Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi refused to get carried away after his side hammered Everton at Goodison Park to pile more pressure on Frank Lampard.
After a bright start, Lampard’s side soon became second best, and it wasn’t long before the visitors broke the deadlock. Nathan Patterson misjudged Moises Caicedo’s pass to Kaoru Mitoma, with the Japan international cutting inside and firing past Jordan Pickford after just 14 minutes.
Everton, who were fortunate not to fall further behind when teenager Evan Ferguson struck the outside of the post, were booed off at half-time. But things went from bad to worse in the second-half as De Zerbi’s side scored three times in six minutes.
JOE THOMAS MATCH VERDICT: Everton board can't ignore Goodison Park as angry home fans make feelings clear
CHRIS BEESLEY: Brighton are everything Everton are not as huge question stares club in the face
Ferguson, making his full Premier League debut, added a second before Solly March made it 3-0 with a low finish into the bottom corner of the net. Idrissa Gueye then presented the ball to Pascal Gross, who after racing clear coolly dinked the ball over Pickford.
"I didn't like the first half but the game was difficult because Everton is always a good team. In the second half we played better. We played well,” De Zerbi said post-match.
"There were some problems in the first half. We have to improve. I am happy for the result for sure but I am honest. We have a lot of space to improve.
"The players were fantastic in the second half. I have to analyse the performance not only the result. 4-1 was a fantastic game but I have to be honest and clear with my players."
And when asked about 18-year-old Ferguson, the Brighton boss said "He can become a great striker. He has a big potential - physical and technical. In our team my work is to help the young players to progress."
READ NEXT:
