Everton Under-21s manager Paul Tait praised Kyle John and Ishe Samuels-Smith for the roles they played in his side’s magnificent win over Brighton & Hove Albion.
After a 3-2 victory over Southampton on Wednesday afternoon, Tait’s side made it back-to-back wins with a 2-1 victory over Shannon Ruth’s side on Sunday evening. The young Blues came from behind at the Elite Football Performance Centre.
Samy Chouchane fired the hosts ahead after 11 minutes before Kyle John and Mackenzie Hunt struck in the second-half to secure Tait’s side all three points. John also played a key role in Hunt’s winner seven minutes from time.
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"We were magnificent, especially in the second half. The press, the energy, the running, the fight and the character were really good,” Tait told evertonfc.com.
"I was a bit disappointed with the first half because we didn’t get the press right and we showed them too much respect and too much of the ball.
“But we stayed in the game and gave ourselves a chance. Then in the second half we were out of the traps quickly and we dominated the game. We probably should have won by more goals in the end."
Before he added on Hunt and Samuels-Smith, saying: "Kyle John and Ishe Samuels-Smith, the wing-backs, were excellent.
“Kyle got up and down, won his tackles, scored a goal and created chances. And he should have had a penalty.
“Wing-back may not be Ishe’s favourite position but he was excellent. But I don’t want to single anyone out because they all contributed. It was just a fantastic team performance.
"Look how hard the front two worked. They worked their socks off and some of the quality that Frankie (Okoronkwo) showed, he was a real number nine for us in that second half."
Everton Under-21s return to Premiuer League 2 action on Friday night when they welcome Fulham to Haig Avenue.
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