Blues play better to secure a vital first win

Brentford 1 - 3 Everton

Everton outplayed Brentford this evening with Sean Dyche and his men securing their first win of the Premier League campaign.

Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes and Dele Alli were still out injured with Jack Harrison, having played 45 minutes for the U21s last night in their first win of the season, not quite ready yet for his Premier League debut.

Patterson, Keane, Calvert-Lewin and Danjuma were on the bench, while the Terrible Trio continue in midfield, with Garner starting, hopefully ahead of them but possibly on the wing.

For the home side, Neal Maupay sits this one out because he is on loan from Everton. Schade was injured in the warm-up.

It was a very lively start with Beto almost getting in for a chance before Brentford's first attack was met with a heavy challenge by Young and a very early yellow card.  Doucouré tried to advance with the ball but was lumbering, but at least he won a corner. and from the second or third phase ball, Garner found Trakowski who delivered a brilliant ball forward and a lovely half-volley by Doucoure gave Everton the lead. 

Everton were looking for the ball and trying to attack with Doucoure down the left getting well involved and Onana doing well to intercept but Beto was double-teamed. Brentford looked to build but their possession was a bit laborious and Everton again stole the ball to hold onto it a little bit longer this time before it was lost by Mykolenko.

Beto produced a great headed layoff to McNeil who drove ahead but screwed his shot inches wide of the far post. Garner was caught by what looked like a high tackle but, as Brentford were the home side, he only got a talking to. Everton tried a move through the middle but the ref stopped play when he should have played advantage.   A cross came in off the free-kick but Onana could only head wide. Brentford tried to play out but Everton were good with the high press.

Everton were working hard to force turnovers, but a little too slow and tentative when it came to forward play but a ball did fall to Mykolenko, however, he couldn't fashion a shot.  McNeil tries to advance but his cross evaded both Beto and Garner.

Everton did well to get a decent spell of forward pressure but couldn't fashion a chance despite some good play around the Brentford area. From a long ball, Doucouré got into almost the same spot from where he scored only this time his shot smacked into the bar.

Brentford went up the other end though and Jensen fired past Pickford and in off the the post. The VAR looked long and hard at the moment the ball was played to Wissa, who definitely looked offside, but that was ignored, probably because Brainthwaite's poor clearance meant a different phase and the goal was allowed to stand!

The goal gave the home side a massive lift while it was a huge kick in the teeth for Everton and they rocked back on their heels as Brentford now attacked with force and power. But Everton found Beto and got forward again, although the attack stalled and that allowed the Brentford defence to reform. 

A tremendous drive forward with the ball by Gueye laid on the perfect through ball to Beto who had a fantastic chance to beat Flekken but he mishit it terribly and the ball bobbled harmlessly wide. But Brentford were threatening more and more as they drove forward with shots from Janelt and Hickey.

Beto drove forward again down the left and crossed behind Onana who bizarrely tripped himself up.  At the other end it looked like a second with Mbeumo free and crossing to the far post for Lewis-Potter but a brilliant interception by Tarkowski prevented the shot.  

Everton built up another good-looking attack only for the Gueye to decide it was time for him to make yet another ridiculous attempt at striking the ball goalward. In the next attack, he did better to play in Beto instead, who assumed he would have runners inside the 6-yard area to convert his excellent cross… Nope! 

Another giveaway by Gueye almost caused havoc in the Everton defence with Mbuemo running into Branthwaite. Everton responded with another forward move but Doucouré's header did not find a blue shirt and that ended a half in which Everton had played fairly well but, with better quality, could have gotten three or four goals. 

The second half got underway in somewhat disjointed fashion, neither side able to retain possession. Beto tried a shot from a ridiculous distance. McNeil tried from a bit closer, but straight at Flekken. 

As the hour-mark approached, Calvert-Lewin was readied as Onana tried a difficult header at the far post. Tarkowski planted a great cross on Beto's head but he was too far out and it bounced wide. McNeil did well steal the ball but then shot tamely well wide. And finally Beto was withdrawn for Calvert-Lewin.

Onana showed good spirit to steal the ball off Mbuemo but Everton could not fashion a strike at goal. But they eventually won a corner, McNeil to take but Doucloure getting a talking to as Tarkowski ghosted in with a very fine header to give Everton the lead once again.  

Brentford got into the Everton area for the first time in the second half and absolute chaos followed in a classic goalmouth scramble that Everton incredibly survived. They went up the other end and won another corner that flew inches over Tarkowski's head. 

Garner forced a turnover and powered a great ball through to Calvert-Lewin who shot far too close to Flekken but somehow it spun off Flekken's heel and into the net for Everton's third.

A great moment when a dreadful clearance by Pickford fell to a Brentford player but Micheal Oliver got in his way with Pickford well out of his goal.  Everton still had a lot of work to do despite the unprecedented luxury of a 2-goal lead as the game entered the final 10 minutes.

And it was pretty good game management by the Blues to keep Brentford largely at bay as the clock ticked away 6 more added minutes.  Branthwaite had to come across smartly to stop Olakigbe from scoring and enable a fine if very rare Everton away win.

Brentford: Flekken, Hickey (73' Ghoddos [Y:82']), Collins, Pinnock, Roerslev (61' Ajer), Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt (62' Onyeka), Schade Lewis-Potter, Mbeumo [Y:77'], Wissa.

Subs: Strakosha, Zanka, Yarmolyuk, ( Olakigbe) Brierley.

Everton: Pickford, Young [Y:1'], Tarkowski, Branthwaite [Y:90+1'], Mykolenko, Onana (77' Danjuma), Gana, Doucouré, Garner, McNeil, Beto (64' Calvert-Lewin).

Subs: Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Godfrey, Chermiti, Hunt, Dobbin. 

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