Everton 1 - 0 Brentford

After the Chelsea mauling a few weeks ago, many were in numb shock fearing the worst. Once I reflected and gained my senses, I wasn’t. I believed we could do it. And we have, no matter what was in front of us, we have done. Always believe.

Fast forward and we are safe – subject to whatever the Premier League throws at us.

I still want a few more points in the bag to avert anything that those grey suits try to hit us with and the uncertainty of any potential takeover. That can wait. We have matches to win in front of us.

But what a relief at the end. I was motionless, observing and reflecting on everything I had witnessed, not just yesterday, but throughout this season.

Well, it was better having a not-so-early start than usual, but when will these endless late kick-offs end? I really feel for those having to travel from Merseyside and other distant places on a Friday evening. At least we appear to have ruined Sky’s “relegation derby”.

I had to make my way to the Hope Street Hotel to pick up tickets. Thank you as always, John and Mary, always appreciated. At least this time I knew where I was going and didn’t go to the Cathedral to stand there like a spare part!

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On to meet a few. I wasn’t feeling too good. A combination of catching a bug and being totally anxious about what we were heading into. Yes, me, the eternal optimist, feeling nervous. That all changed once I got into the stadium after meeting Graham to take our seats. I was pleased for Brian’s lad, over from Ireland, who got to see a win.

The magic of Goodison Park. The pre-match banners looked great draped over the Upper Gwladys Street. And I spotted the iconic green “Everton are Magic” flag, which I refer to as the Andy King flag!

Brentford are a good side and looked dangerous at times but, as the game went on, we started to take over, especially in the second half, but it wasn’t a done deal.

Pickford again made a couple of important saves and was good at coming to claim the ball. But I kept shouting for him to calm down and take his time. And stop punting it, sometimes straight back to his opposite number down the other end. But I don’t want to be too critical, he was an important player for us again.

Ben Godfrey worked incredibly hard. The centre-backs were immense.

Jimmy Garner and Idrissa ran themselves into the ground, as did Jack Harrison. It was great to see the players fighting for it.

Chermiti put a fabulous shift in. He earned his stripes getting battered by their defenders all through the match, but never gave in or stopped trying. I didn’t realise he is only 19 years old. Interesting prospect.

And credit to Ashley Young, who showed his experience. Some may not agree, but a close call for Man of the Match.

But that has to go to Idrissa Gana Gueye. I think he covered every part of the pitch and smashed in the winner. A nervous wait with the check, but I had no doubt it was a goal.

When the final whistle went, the lady next to me gave me a hug. She must have sensed my emotion as much as I experienced her entertaining language!!

I watched the interview with Tarkowski and Idrissa this morning. Tarkowski looked and sounded shattered. I’ve never heard Idrissa talk before, but he comes across as a very modest and humble person.

As well as the usual songs belting out at the end, one for Tony when they played a rendition of “We Shall Not Be Moved”! Our song!!

On to the Arkles and my sister picked me up. We went into town, had a few drinks in Ma Boyles and then she dropped me off to catch the last National Express to get me in for 6 am and take the boy dog out in the rain. He actually tried to refuse to soldier and step back into the house. Rhodesian Ridgebacks don’t like rain.

A special mention to the manager. He has kept these players focussed on what they need to do and protected them from what is going on around the club in difficult circumstances. He might not be everyone’s favourite, and at times the tactics can get frustrating, although we can play some decent stuff. He has earned my respect.

As nervous as this run-in has been, I always believed deep down we would do enough. And we have done.

On to Luton. Around 1,000 travelling blues present, only due to the size of the ground; otherwise, we could easily fill it.

On that note, respect to the Evertonians who packed that stadium last night. We took up most of the near 40,000 given that Brentford didn’t take the away section of the Bullens Road.

Reader Comments (14)

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Tony Abrahams
1 Posted 28/04/2024 at 20:05:33
You have followed the Blues through thick and thin, Danny, and have always refused to be moved!

I looked at the highlights last night and couldn't for the life of me understand why there was a delay before giving us the goal, especially because I'm sure the VAR signal on the scoreboard mentioned Garner and he was always behind the ball.

I wasn't really nervous against Brentford or Liverpool, Danny, but my nerves during the Forest game were just as bad as they were for both the Crystal Palace and Bournemouth games because I knew how badly we needed the result.

Mark Murphy
2 Posted 28/04/2024 at 20:15:21
Another song I heard for the first time yesterday really made me giggle… to the same tune as Davey Davey Moyes:

“The ball, the ball, we hardly touched the ball.
We beat the shite on Wednesday night
And we hardly touched the ball”!

Idrissa Gana Gueye was my MotM by a mile!

Good to see you again Danny boy, unless I'm lucky with Luton or Arsenal tickets, I'll see you next season in the Premier League! UTFT

Peter Mills
3 Posted 28/04/2024 at 20:50:44
Nice report, Danny.

“We Shall Not Be Moved” is my favourite Everton battle hymn, despite the two most vociferous renditions of it being sung at halftime in FA Cup semi-finals against the RS that we subsequently lost (1971, 2012).

Take care of yourself.

