MATCH CENTRE

McNeil's Early Stunner Sees Blues Beat Bees

A full-blooded performance for “90-odd minutes” was the call from Sean Dyche coming into this crunch clash.

In the end, it was a stunning strike from Dwight McNeil’s wand of a left foot after just 35 seconds that gave Everton a vital 1-0 victory at Goodison Park to end Brentford’s 12-match unbeaten league run to deliver a dream start that proved decisive.

The in-form winger – so impressive since reuniting with Dyche as his manager – collected Abdoulaye Doucoure’s pass and smacked a stunning 20-yard finish into the far corner of the net.

The Blues were brilliant in the first half and deserved to go into the break with a bigger advantage, Demarai Gray having an effort ruled out for handball just before the interval.

It was a different tale after the restart as Dyche’s men needed to be at their resilient best to thwart a revitalised Brentford. But hold on they did for a crucial win that lifted the Blues up to 15th in the Premier League table.

Dyche named an unchanged line-up from the team that took a point away from last weekend’s clash at Nottingham Forest, meaning Ben Godfrey kept his place at left-back and Demarai Gray once again led the attack.

Meanwhile, Brentford headed to Merseyside boasting an impressive unbeaten run stretching all the way back to October and come into the contest as one of only three undefeated teams in Europe’s top five leagues in 2023.

A fired-up Goodison Park welcomed the players into a cauldron of noise as Z-Cars echoed around the Old Lady.

The atmosphere helped set the tone as the Blues got off to a dream start with just 35 seconds on the clock.

A long ball picked out Alex Iwobi running down the right wing. His cleverly-disguised pass found Abdoulaye Doucoure through the centre, who held on to the ball before patiently playing in McNeil on the left side of the penalty area. The Toffees winger saw his moment to then drill the ball across goal from 25 yards out and beyond a helpless David Raya.

It was the fifth fastest goal in Everton’s Premier League history and the perfect platform for Dyche’s men to build on.

They plugged away to do just that as their bright opening continued. Coming close again, Gray’s searching free-kick found the head of Michael Keane in the 15th minute. Raya came out to claim the ball but the defender beat him to it, only to direct his header wide.

Five minutes later, the Toffees had another good chance to score a second. Iwobi’s cross from the right was tipped into a dangerous area by Raya, before Amadou Onana produced an unorthodox effort to lift the ball just over the bar from 12 yards out.

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02:27

DYCHE: WHAT'S NEEDED TO BUILD ON BRENTFORD WIN

Everton manager discusses positives from 1-0 victory and how his side can improve.


Brentford came into the contest with a long unbeaten run for a reason and they showed their threat soon after with a well-worked counter that ended with a deep cross into the area finding top-scorer Ivan Toney, whose diving header flicked just past Jordan Pickford’s post.

Continuing to probe, Dyche’s Blues got the crowd on their feet again just past the half-hour mark. After strong midfield play from Idrissa Gana Gueye, the Senegalese played Gray through down the left wing. His effort was tipped away for a corner, and Everton threatened again from the subsequent set-piece, Iwobi’s shot being saved by Raya and cleared away amid penalty shouts for a handball.

Gray thought he had doubled Everton’s lead just before half-time. Pickford pumped a free-kick into the area from the halfway line, Tarkowski headed across the goal and a clearance hit Gray from two yards out and looped into the net.

Cue joyous Goodison scenes, only for the celebrations to be dampened when a long VAR check ruled that Gray has handled the ball before bundling home.

It was a disappointing end to an impressive opening half that the energetic Blues had dominated, with more than a one-goal cushion being warranted.

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WATCH VIDEO 02:14

MCNEIL ON GIVING EVERTON KEY DREAM START

Match-winner reflects on vital 1-0 victory over Brentford at Goodison.


Everton so nearly paid the price for not grabbing that second goal just moments after the restart, too, as Pickford produced a trademark top-quality save.

Mikkel Damsgaard lofted a right-wing cross to the back post for Rico Henry to head home from close range, only to be denied by Pickford from point-blank range.

Brentford looked far more dangerous in the second half, Coleman having to be alert to head behind a teasing centre before the Blues cleared from the resulting corner.

Despite having to soak up pressure, Everton continued to carry a threat and went close on the hour as Gray showed a slick touch to bring the ball down inside the area and shoot at goal. His effort lacked power, however, and Raya held.

A few minutes later, a typically strong Onana sliding challenge to win a throw-in was celebrated like a goal by the young Belgian. He waved on the cheering Evertonians as the Blues tried to regain control of the match.

Still feeling the heat, Everton continued to defend frantically and a foul on Toney on the edge of the area on 69 minutes gave Brentford a chance for level, only for Toney’s free-kick to deflect behind for a corner.

Having been so bright going forward in the first half, in was backs-to-the-wall stuff for Everton in the closing stages as the Blues battled to hold on to their lead.

More possession followed for the visitors in an increasingly one-side second period, but the Bees couldn’t quite find a goal to sting a hard-working Everton side.

Tom Davies came on for Onana after 79 minutes as the Blues’ search for greater control of the game continued.

Another Everton change saw Gray receive a standing ovation for his efforts as he was replaced by Neal Maupay.

Cheered on by a desperately hopeful Goodison Park, the Toffees showed an abundance of resilience and fight. However, the visitors continued to threaten as the game neared stoppage time, coming close with a corner in the 87th minute.

Five minutes of stoppage time were signalled to prolong what was an agonising end. There was still time for Raya to come up for a corner and nod wide. But that was to prove the final heart-in-the-mouth act as Everton held on for three precious points to make it three home wins from four since Dyche became Blues boss.