The never ending international break was finally over and Everton had the chance to pick up where they left off after a resounding victory over Chelsea. A traditional away day on Grand National Day meant that t he 220 mile drive down to Brentford was as long as the game was important for both teams. Level on points, and only one point behind Chelsea in 6th and two behind Liverpool in 5th, both teams are looking up.
Team News
David Moyes was happy to have both Ndiaye and Mykolenko fit and ready to go. The one
change for the Toffees was the return to the squad of Jarrad Branthwaite. Michael Keane, who has consistently played well this season, dropped to the bench.
Keith Andrews made two changes to his side that were held to a goalless draw at Leeds. Kristoffer Ajer and Mikkel Damsgaard came in, with Ethan Pinnock and Jordan Henderson making way. Henderson was not even on the bench.
Match Report
The spring sunshine was beating down on the Gtech Stadium as Farai Hallam blew his whistle to get the match underway. Just 80 seconds into the match the Everton backline were sliced open with a long ball from the Brentford keeper. Pinnock was in on goal and Pickford took down him down. Igor Thiago stepped up for the penalty and slotted the ball just out of reach of the Everton goalie. An awful start for the visitors. A 20th goal for the Brazilian striker.
Brentford were energized by the goal as their supporters raised their voices. Everton benefitted from a series of Brentford errors which allowed Beto to get their first shot on goal but Beto’s attempt was blocked. Everton started to get on the ball as the Bees looked to counter attack after getting the lead.
Jarrad Branthwaite saw a gap open up which he took and his low drive went just wide of the post. Tarkowski was trying to get under Thiago’s skin which needed a word from the ref to settle things down. A great ball down the wing by Ndiaye to KDH who whipped it in to the box but Beto could not get a foot on it. Seconds later Beto had two point blank chances but Kelleher denied him.
Some good work by O’Brien in the corner led to a lovely cross from Gana which was met by Beto who steered the ball with his head into the corner. A good response from the visitors. There was a VAR check for a fould by O’Brien but it was clear that Lewis-Potter had fallen to draw the foul so the goal stood.
Everton had responded well to going behind and it was them that pushed to get the lead. The game was getting a bit spicy as the referee was allowing the players to play. KDH and Garner were getting on the ball more. Brentford broke on a counter attack and when the Everton defenders dropped off, Jensen took the chance and forced a brilliant save from Pickford.
Everton were handling the long throws into their box. Mykolenko made a nice defensive play to deny Thiago. Pickford was then called on to make a couple of big saves after Brentford packed the box for their corner. Ndiaye broke into the box and collided with the Brentford goalie. He was slow to get up but got back into the match as Gueye went down with a head injury.
Everton then broke forward but McNeil’s effort was blocked. Five minutes of additional time was announced as Gueye delivered another ball into the box but Kelleher stretched to take the ball of Beto’s head. The teams huffed and puffed by no more action of note as the half time whistle was blown.
The second half started with Brentford making one change. Damsgaard was withdrawn with Reiss Nelsom coming on. James Garner was given a quick yellow for a late challenge. The resulting free kick was headed onto the bar by Collins. Lewis-Potter then delivered a great cross into Schade who’s glancing header went narrowly wide.
Brentford were controlling the play as Everton collapsed back. It was all Brentford as they drilled cross after cross into the Everton box. A brief moment of possession by Everton was squandered as KDH misplaced his pass to Beto. Branthwaite then made a sensational block on Schade’s shot.
Everton had weathered the ten minute storm from Brentford but neither team could get a moment of quality. That was delivered by Ndiaye who cut inside and drilled a shot low but Kelleher somehow got a boot to it and prevented the goal. Everton were getting on the ball as the Evertonians belted out a rousing rendition of “If You Know Your History”.
The game was ebbing and flowing as the teams took turns going forward. A long clearance from Pickford was picked up by KDH but he decided to turn back rather than shooting the ball. A big chance missed. Moyes had seen enough and took off Beto, McNeil and Gueye with Barry, George and Iroegbunam coming on. Fifteen minutes remaining to tip the scales in our favour.
Unfortunately, before they were warmed up, Kayode drove forward and poked the ball goalward. Thiago cut in and the ball deflected off his hip which left Pickford wrongfooted. Seconds after the restart, Kelleher and Collins got all mixed up in their six yard box but they were able to scramble the ball away.
Everton were buzzing around the Brentford box with George and KDH linking up nicely. Barry then set up George but his shot was wayward. George then turned provider as his cross was met by Ndiaye but the header was cleared into touch. Moments later, it was George again as he chopped inside and forced another good save from Kelleher.
The sun was shining but the rain was pouring down on the Everton team. Iroegbunam broke forward and when Brentford could not get the ball back. O’Brien shot low and when it was blocked, it fell to Dewsbury-Hall who blasted the ball into the back of the onion bag. Limbs in the corner as the travelling fans were ecstatic.
O’Brien was then struggling to contain Lewis-Potter and when the young fullback got the cross in but it was Mykolenko who saved the day and headed the ball clear. The match was terminated and a tough match in the capital had delivered a last minute point for the boys in the royal blue jerseys.
Everton’s Man of the Match
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: The very poor start for Everton looked like they would be overrun by their hosts until KDH started to get onto the ball more and control the middle of the park. His quality led to him getting some chances and his clinical finish in extra time was well deserved for the work that he had put in. The linkup play with George was very positive and the two should get more of a chance in the run in.
Instant Reaction
An awful start by Everton could have led to a disappointing day but the team kept to the plan and levelled the score. It looked like Thiago was going to feast on the Blues for a second time this season with his fifth of the season against the Blues but that was not to be. The introduction of Tyrique George gave the team the forward impetus to get the tying goal from KDH. A resolute performance by the visitors which kept Everton in 8th and the difficult match against a good Brentford team was behind them.
Today, Igor Thiago scored his 20th and 21st goals of the season. Where would we be if we had someone who had done that for us. Beto was on the scoresheet again with four goals in his last five games. The team has been getting more early crosses into the box which is giving the Portuguese striker more chances to nick in and get the needed goals. Today, we were getting the crosses in, but it was very one dimensional. Ndiaye and McNeil were not involved enough and when George was introduced, his directness had Brentford scrambling.
