FANS joked Brighton keeper Jason Steele has been “watching too much David de Gea” after his own-goal horror against Everton.
Dwight McNeil’s cross flew in off Steele’s leg after he left his near post exposed.
That put relegation strugglers Everton 3-0 up after a crazy first 35 minutes at European hopefuls Brighton on Monday.
Uncapped Englishman Steele, 32, only replaced Spanish international Robert Sanchez as the Seagulls’ first-choice stopper in March.
And until Monday’s blunder the long-time deputy had justified manager Roberto De Zerbi’s decision to promote him above Sanchez.
Ironically, Steele’s sudden rise was partly due to his footwork – as De Zerbi likes to play out from the back.
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But the ex-Blackburn and Sunderland stopper appeared to either get his bearings wrong or gamble as he prepared for McNeil to whip the ball in.
The keeper left a yard of space between himself and the goal.
And as the ball came in he got down on his knees – watching in anguish as it then flashed inside the near post off his stretching leg.
Poor Steele even finished up doing a backwards head-over-heels.
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And fans were merciless about his error.
One said: “Jason Steele has been watching too much De Gea.”
Another wrote: “De Zerbi ball = Chaos.”
It follows Manchester United No1 De Gea fumbling in Said Benrahma’s tame long-ranger for West Ham’s winner on Sunday.
Defeat meant the Red Devils are just a point above fifth-placed Liverpool, although Erik ten Hag’s men still have a game in hand.
Steele’s cock-up was a massive boost for the Toffees.
And it got even better for Sean Dyche’s side when McNeil rounded Steele for a tap-in to make it four in the second half.
Alexis Mac Allister bundled home a consolation for Brighton before McNeil rifled in another in stoppage time to seal a shock 5-1 victory.
The win lifts Dyche’s side out of the drop zone by two points, with three games remaining.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
