DAVID MOYES GOES WILD: EVERTON BOSS CHANNELS DAVID PLEAT AFTER DRAMATIC LATE BETO EQUALIZER
David Moyes admits he nearly tried a knee slide after Beto’s late equaliser saved Everton in a dramatic 1-1 draw at Brighton.
The Toffees boss couldn’t hide how he felt at the Amex. When Beto, who’d just come on, poked in a goal deep into stoppage time, wiping out Pascal Gross’ earlier strike, Moyes just let it all out.
His reaction? Honestly, it looked a lot like that old clip of David Pleat sprinting across Maine Road when Luton pulled off their great escape in ’83. Moyes, at 62, even thought about going for a knee slide. He did pick up a yellow card, but that’s not going to stop him next time.
“I hope you’re not going to start calling me ‘Pleaty’,” Moyes joked.
“The thing is, David Pleat never got booked for it. Back then, it was fine—people loved seeing managers go wild after a big goal. Now, we’re told we can’t leave the technical area, can’t celebrate properly. That’s the stuff you all want to see and talk about!”
Would he do it again? “You bet I would!” he said, laughing. “Honestly, if I were a bit more nimble, maybe I would’ve tried the knee slide too. What’s one yellow card anyway? Might as well go for it.”
Everton really didn’t get going in the first half. After the break, though, they took control. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall missed a huge chance, then Gross got his first Brighton goal since coming back from Dortmund. Brighton almost went ahead earlier too—Mitoma came close around the 19th minute—and for a while, it looked like they’d just hang on.
Then, right at the death, Beto pounced after Bart Verbruggen spilt a shot from Jake O’Brien. The away end exploded.
“It was a mad finish,” Moyes said. “It didn’t look like we’d get the equaliser, but in the end, we earned it. Dewsbury-Hall should’ve put us ahead, and they missed a big one in the first half too.”
Brighton now sit three points behind Everton, with only one win in their last 11 league games. The mood among Albion fans hasn’t been great, and coach Fabian Hurzeler knows it.
“I think it’s just a small group feeling that way,” he said. “They’re allowed to be frustrated—even with me. That’s football. But what matters is they stuck behind the team today, and I appreciate that.”
He’s not running from criticism. “I’m open to it, good or bad. I want to go through this with the fans. We just need to handle those big moments better. We switched off for one second, and it cost us the match. It hurts, but we’ll get through it and bounce back.”
HOW JAMES MADDISON’S INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SIGNALS A SHOCK SEASON RETURN
James Maddison returns to individual training as Igor Tudor prepares Tottenham for a vital relegation battle with Forest.
Ahead of Tottenham’s match against Nottingham Forest, manager Igor Tudor gave an update on when James Maddison might return from injury. It’s a crucial moment for Spurs as they prepare to host Forest in what could be the defining 90 minutes of Tudor’s time at the club and quite possibly a key fixture that will shape the season for both teams.
Currently separated by just one point, Tottenham and Forest are locked in a battle against relegation. A win would push Spurs four points clear of the drop zone, while a loss might drag them into the bottom three. The stakes couldn’t be clearer.
Tudor’s side heads into this game with renewed energy, surprisingly positive given the mood just two weeks ago. The draw at Anfield broke a six-game losing streak, and their recent 3-2 victory over Atlético Madrid, though not enough to overturn the aggregate score, brought back a sense of belief. Young players like Xavi Simons and Archie Gray impressed, while Mathys Tel kept the opposition on their toes. The atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was electric in a way fans haven’t felt for months. While the Champions League hopes are dashed, that performance has injected valuable momentum into Spurs’ survival fight.
There’s also some hopeful news on the injury front. Dominic Solanke, who missed the Atlético leg with a hip issue, might be available. His physical presence adds a different dimension to Tottenham’s attack, which Tudor will surely be glad to have.
But the most promising update came from Tudor’s comments about Maddison. The creative midfielder, sidelined since August after rupturing his ACL in a preseason friendly, has begun some individual training, spotted alongside Palhinha. Recoveries from ACL injuries are never straightforward, and the team won’t rush him back. With only seven league games left after Sunday, there’s a narrow window for his return. Still, even the possibility of Maddison getting back on the pitch—someone who can change a game with a moment of skill or a precise pass—offers a much-needed morale boost.
For now, though, the focus remains firmly on Forest.
WHY BORUSSIA DORTMUND EXPECT JADON SANCHO TO SIGN FOR FREE
Unai Emery praises Jadon Sancho despite poor stats, while Dortmund free up £21m in wages to lure him back to Germany.
Borussia Dortmund really want Jadon Sancho back, and they’re hoping to get him for free from Manchester United. Sancho’s contract runs out this summer, and honestly, no one expects United to offer him a new one.
Right now, Sancho’s on loan at Aston Villa. It’s his third spell away from Old Trafford since United signed him for £73 million in 2021. His move to Villa was just a loan with no option to buy.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, has hinted he might keep Sancho, but Dortmund aren’t sitting around. The Times says Dortmund didn’t chase wingers last summer because Nico Kovac liked the 3-4-2-1 formation, but now the boss has changed his mind and wants Sancho back.
If Sancho comes back, he'll need to take a hefty pay cut from his £300,000-a-week salary. Still, Dortmund’s where he made his name after moving from Manchester City in 2017.
Dortmund have room in the budget this summer; they let the contracts of Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, and Salih Özcan run out. That saves them about £21 million a year, and they’re optimistic they can lure Sancho, who’s allowed to strike pre-contract deals with foreign clubs.
Sancho actually spent half of the 2024 season back at Dortmund after Erik ten Hag froze him out at United. He helped them reach the Champions League final, but nothing permanent came of it.
Something similar happened during his loan to Chelsea last season. The club even paid a £5 million penalty just to avoid having to sign him outright. Villa picked him up right at the transfer deadline in September, but, once again, he’s struggled.
So far, Sancho’s got one goal and one assist in 29 games across all competitions. Still, Emery thinks there’s more to come.
When asked in February about signing Sancho for good, Emery said, “Not yet, but he’s a fantastic player. Hopefully, he can help us by improving within our system, like he is doing.
“He’ll need a new contract; maybe it’s here. If he plays his best football, we’ll want him. But other teams will be interested, too.”
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