O'Brien Bags First Blues Goal In Brentford Draw

Jake O'Brien grabbed his first Everton goal as David Moyes' Blues extended their unbeaten Premier League run to seven matches with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Brentford.

The visitors had to overcome a tricky opening half hour at the Gtech Community Stadium and, having soaked up pressure, were left wondering how they didn't take the lead as Beto was twice denied by Mark Flekken when put clean through.

That looked even more costly when the Bees went ahead in first-half stoppage time, Everton allowing a long throw to bounce in the area and Yoane Wissa to net from close range after Bryan Mbeumo's header had hit the bar.

To their credit, though, the Toffees kept plugging away and found a deserved leveller 13 minutes from time when O'Brien coolly dived to head home Vitalli Mykolenko's left-wing cross.

There was still time for more chances from the impressive Charly Alcaraz and Beto once more – but Everton could be content from another point earned as their fine form under Moyes goes on.

With Abdoulaye Doucoure unavailable due to his wife being close to giving birth, Alcaraz came back into midfield for his second Blues start following his full debut when he assisted Beto’s opener and scored the late winner at Crystal Palace.

Despite Doucoure’s absence, Moyes was given a welcome boost on the injury front with long-term absentee Youssef Chermiti and Nathan Patterson fit again to take their place on the substitutes’ bench.

Back in September, Brentford scored in the opening 40 seconds for three Premier League matches in a row and made a rapid start here when a throw was worked back to Keane Lewis-Potter who drilled a low shot just wide of the left-hand post from 25 yards out.

The Blues showed a bit of spark early on themselves, though, and some crisp passing around the park ended with Jack Harrison feeding Gana whose ambitious long-range effort sailed over the bar.

The hosts were the next to threaten on 10 minutes when Kevin Schade found space cutting in from the left of the area but, as the German tried to slide a pass along the six-yard box to Yoane Wissa, Jarrad Branthwaite was on hand to intercept and clear.

Schade was proving a menace in the early stages and he found space once more in the area, the Blues having Tarkowski to thank this time for turning his centre behind for a corner.

Schade was involved again on 17 minutes, this time from the right as his deep cross picked out Wissa at the back post who nodded into the arms of Pickford, before Vitaly Janelt glanced a header wide from eight yards out.

Having endured a barrage of pressure, Everton finally put Brentford on the backfoot when Alcaraz showed his ball-carrying skills, zooming 30 yards through the centre but just putting a bit too much zip on his through ball to Lindstrøm. The Dane still managed to get a cross in from the right that narrowly missed Beto waiting to apply the header from six yards out.

That chance helped the Toffees grab a foothold in the contest and, on the half hour, James Garner glided down the right channel, played a one-two with Jake O’Brien, whose cheeky backheel gave the midfielder a sight at goal before he was crowded out looking to apply the finish.

Moyes’ men threatened again when Harrison showed good vision to loft a deep ball to O’Brien who headed back across goal, only for Beto to just miss out on applying the finish from close range.

The in-form striker had a golden chance to break the deadlock six minutes before the break. Another Blues counter saw Harrison send a high ball for Beto to chase. Ethan Pinnock looked set to gather only to slip and put the Blues striker clean through. Unlike his opener against Crystal Palace when he dinked his finish, though, Beto opted to take the ball past Mark Flekken, allowing the Bees keeper to gather.

It was an agonising action replay moments later, too, Alcaraz’s header sending Beto clear again. The fans’ favourite’s finish was better this time but still not enough to beat Flekken whose crucial touch deflected the ball behind for a corner.

And to add insult to injury, Brentford took the lead themselves deep into first-half stoppage time. A long throw was allowed to bounce in the area all the way to Mbeumo who headed against the bar from six yards out. Everton did not make the most of the let-off, however, as Wissa reacted first to bundle the ball over the line.

Despite the self-inflicted blow that had put them behind, Everton came out on the front foot and successive crosses from Lindstrøm and Mykolenko resulted in the latter picking out Alcaraz who nearly squeezed home a finish from 10 yards.

The Toffees remained the brighter side and kept on pumping in crosses, only for them to be too close to Flekken who was happy to collect each time.

Another chance went begging on 63 minutes when patient build-up play ended with Alcaraz collecting the ball 20 yards out, dropping his shoulder and curling a low shot inches past the right-hand post.

And the Argentine was in the thick of it again moments later, breaking into space and sliding a pass left to Harrison whose first-time finish from just inside the area was blocked by Janelt.

Having had to deal with constant pressure since the restart, Brentford had the ball in the back of the net on 68 minutes through Wissa but, thankfully, the Congo international was ruled offside.

Everton then finally got the goal their performance had warranted with 13 minutes remaining. Looking a threat on the counter all night, a swift move involving Alcaraz and Harrison got the Blues to the edge of Brentford’s area. Garner passed back to Mykolenko whose perfect sweeping left-wing cross picked out an unmarked O’Brien, who was cool-as-you-like to direct a header into the left-hand corner.

It was the Republic of Ireland international’s first goal for the Club and reward for his fine form since Moyes returned as manager.

The leveller set up a grandstand finish with both teams pushing for a winner. With five minutes left, Harrison raced down the left and passed inside to Alcaraz, the 22-year-old hitting a rising shot into the arms of Flekken.

Better was to come moments later, Beto showing rapid speed to race onto Alcaraz’s high ball and beating Pinnock. The striker had to cut in from the left and, as he moved in on goal, had the option of squaring to Alcaraz but went for the back of the net, only to be thwarted by Flekken again.

Five minutes of added time were signalled, with the Blues looking the more likely to net again. But before their work was done, they had to deal with two more long throws pumped into the box by Michael Kayode, the final one giving Janelt a chance in the area that was cleared in the nick of time to ensure Everton came away from the capital with some reward.