Everton: Fans react to Lewis Dobbin goal

Football FanCast

By David Comerford

Published Nov 23, 2021

Lewis Dobbin was on target for Everton Under-23s as they beat Brighton 2-1 at Goodison Park on Monday night.

Lewis Dobbin was on target for Everton under-23s as they beat Brighton 2-1 at Goodison Park on Monday night.

In the 21st minute, the 18-year-old beat Brighton's James Furlong and fired the ball across goal into the bottom corner from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Reece Welch doubled Everton's lead on the half-hour mark, and a 79th-minute effort from Evan Ferguson proved too little, too late for the visitors.

It was Dobbin's second goal for the under-23s in his 15th appearance at that level. He had previously netted 14 times in 36 outings for the under-18s.

Gray's injury could be an opportunity for Dobbin

Dobbin, who can operate on either flank and as a centre-forward, has featured twice for the first team under Rafael Benitez this season, earning brief runouts against Norwich City and Manchester United.

'Early indications suggest' that Demarai Gray could face six weeks out with the abductor injury he suffered against Manchester City, so opportunity potentially knocks for the 18-year-old.

Another contender for Gray's spot in the team is Alex Iwobi, but the Nigerian has struggled this season, winning only 50% of his duels overall and drawing plenty of criticism from supporters over his performances. Former Toffees defender Michael Ball wrote that the 25-year-old's 'decision-making let him down again' after he replaced Gray at the Etihad Stadium.

Everton's official Twitter channel posted footage of Dobbin's goal against Brighton's under-23s, and here's what supporters had to say, with plenty calling for Benitez to get him into the team for the Premier League clash against Brentford next Sunday.