Ashley Young, 39, sent off after Everton veteran’s horror gaffe in nightmare season-opener vs Brighton

EVERTON’S Ashley Young was sent off in the Toffees 3-0 defeat against Brighton in a horror start to the season.

The 39-year-old full-back who recently signed a one-year contract extension with Sean Dyche’s side endured a nightmare performance in the season-opener against Brighton.

GettyAshley Young was sent off in Everton’s Premier League opener against Brighton[/caption]

AlamyThe 39-year-old received the red card after his poor touch by pulling back Kaoru Mitoma[/caption]

GettyYoung is the Toffee’s oldest outfield player in history[/caption]

With Saturday’s clash marking Young as the Toffee’s oldest outfield player in history the spotlight was on him for all the wrong reasons.

Everton were trailing 2-0 as Young committed a costly error that left his team down to 10 men.

His poor touch by pulling back Kaoru Mitoma‘s arm when the Japanese was through on goal.

Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity he received a straight red card from the referee Simon Hooper.

As Young trudged off the pitch Everton’s woes deepened.

Simon Adingra capitalised on the numerical advantage by scoring another goal for Brighton.

The Toffees’ defence struggled to brush off the visitors and Dyche’s side could really feel Young’s absence.

And Yasin Ayari thought he had scored Brighton’s fourth goal only for VAR to intervene.

The offside flag was raised and the goal was ruled out.

Saturday’s defeat marked the start of Young’s second season at Goodison Park after Everton signed the star as a free agent on a one-year contract.

And in May the former England star signed for another term at the club after making 34 appearances for Dyche’s side last season.