Everton 1-0 Leeds: Coleman catches Meslier out with cross shot to earn Toffees vital three points

Everton captain Seamus Coleman scored his first goal in a year to help his side climb out of the relegation zone at Leeds United’s expense.

The 34-year-old full-back settled a tense relegation encounter in spectacular style by firing in near the right-hand touchline with Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier off his line anticipating a cross.

It was Coleman’s first goal since he scored last February, also against Leeds, and made it consecutive home wins for new manager Sean Dyche.

In contrast, visitors Leeds didn’t register a shot on target and increased their need to appoint a permanent manager following Jesse Marsch’s sacking.

After a minute’s applause for ex-Everton player Christian Atsu whose death was announced in the Turkish earthquake, both sets of players did a commendable job of fighting for three points which were important in football terms at least.

Dyche gave Neal Maupay the responsibility of replacing injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin while Leeds interim Michael Skubala, perpetual motion in the technical area, kept faith with Patrick Bamford.

Everton spent the first half as the dominant team whilst showing at the same time why they are the lowest scorers in the division.

Twice, nobody got on the end of Dwight McNeil crosses and then he dallied and squared to Amadou Onana when Meslier’s spill looked the perfect shooting opportunity.

Max Wober and Weston McKennie cleared off the line in the same attack from Conor Coady and Maupay and when James Tarkowski got his head on another set piece, Meslier sprung to his right to claw the ball away.

Onana also skied a good chance set up by Idrissa Gueye.

The tension was evident when a skirmish between McNeil and Tyler Adams developed into a melee between both sets of players.

McNeil was shoved over and guarded over by a steward to protect him from any more. Referee Andy Madley had VAR to help him work out what had happened and both original protagonists plus Abdoulaye Doucoure were booked.

Wober didn’t reappear for the second half with Leeds sending on Rasmus Kristensen instead. Brenden Aaronson was introduced after an hour to give the visitors more attacking impetus.

It was still Everton doing the pressing however with Meslier saving from Maupay and Vitalii Mykolenko.

Having seen his forwards fail, Coleman then decided to take matters into his own hands.

He chased a long ball down the right from Alex Iwobi and though Koch thought he had the cross covered, he whipped it into an unguarded net from an angle where Meslier had strayed of his line.

Everton had never lost a match in which Coleman had scored and Leeds’ uncharacteristic lethargy meant the visitors rarely looked like forcing a turnaround despite record even though record signing Georginio Rutter was introduced with 12 minutes left.

Instead, the home side looked likelier to add a second and would have done had Doucoure sorted out his feet better when through on goal.