Joel Veltman is a clever and sometimes crafty defender. He knows how to manage games and usually the many tricks of his trade go his way – just ask Arsenal’s Declan Rice or Ipswich’s Liam Delap. Expect this time, in the 42nd minute against Everton, it didn't.
Maybe there was a slight push on the experienced Dutchman and only Veltman will know if the handball that led to the match-winning penalty was deliberate. But, unfortunately for Brighton, referee Tim Robinson thought it was and Iliman Ndiaye slotted home the decisive spot kick.
The Premier League matchday centre posted: “The VAR checked for a potential penalty for handball by Veltman and deemed it as a deliberate action and recommended an on-field review. The referee then awarded a penalty to Everton.”
The onus was then all on Brighton but breaking through a David Moyes team requires patience and lots of it. Sometimes you crack the code, sometimes you don't.
Moyes will no doubt keep Everton in the top flight but on this Saturday afternoon’s evidence at the Amex, it will be a grind.
Brighton strikers Danny Welbeck and Joao Pedro hardly touched the ball as the away defence squeezed the life from Albion's attack.
Kaoru Mitoma fired an effort just wide on 50 minutes and substitute Georginio also came close on 68 minutes but despite plenty of pressure the clear cut chances failed to appear. Here’s how they rated:
9. Brajan Gruda - 4
A surprise starter ahead of Minteh and had little impact against a stubborn Everton defence. Still adapting to the Premier League. Photo: Mike Hewitt
10. Joao Pedro - 5
Full of effort and workrate but a chance just did not fall his way. Harshly booked on 82 minutes to sum up a frustrating day. Photo: Mike Hewitt
11. Kaoru Mitoma - 7
Looked the most dangerous of the Albion attackers especially at the start of the second half. His best effort arrived on 50 minutes as he curled one narrowly wide of Jordan Pickford's far post. Photo: Mike Hewitt
12. Danny Welbeck - 5
Similar to Pedro, Welbeck struggled to find any space to work with against the away defence. A very frustrating afternoon's work. Photo: Mike Hewitt