At only 31-years-old, Brighton’s Fabian Hurzeler is the first Premier League manager to be born after the competition begun in 1992. Not that he found it too difficult to figure it out yesterday.
Against one of the league’s most experienced current managers, Everton’s Sean Dyche, Hurzeler’s Seagulls ran riot.
Kaoru Mitoma scored on his first appearance since February. Danny Welbeck, two years older than his gaffer, added a second and concussion substitute Simon Adingra wrapped things up late on.
The first two assists were provided by The Seagulls big summer buys Yankuba Minteh and Mats Wieffer.
There was a standing ovation from the travelling support for James Milner who is appearing in his 23rd Premier League season – a record – but only boos from the home end at the final whistle.
Everton started the new Premier League season with a woeful 3-0 defeat at home to Brighton
Kaoru Mitoma returned to the Brighton first team to open the scoring in the 25th minute
Danny Welbeck made it 2-0 for Brighton, slotting home on the 56th minute of the second half
Everton looked beaten before 39-year-old Ashley Young was sent off midway through the second half for a tug on Mitoma.
Dyche had hoped limiting Everton’s pre-season trips to Ireland while rivals went around the globe would keep them fresh. It worked for the opening 10 minutes, after that they were second-best in terms of keep-ball and attacking potency.
Hurzeler, recruited from promotion-winning German club St Pauli in the summer, said afterwards: ‘It is a very good feeling but I don’t want to talk about myself. The players deserved this, the way they worked pre-season. I am very proud of them.
‘In some moments we suffered but after a time we tried to control the game, had good chances then went 1-0 ahead. I’m very happy. It’s a good start but nothing more and it’s important to stay humble.’
A beaten Dyche added: ‘It’s horrible as a manager at half-tine when the players are doing everything you ask and you conceded a pretty soft goal. Then we get someone sent off and the whole feeling changes. Unfortunately had these moments early last season, headscratchers.
‘Young knows he should head that and not bring him (Mitoma) down. Those turning points and decisions are massive.’
It felt emotional at kick off with the start of the final season at historic Goodison. After nine minutes, fans gave a rousing rendition of Super Kev in tribute to one of their great No9s Kevin Campbell who passed away in June.
The home side started well. Jack Harrison was denied by Jason Steele and had a goal ruled out for offside whilst Dwight McNeil should have done better than hitting the post from close range.
Brighton’s Simon Adingra scored a third for Brighton in the closing stages of the match
Yasin Araya (centre) celebrates a disallowed goal in the closing stages of the game
Referee Simon Hooper showed Ashley Young a straight red in the 66th minute
Young was sent-off for denying Mitoma a clear goal-scoring opportunity in the second half
Brighton’s new boss, Fabian Hurzeler (right) made an impressive start to life in the Premier League
The visitors showed their teeth when Joao Pedro also struck the woodwork from the edge of the box and after 25 minutes, record signing Minteh showed why Brighton paid Newcastle £30million for him over the summer.
The 20-year-old winger sped past Vitality Mykolenko without any trouble and had the composure to cross into the six-yard box where Mitoma stretched to convert.
Minteh almost produced an encore by showing dazzling feet to feed Welbeck who fired over.
It was a tough way for Everton to start what is their final season playing at Goodison Park
Everton paid tribute to their late former player Kevin Campbell during Saturday’s match
But the Gambian international’s day was cut short when he was replaced after 45 minutes for concussion substitute Simon Adingra after bravely blocking Mykolenko in his own box.
‘We were disappointed for him (Minteh) but you can’t take any risks. The health of the player is more important and we are responsible for that. I am confident he will be back next week,’ added Hurzeler.
Everton were initially awarded a penalty early in the second half when Dominic Calvert-Lewin fell under a challenge with Lewis Dunk.
VAR advised referee Simon Hooper to check his monitor, technical issues meant he couldn’t see the first screen but he did view the smaller one underneath and decided the Everton striker had stood on his opponent’s foot rather than the other way round.
Brighton’s second goal after 56 minutes was also assisted by a new boy. Wieffer threaded a pass for Welbeck and as Everton’s central defenders stood off he advanced to the edge of the penalty area and finished low with his left-foot.
Things got worse for the home side after 66 minutes when Young received a straight red card for dragging back Mitoma and denying him a clear goalscoring opportunity.
Milner was given a big ovation when substituted late on but the visitors hadn’t finished tormenting their demoralised opponents.
After 86 minutes, Adingra advanced to within shooting range and buried a finish similar to Welbecks. He then squared for Yasin Ayari to net again but on this occasion the offside decision favoured Everton.
Not that it bothered Hurzeler who is younger than nine of the players who started this game and was also only nine-years-old when Milner made his Premier League debut in 2002.
