Late Wayne Rooney penalty rescues Everton point at Brighton

Wayne Rooney struck a last-minute penalty as Everton snatched a 1-1 draw at Brighton in the Premier League.

Everton began the game hovering just above the relegation spots, with Brighton directly above them on goal difference, and again lacked pace in their attacks as their opponents defended diligently.

In the second half, Mason Holgate had an early chance beaten away, but both sides continued to struggle to make a meaningful attempt on goal.

With less than 10 minutes remaining, Anthony Knockaert seized on a loose ball in the box after Jose Izquierdo had his shot blocked by Keane and appeared to win it for Brighton, but Bruno's senseless elbow on Dominic Calvert Lewin allowed Rooney to equalise from the spot in the dying moments of the game.

The draw carries Brighton and Everton into 14th and 16th respectively in the table.

Everton desperately need reinforcements in attack. Ronald Koeman has tried to vary things, with Oumar Niasse and Nikola Vlasic used ahead of other options, but they lack pace and invention. Gylfi Sigurdsson delivers an excellent dead ball, but that is not enough to break down defences that are well drilled or happy to sit back in numbers - they will not often be gifted penalties as they were today.

Mathew Ryan (Brighton): He has endured a difficult start to life in the Premier League, and this was by no means an exceptional performance, but against Everton he was alert to danger at set pieces, provided little hope to the opposition and was able to keep Everton's poor attack at bay for what was almost the whole match.

Brighton: Ryan 7, Bruno 5, Dunk 6, Duffy 6, Suttner 6, Knockaert 6, Stephens 6, Propper 5, March 5, Gross 7, Murray 6. Subs: Huenemeier 6, Izquierdo 7, Brown 7.

Everton: Pickford 7, Baines 6, Keane 6, Jagielka 6, Holgate 7, Schneiderlin 5, Gana 6, Sigurdsson 5, Calvert-Lewin 6, Vlasic 5, Rooney 6. Subs: Mirallas 6, Niasse 6, Davies 6.

19' - RYAN SAVE - Vlasic receives a pass from Sigurdsson, he rolls the ball on for Gueye to blast at goal, and Ryan pushes away the low shot.

32' - DUNK CHANCE - Brighton take the corner short, Gross sends in a cross from the left. It's cleared, but only as far as Knockaert, whose shot is blocked, running to Dunk yards out of goal, but his shot is turned behind with a desperate slide by Keane.

34' - GUEYE SHOT - Gueye has another attempt on goal. Coming inside from the left, he looks to curl a shot to the low far corner, but it's inches wide.

53' - HOLGATE SHOT - Holgate tricks his way past March to slam a shot from a tight angle at goal, but it's palmed away well by Ryan.

82' - GOAL! Brighton 1-0 Everton. Knockaert scores - Izquierdo has a shot in the box blocked by a defender, but it's not cleared. The ball is worked to Knockaert and he clips it past Pickford to put Brighton ahead.

90' - GOAL! Brighton 1-1 Everton. Rooney scores - Rooney calmly slots home the penalty after Bruno elbows Calvert-Lewin in the neck. He should be off, but nobody will care just now.

The first hour saw both teams combine to have just 12 touches in their opponent's penalty area.