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Brentford 1 Everton 3: Blues finally win at last

By Matt Townsend

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton celebrates with team mate Abdoulaye Doucoure after scoring their sides third goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Everton FC at Brentford Community Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Everton celebrates with team mate Abdoulaye Doucoure after scoring their sides third goal during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Everton FC at Brentford Community Stadium on September 23, 2023 in Brentford, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) /
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After managing only one point in their first five matches Everton finally secured a win and grabbed three vital points with a big victory at Brentford yesterday.

Going into it this game looked a tough one given the Bees excellent home record and the Toffees terrible recent form, especially after the poor diplay against Arsenal.

Everton though were full value for their win with a much improved performance all-round but most of all a much better attacking effort.

The Blues went ahead after just six minutes through the excellent Abdoulaye Doucoure who was pushed further forward to support the lone striker Beto, as I have so long advocated.

At this point the visitors were very much on top and looked a real threat at last. However, after a few more chances went begging, another moment of defensive errors gifted Brentford an equaliser against the run of play.

These lapses are a cause for concern because we’ve seen it so many times before and Sean Dyche and his players need to cut them out.

Having said that Everton were still very much the better side, and although there were still a few occasions where the ball was given away too loosely, in general the home team offered little threat.

There was in fact very much a feeling similar in this match to the Brighton win late last season when the Toffees thumped the Seagulls 5-1 at the Amex Stadium.

Doucoure was oustanding that day too and also scored with a volley early on. In addition, other players who excelled that wet afternoon on the South Coast like Dwight McNeil were very good again yesterday.

Despite the setback of an equaliser, Everton didn’t let the Bees back into the game and James Tarkowski restored their lead with a well-taken header from McNeil’s corner.

Then after coming on to replace Beto as he had last Sunday, Dominic Calvert-Lewin added a late third after the Blues won the ball back and James Garner played him in.

So, while he didn’t make any changes to his starting eleven other than Garner coming in for Arnaut Danjuma, Dyche’s side and tactics worked again away from home.

Now that the Blues have finally secured that all important first win of the campaign, they need to follow it up with positive performances and victory over Luton Town and ideally Bournemouth in their next two Premier League games before another international break.

That would provide a solid platform for progress this season and might begin to restore some hope that we won’t be seeing another nail-biting battle against the drop.

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