Séamus Coleman’s strike sees off Leeds to lift Everton out of relegation zone

There was no instant celebration from Séamus Coleman on the final whistle, he was too engaged in a post-match argument with Wilfried Gnonto for that, but the significance of his stupendous match-winning strike against Leeds was not lost on the Everton captain entirely. The 34-year-old departed down the tunnel with a fist-pump, a roar to the crowd and with his club out of the relegation zone at Leeds’ expense after a slender but vital win at Goodison Park.

Coleman decided a genuine scrap between two relegation rivals with a superb second-half strike to leave Leeds without a win in 10 Premier League matches and caretaker manager Michael Skubala scrambling for positives. The visitors lacked conviction, composure and urgency throughout. Everton had the edge but not of the cutting variety until their tireless captain crashed home a half-volley almost from the touchline to give Sean Dyche a second successive home win as manager.

The first half confirmed the old adage that the league table doesn’t lie. Everton were the better of two poor teams but, to no great surprise, lacked quality in the final third to make their industry count. Leeds started brightly but carried even less of a threat. A Crysencio Summerville header in first-half stoppage time, that sailed over the bar from Junior Firpo’s centre, was as close as the visitors came to troubling Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal.

Before kick off there was a minute’s applause for Christian Atsu, the former Everton player who died in the earthquake in Turkey aged just 31. Everton players also sported black armbands in tribute.

Dyche’s side contained Leeds and controlled much of the play. They also had enough opportunities to establish a valuable lead before the interval with