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.
PAJason Steele looks all at sea as he nets an embarrassing own goal[/caption]
Steele then made it even worse visually with a backwards tumbleRex
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.
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.