Brentford 1 Everton 3
Brentford welcomed Everton to the Gtech Community Stadium with The Toffees having suffered such a horrific start to the Premier League season it should come with an 18 certificate.
With the loss of Rico Henry to a long-term injury and Kevin Schade getting injured in the warm-up, things weren’t looking too good for Thomas Frank. With Ivan Toney still banned for betting breaches, The Bees' squad was starting to look a bit threadbare.
Everton started well, forcing an early corner, from which Tarkowski headed down to Doucoure who struck the ball home on the half volley to put Sean Dyche’s side one-nil up.
Beto then flicked on a ball into the path of McNeil who ran through on goal, striking a left-footed effort narrowly wide of the far post. The Toffees continued to press and almost made it two-nil when a Doucoure volley thundered off the crossbar.
Credit: @BrentfordFC
Largely against the run of play, Brentford played the ball up to Wissa who could not control it but managed to work the ball to Jensen in the box who struck a firm shot past Pickford and into the bottom corner.
The Toffees’ weakness this season has been just how easily teams are getting through their defence to create chances, something the manager needs to address if they are to avoid being involved in another relegation battle this season.
Gueye then broke for the visitors and played a brilliant ball into the path of striker Beto but as he tried to dink the ball over Flekken, he dragged it wide of the far post, much to the striker’s frustrations.
Brentford had a huge chance just before half time when Mbuemo played the ball to the back post but Lewis-Potter seemed to not be expecting the ball when Tarkowski slid in to clear and before he knew it, 'evanesco' and the chance had gone.
The second half was not ‘one to watch’ for the first twenty minutes but when The Bees gifted the visitors a corner, McNeil found the head of Tarkowski and suddenly Everton were ahead once again.
Thomas Frank’s side had a huge chance to equalise when a corner was swung in but Pinnock’s goal-bound shot hit the back of Lewis-Potter and stayed out as somehow Everton managed to hack the ball clear.
Credit: @Everton
This was not proving to be a magical performance by Lewis-Potter, the man brought in at late notice for the injured Kevin Schade. Brentford were pitching in and helping The Toffees with their defensive duties.
Garner then dispossessed Collins and fed the ball into the path of Calvert-Lewin, who threaded the ball past Flekken to seal the victory for the visitors. The away end went into raptures as they knew that they had ensured their first win of the season.
Sean Dyche will be relieved for his side to get their first win under their belt but knows they need to show this belief on a more regular basis if they want to have a successful season. Doucoure seemed integral to all they did playing in that number ten role, they will need to keep him fit.
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