Evan Ferguson: I feel comfortable at this level
COMFORTABLE IN HIS SURROUNDINGS: Brighton and Hove Albion's Evan Ferguson celebrates scoring against Everton. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Brighton and Hove Albion's Irish teenage striker Evan Ferguson admitted he is enjoying his new found 'habit' of scoring in the Premier League.
The Dubliner struck a goal on his full Premier League debut against Everton on Tuesday night. It was his second goal in as many games after his strike off the bench against Arsenal on Saturday.
In doing so he became the first teenager to score in consecutive Premier League games since Federico Macheda for Manchester United in 2009.
The 18-year-old was a major influence as the Seagulls stormed to a brilliant 4-1 at Goodison Park, firing home the second goal and assisting Solly March for Brighton's third.
The Ireland international said: “It is not a bad habit! I think if I can keep that habit going I will be buzzing and I will be delighted. I think I’ll remember my first Premier League start for a long time.
“To hear that I was going to make my first start in the Premier League I think that it all comes down to concentration.
“As soon as the team-sheet comes out you have to concentrate on the job and know what you are doing, know what set pieces you are doing and go out there and try and do your best.
“It is all about keeping involved, keeping my head down and working hard and see where it goes.
“It is a very good team. There is good togetherness, everyone is working together, everyone wants the same things so it is easier to come in when the environment is like that. So it is very good.
“It’s the manager’s decision to play me, but I feel comfortable at this level. The other lads push me every day in training, we keep working hard on how we want to play.”
Ferguson converted a cross from Jeremy Sarmiento for his goal and he added: “Jeremy got the ball and I knew that when he gets in there he is dangerous, “So I was waiting for the cutback and luckily it came to me and I got it in.
“I am close to Jeremy now. We know what we are doing. We know each other's movements after training together every day and it is easy when we have an understanding who you are playing with.
“I feel like we were the better team and it was a a good bounce back from last week when we lost to Arsenal.
“I think we could do that bit better and we did and got the win.
“We want to score goals and try and get as many goals as possible.
“We created chances in the first-half that we didn't take so at half-time we came out and said let's go now and get a few more goals and put these to bed.
“It was disappointing to concede a goal but at the end of the day it is three points away from home so it is a good result.”
Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi says Ferguson has all the qualities to become a 'great striker'.
"I'm happy for Evan, he played a fantastic game," De Zerbi told the Brighton website.
"He has big potential and I think he can help us in the second part of the season. With Danny Welbeck, he can be very important as our strikers. Evan could become a great striker because he has all the qualities, both physical and technical.
"It was a mature performance by Evan."
Another Irish player, former Bray Wanderers midfielder Andrew Moran, was introduced as a substitute to make his Premier League debut.
Brighton have a string record of producing good young talent, and De Zerbi is keen to keep the conveyor belt rolling.
"My job is to give him and the other young players the possibility to play," he added.
"[Jeremy] Sarmiento played a good game too and I want to progress with young players.
"In the first half I didn't like the quality of our play in defensive spaces, but I can understand this, every Premier League game is difficult.
"But we asked more of ourselves and the second half was amazing, there was a different quality to our play - we played well. We played with more energy and scored more goals, I am only sad because of their goal.
"Their goal changed nothing today, but it could [do so] at the end of the season. But it is an important result and I am happy."
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
