Blues grind out narrow win to secure Premier League safety *

Everton 1 - 0 Brentford

Everton ground out a third win in their third Premier League match of the week as they narrowly beat Brentford at Goodison Park to confirm their Premier League survival (* more points deductions notwithstanding).

Mykolenko misses this match with possible ankle ligament damage after twisting awkwardly on Wednesday night, while Beto will remain sidelined following the Premier League's concussion protocols. Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson are also out injured.

No Calvert-Lewin as Chermiti starts up front for the first time in the Premier League, but Sean Dyche is running out of players with two goalkeepers and three U21 players on the bench.

No Neal Maupay of course for Brentford as he is on loan from Everton, but Ivan Toney starts upfront for The Bees, who kick off knowing they are safe from relegation after the afternoon's Premier League results.

Pickford's first hoof avoided Chermiti and went straight to Flekken; Chermiti got his head on the second, but it still went through to Flekken. Chermiti ran down the third to force a throw-in. 

Brentford won the first corner off Branthwaite, delivered in well and scrambled away before being put behind, the ball hitting Douccure's armpit with his arm straight up. Very odd!

Harrison delivered a great cross that fell for McNeil but his ferocious cross was just too hard for Chermiti to reach. Godfrey could not get past Wissa down the right. Wissa got behind the thin blue line and Pickford did a bizarre De Bryune impression with a dramatic headed clearance beyond his area.

Garner delivered a good cross to the back post where Harrison was coming in but a defender cleared. A very deep cross-ball from Collins forced another Brentford corner off Godfrey that Tarkowski, then Branthwaite cleared. In the next phase, Pickford came out uncharacteristically beyond his goal area to punch clear. 

Brentford were finding a worrying amount of space with the forward balls played to their pacey forwards but Everton looked reasonably comfortable at the back with the tempo of the game sinking into a lull. 

But Branthwaite then had to head a decent cross clear before he got his body down quickly to deny Jensen a clear chance. The corner was strangely played along the ground, and then led to another wicked cross, slightly deflected, that you could have wafted in with yer cap but Tarkowski cleared the danger. 

Pickford came forward to take an advanced free-kick but nothing came of it and Brentford could again get wide and cross in but Pickford gathered and tried to release McNeil. Branthwaite was again perfectly placed to snuff out a key Brentford pass. 

Everton got forward but Garner's cross was straight to Flekken. Everton built again, Harrison's shot blocked at source. Chermti forced an error from Pinnock for a first Everton corner, McNeil from the right, beyond the back post, Brentford clearing. 

Everton almost forced their way through, then worked the ball around well enough until Gana's pass was intercepted. A better passing move through midfield Garner failed at McNeil. But Everton came back and won another corner, it was worked around, McNeil's cross headed poorly by Godfrey.  

Brentford sought to counter but Toney drove the ball into Tarkowski's block. The ball fell for a Chermiti shot that was hit first time but blocked. Brentford countered more strongly and Everton had to clear. Chermiti and Yanelt collided, the Everton man staying down and needing treatment, but he was only winded.   

Some competitive stuff followed, McNeil eventually fouled after the age it required for Chermiti to be allowed back on. McNeil played in Harrison but his shot was blocked behind. McNeil's corner was cleared but McNeil's hot was blocked then Trakowski mishit behind.

Brentford looked to break quickly but Reguilon caught Garner for a yellow card. From the freekick, Chermiti spun a difficult cross toward Doucoure who made an awful mess of his first-time volley. 

Everton mounted another attack in which Chermiti tripped over Reguilon's legs before the whistle went for half-time with neither side doing enough to break the deadlock.  

After they resumed, a clever Pickford free-kick from the half-way line to McNeil almost took Brentford by surprise down the left but Jensen got the right side to deny the cross. 

Brentford got forward very quickly and Pickford produced an amazing close-range block to deny Toney when it seemed easier for him to score.  Everton tried to pass their way forward but put it out of play.

But in the next attack, a left-foot laser from McNeil smacked the bar! 

Harrison was then shoved over by Wissa, pleading his innocence. The free-kick was flicked behind by Flekken's gloved fist above the crowded goal area. A corner from the left was cleared but Young punted it back in and out of play behind. 

Everton were working the ball around for an opening but struggled to find aa path forward. But the cross eventually won a corner, that still wouldn't produce anything as it was played around.... or would it? Gana Gueye said as he smashed it into the top corner for a very fine goal!

Unbelievably, the VAR decided there must have been an offside in the third of eight phases before they finally agreed it was a valid goal. Pathetic nonsense from the VAR.

After a brief Brentford foray, Everton attacked again and a big shout went up for handball when it hit a Brentford defender high up the body, on the shoulder.  McNeil then lashed a shot from wide right, just past the far post.

Chermiti almost went one-on-one but Flekken was out faster. Everton had to do some defending but they were able to make it very difficult. But Pickford was booked for his aggression toward Wissa then we had two balls on the pitch, which was blamed on Tarkowski, who was booked when the ref realised. That was after giving Brentford a disputed corner which Pickford needed to save, with the ball spining ever so slightly off Tarkowski's hand.

Potter got forward well and found space for a shot that Pickford had to punch away.  Brentford continued to threaten with the substitutes well involved as they pressed Everton hard for the equalizer. 

Chermiti was played in by McNeil but he had come from an offside position and could not beat Flekken anyway. Onana then got a breakaway chance but hesitated before passing to Doucoure who was offside and stumbled on the ball anyway. 

With Brentford pressing, Everton were finding openings to get forward but were unable to take real advantage as the clock ticked down to 6 added minutes.  Mbueno brought McNeil down in full flight down the left and he was shown a yellow card. 

Garner's free-kick from very wide left incredibly smacked into the bar! But Brentford had a really strong spell, forcing Everton back, Pickford tested again and having to make a low save from Yarmolyuk. 

Keane replaced Chermiti who had tried pretty hard but really needed a lot more playing time. And Everton finally played out, with a further 3 points that should ensure their Premier League survival for another season. 

Everton: Pickford [Y:73'], Young, Tarkowski [Y:74'], Branthwaite, Godfrey, Gana, (78' Onana), Garner, Doucoure, McNeil, Harrison, Chermiti (90+5'Keane).

Subs: Virginia, Lonergan, Danjuma, Gomes, Warrington, Hunt, Metcalfe.

Brentford: Flekken, Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Reguilon [Y:44'] (77' Schade), Jensen, Nørgaard (77' Yarmolyuk), Janelt (66' Damsgaard), Mbeumo [Y:90'], Toney, Wissa (66' Lewis-Potter).

Subs: Valdimarsson, Jorgensen, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Roerslev,.

Attendance: 

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