Jay Harris
4 Posted 28/04/2024 at 20:52:52
Danny,

You may not know it but your enthusiasm and positivity lift quite a few of us when we are feeling anxious or depressed.

The last 7 days (6 in reality) have been immense for everybody and is no more than we deserve after the way Masters and The PGMOL have treated us. For me we did not gain any sporting advantage whereas Forest went out and bought a whole new squad.

We were adversely affected by Covid and the Ukraine invasion in addition to the costs of building the new stadium and yet we still had more points deducted than Forest or any of the other Sky favourites who have so far escaped any sanctions. So it was even more satisfying to throw two fingers at them all.

If we can maintain the belief and support and stop bickering about the manager and players, I feel we can start the rebuilding of EFC.

Rob Halligan
5 Posted 28/04/2024 at 21:11:18
Good report as usual, Danny. Like yourself, I've always had the belief we would survive. I always go to a game believing we will win, otherwise there is no point in going.

Jay, it's beyond belief how the Premier League have not yet looked at, or decided on, the Man City 115 charges, despite Masters saying they have started to look at them.

Should the title decider go to the last day, and Arsenal only needing to avoid defeat to win it, and no doubt Arsenal will beat us anyway, but to really rub Masters nose in it, I'd play a gang of kids against Arsenal and just tell them to stroll around. Might not be good for their confidence, but I'm sure taking a hammering from the champions in waiting won't hurt them too much.

Make this season's Premier League the shit show it has been, run by a corrupt organisation and a gang of useless referees, and also ruin the hype of Sky and their “Last day thrills and spills”, who must be gutted the shootout between us and Luton will now be a damp squid, well from our point of view anyway.

Hopefully see you at Luton on Friday night, Danny. As you say, just over a thousand tickets allocated to us because of how small the ground is. Needless to say, they were sold out in less than 24 hours, and even though we are now safe, the 3,000 tickets we've got for Arsenal will also sell out in a day or two.

Best supporters on the planet!!

Christine Foster
6 Posted 28/04/2024 at 21:13:22
Danny, you have been the ray of sunshine in a dark space!

Your love and devotion inspire the lot of us, shame us when we waiver. Thank you for always believing.

Dave Williams
7 Posted 28/04/2024 at 21:35:53
If there was an award for fan of the season, Danny, you'd be in with a great chance! Your eternal optimism is an example for us all to follow and you're a good lad to share a pint with!

This club has a habit of messing up when we shouldn't and surprising us when we should mess it up. It makes for a tense season but we then give the RS a pasting and it's all been worthwhile.

Danny O’Neill
8 Posted 28/04/2024 at 21:46:10
I'd give that to all of us, Dave.

Rob is one of the biggest Evertonians I know. He deserves more respect than me as do many more. We are all royal blue family, wherever we are.

My cousin, John, who was a great footballer and goes to every home match. Massive Evertonian. His hero was Bob Latchford.

My nephew who has a season ticket and lives in a family of kopites. He follows his dad around the house talking Everton!

Neil Copeland
9 Posted 28/04/2024 at 21:54:23
Danny, good report as usual. I agree about Ashley Young. He showed all his experience yesterday and Gueye is just like a Duracell Bunny that never stops.

I haven't got a ticket for Luton yet, I will probably travel regardless so may see you there (and Rob and John R).

It was good to meet at The Harlech with Mark, Bill and Steve and nice to see Brian Murray there too.

This season has been draining at times but the belief has always been there, particularly from the away support. I feel immensely proud of Sean Dyche, players and the support at the moment. We have triumphed in the face of adversity.

Who knows what the summer will bring, hopefully we can find a way to strengthen without losing our best players and look forward to an easier final season at the truly magical Old Lady.

Bob Parrington
10 Posted 28/04/2024 at 23:20:18
Danny, thanks for all of your positivity throughout the season's long and winding road.

Having lived in Australia for the past 38 years, I am used to people's positive thoughts about sports but you are the cup winner. You certainly helped me at times when I was feeling low.

Well done, True Blue!

Jon Harding
11 Posted 30/04/2024 at 10:15:59
I've previously read your comments on Schalke on here Danny and there's a decent BBC Sport article on them today.

Frightening parallels with ourselves except we have so far managed to avoid a relegation and the spiral of doom that follows. Phenomenal support too!

Lee Courtliff
12 Posted 30/04/2024 at 13:02:25
Well done, Danny. You really are inspiring at times, and we've badly needed that over the last few years.
John McFarlane Snr
13 Posted 30/04/2024 at 13:40:42
Hi Danny,

I think that you know me well enough to know that I have always declared that anything can happen in a game of football. In my younger days, I traveled all over the country but I'm afraid that age and health problems deny me the pleasures of doing so today.

I can recall some fans claiming as early as Christmas that Everton would be relegated. I also believe that you and I would only accept relegation if we were 4 points adrift with one game to play.

Keep up your enthusiastic outlook, and I hope that we are both able to discuss 'all things Everton' over a bottle of Guinness in the 'Bramley Moore'.

Danny O’Neill
14 Posted 30/04/2024 at 14:48:34
11 May, John and all. The last home game.

We can all sit and counsel each other having gotten over the trauma of following the blues this season!

This Guinness will be on me.

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