Everton must find a way to become more potent in front of goal. Missed opportunities and lack of clear-cut efforts could prove costly come the end of the 2023/24 campaign.