Everton beat Brentford to guarantee survival

2 weeks ago 62

In-form Everton guaranteed their Premier League survival with three games to spare by edging to victory over lacklustre Brentford.

Sean Dyche's side benefited from Luton losing at Wolves earlier on Saturday, and this result at Goodison Park allowed Everton to leapfrog Brentford into 15th place - 11 points clear of the relegation zone.

Idrissa Gueye was the surprise match winner, smashing home a first-time finish into the top corner on the hour mark after reacting quickest to Brentford's defenders failing to clear the ball.

A first half severely lacking in quality was summed up by neither side being able to find a shot on target. Home midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure should have done better with a volley which he screwed wide from 10 yards.

The contest improved in the second period and Everton's England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made an excellent stop to deny the returning Ivan Toney.

At the other end, Everton were inches away from breaking the deadlock when Dwight McNeil's thunderous drive from long range rattled the crossbar, before Gueye's goal ensured the Blues maintained their proud top-flight status.

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Everton

Squad number1Player namePickford
Squad number22Player nameGodfrey
Squad number6Player nameTarkowski
Squad number32Player nameBranthwaite
Squad number18Player nameYoung
Squad number11Player nameHarrison
Squad number27Player nameGueye
Squad number37Player nameGarner
Squad number7Player nameMcNeil
Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
Squad number28Player nameYoussef Chermiti

Squad number5Player nameKeane
Squad number8Player nameOnana

Brentford

Squad number1Player nameFlekken
Squad number20Player nameAjer
Squad number22Player nameCollins
Squad number5Player namePinnock
Squad number12Player nameReguilón
Squad number8Player nameJensen
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
Squad number17Player nameToney
Squad number11Player nameWissa

Squad number9Player nameSchade
Squad number23Player nameLewis-Potter
Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard
Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
Squad number33Player nameYarmoliuk

Line-ups

Everton

Formation 4-4-1-1

1Pickford
22Godfrey
6TarkowskiBooked at 74mins
32Branthwaite
18Young
11Harrison
27GueyeSubstituted forOnanaat 78'minutes
37Garner
7McNeil
16Doucouré
28Ramalho ChermitiSubstituted forKeaneat 90+5'minutes

Substitutes

5Keane
8Onana
10Danjuma
12Neves Virgínia
21André Gomes
31Lonergan
51Warrington
58Hunt
86Metcalfe

Brentford

Formation 4-3-3

1Flekken
20AjerSubstituted forRoerslevat 84'minutes
22Collins
5Pinnock
12ReguilónBooked at 43minsSubstituted forSchadeat 77'minutes
8Jensen
6NørgaardSubstituted forYarmoliukat 78'minutes
27JaneltSubstituted forDamsgaardat 67'minutes
19MbeumoBooked at 90mins
17Toney
11WissaSubstituted forLewis-Potterat 68'minutes

Substitutes

9Schade
13M Jorgensen
14Ghoddos
15Onyeka
23Lewis-Potter
24Damsgaard
30Roerslev
31Valdimarsson
33Yarmoliuk

Referee:Darren England

Attendance:39,098

Live Text

Match ends, Everton 1, Brentford 0.
Second Half ends, Everton 1, Brentford 0.
Foul by Ivan Toney (Brentford).
James Tarkowski (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton).
Substitution, Everton. Michael Keane replaces Youssef Chermiti.
Corner, Everton. Conceded by Ethan Pinnock.
Attempt saved. Kevin Schade (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mathias Jensen.
Attempt blocked. Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Yehor Yarmoliuk.
Offside, Everton. Youssef Chermiti is caught offside.
James Garner (Everton) hits the bar with a right footed shot from long range on the left from a direct free kick.
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford).
Dwight McNeil (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Mads Roerslev (Brentford).
Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Offside, Brentford. Yehor Yarmoliuk is caught offside.
Offside, Everton. Abdoulaye Doucouré is caught offside.
Substitution, Brentford. Mads Roerslev replaces Kristoffer Ajer.