Alexis Mac Allister’s performance at Everton was praised by boss Graham Potter as Brighton & Hove Albion secured a 3-2 win at Goodison Park.

The Argentine playmaker scored twice to take his tally to five goals this season, but it’s not just his attitude on the pitch that has impressed the Albion manager.

He was restored to the starting XI for the Boxing Day win against Brentford and in the space of a week has helped Brighton to seven points out of nine.

'His overall contribution was fantastic'

“It just goes to show football changes quickly,” said Potter after the match. “A few weeks ago he would have been disappointed because he hasn’t had the game time, and I understand that.

"But in fairness to him he has worked hard and because he has been professional when he got the opportunity he performed and that’s what he’s done this week.

“They were two great goals, but his overall contribution was fantastic. It’s important for us that we can get goals from other areas of the pitch and we’re delighted with two goals from Alexis and one from a set-play, it’s important.

“Before the game on Sunday we were thinking ‘can he go again?’ but he’s in a good place. Confidence is high and when you’re in that moment it’s nice to keep going.”

The Argentina midfielder scored from close range after three minutes to put Albion in front, before his wonderful half-volley with 20 minutes to play in the second half turned out to be the winner, after Dan Burn had nodded in Albion’s second midway through the first half.

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'I am delighted for Alexis'

“It’s important for us as a team that we have people contributing goals from different positions, not just the strikers,” Potter said.

“I am delighted for Alexis. He has to be patient and support the team from the sides which he has done really well. He’s played three games in a week this week, I thought it was a fantastic performance from him.

“It’s been a fantastic week overall for us – seven points from Brentford, Chelsea and Everton away is a really good return. We had to dig into at times but in the first half we played really well and were the better team.

“As is always the case at Everton, it’s difficult to control the game with the home crowd and you have to dig in and defend. We scored some good goals so I am delighted for the players and for our supporters who travelled and really got behind us as usual.”

Stern Seagulls

The win on Merseyside moved the Seagulls to eighth in the Premier League table as we reach the midway point of the season, with The Amex Stadium outfit losing just four matches so far. 

Only the top three have lost fewer, which is testament to how well the Seagulls have fared in the first half of the campaign. And whilst supporters will argue there have maybe been one too many draws, it is evident that Potter has assembled a side difficult to defeat.

The Seagulls boss added: “We’re in a decent moment – there’s only three teams who have lost fewer games than us in the league. We got confidence from the performance against Brentford and the result at Chelsea.

“That was probably reflected in our first-half performance, the boys were brave and created opportunities. But at Goodison Park, Everton don’t have to do too much to get their fans involved in the game and then it becomes hard to control things.

"We’re disappointed with the goals we conceded, but we’re delighted with the three points.”

After this weekend's Emirates FA Cup adventure at West Bromwich Albion, the Seagulls welcome Crystal Palace in the A27 derby when they return to Premier League action on Friday, January 14.

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