Loud and Proud — We Believe!

Brentford 1 - 3 Everton

Early start as always with the usual morning routine, but I could take my time as it is the shortest trip I will make to a Premier League stadium to watch Everton. As I've said elsewhere, I felt for those travelling from Merseyside and other parts of the country with the 5:30 pm kick-off. Total respect. I do it the other way around for home games. Long and late journey home for you, but I'm sure it was worth it.

I headed in, making the short 12-mile trip. We met Rob, Rob and Rob(!) and others at the Bell and Crown. Bumped into Neil at the end.

Really nice afternoon in the West London sun, sat outside on the banks of the Thames. Everyone in good spirits. Considering the start we have had and what is going on around the club, the thousands were there and up for it. Setting aside everything else, it was about the match. Blind hope or belief? I'll go for the latter. We believed. You could sense it.

A nice, if somewhat an unusual ground that I've been to before under more difficult circumstances with Mr Benitez at the helm. Really good access even if they overdo the security as you enter. It was almost like entering an airport and I got quizzed by the stewards as to whether I had taken drugs and if they could search my pockets. Strange and unnecessary. At Goodison, we just let people make their way in!

Apparently they have rarely lost at home of late and some didn't give us a chance in the build-up last week, our own supporters included. Well there was no sense of defeatism yesterday. Just passion and belief. We needed a response after the flat performance of last week. And we got it.

On the team and performance.

Mykolenko put in a solid defensive performance. Defensively he's fine. Tarkowski is immense; he is the de-facto captain and a commanding presence. He bullied their defender for that second goal.

Garner is an absolute gem, still young and will get better. He won the ball back before laying it on a plate for Calvert-Lewin. Onana had one of his better games. If he can find consistency and stay involved, we have a player there.

McNeil looks like he's getting back to his best and went close. Beto is a real presence who gives opposition centre-backs something to think about. He holds the ball up well and looks for the early knock-on for runners

Ashley Young put in a shift. I liked his experience and anticipation, stepping in to cut out danger early. Also, his presence.

I also have to mention Calvert-Lewin. I don't know the ins and outs, but clearly with injury frustrations and maybe things going on in his personal life. But don't underestimate his passion. You could see that when he came over to us when he scored. As in many walks of life, we can be quick to criticise, but there is often a bigger picture.

Branthwaite is another gem. A blue sapphire I would say. His composure, anticipation and reading of the game is beyond his years. He didn't put a foot or head wrong yesterday from my stand point. He won everything and can play. He is comfortable on the ball. A footballing centre-back. But he's very young for a centre-back. Be patient with him and let's hope the hawks don't start circling.

When Doucouré gets forward, he get's goals. Keep him higher up the pitch. He almost made it 2-0 but hit the bar and then they go and score minutes later. I didn't see it at the time but, having watched the highlights, Pickford's hand takes it away from a likely Tarkowski block. That's football I guess and a game of small margins. Then at 1-1, Tarkowski saves it.  I recall a penalty-box scramble. I had one of my stop breathing moments, but we had bodies on the line and Tarkowski was simply not going to let them score.

We get the second and then the ball from Garner to after winning the ball and turning possession in midfield. Bedlam. I've seen debate on Michael's match report thread about the ins and outs as to whether he was lucky or meant it. We didn't care. I didn't care. He done the basics that strikers are coached to do. Take it early and get it on target.

It went in and the away section literally exploded. As a random thought, Doucouré is going to injure himself if he keeps falling over the top of players in the celebrations. He did it a the Palace match when he nearly fell into the Enclosure.

6 minutes additional time goes up. 6 minutes? I didn't stop talking about it for 6 minutes!! I was still boring my son about it after the match on the way home.

Great to see the players in a group at the end. It was  refreshing after last week, when they looked disjointed and disconnected. They re-connected with the supporters. I kept saying the win would come. Get a win and then some momentum. We've got the win that many didn't predict. And believe me, it was convincing. Now build on it Everton.

Forget the result. All we expect is a performance, fight and commitment. We got that and they got our respect. The players justifiably took the plaudits at the end, bonding with the travelling support and passing on shirts.

On the supporters. Unbelievable. They didn't stop. We never will. You show us that kind of spirit and we are with you. If you don't, you get both barrels. Well done, Everton, well done Blues, some of you who wouldn't have got home until the early hours. I'm glad you will have had a happy journey back for your dedication. Enjoy your Sunday

Singing throughout. Spirit, Forever Everton, Banks of the Royal Blue Mersey, our version of Here we Go. It was just simply fantastic and they were all rolled out. 1878, the Originals. No imitation.

Give us that and we are right behind you to the hilt. We always will be because we care deeply. Just give it back. We only want you to compete and you did yesterday.

At the end, the players were justifiably taking the plaudits, and  It took us a while to get out as I don't think many wanted to leave.

Don't underestimate how passionate that support was yesterday. It would have been so easy for us to be passive or even negative given the start to the season. No chance. We were relentless and 2,000 of us took over Brentford's smart new stadium. I mostly stood and watched them with pride.

What was my favourite moment yesterday? Aside from the performance, the goals and the result, it watching a young kid, probably about 8 years old dancing on the steps in front of where I was when the 3rd went in. Your day will come young man. Keep believing.

We headed off eventually. The police stopped us going into what I know was the closest tube station so we had to walk to Chiswick. Not a big issue as it was only a 10-minute hike. Off for food and to watch the Burnley v Manchester Utd match with a huge grin on my face still running off adrenalin.

So on to Villa Park and maybe we get into the next round of that elusive League Cup. Beat Luton and then the despair of the past few weeks won't look so bad. A football season is a marathon, not a sprint. Bournemouth to follow. October could cut a different landscape. Then off to Lucifer's Den. They're not escorting me anywhere in my home city if I am fortunate enough to attend.

If I was to be pushed on a Man of the Match, it has to go to Branthwaite. But really the accolade of people of the match goes to that amazing travelling blue army. I could use many superlatives, but they were just magnificent from start to finish and didn't want it to end. Simply the best. Never stopped believing.

Watch Match of the Day and look at the reaction of those supporters when the 3rd went in. That's how it felt. As I keep saying, wait until we win something. Forget the self-proclaimed best fans in the world Geordies who have Sky fawning over them. When we win something, the reaction is going to be on a nuclear scale.

Onward Evertonians. We shall not be moved.

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