Everton gets desperately-craved, thoroughly-deserved win at Brentford

Solid numbers for Brentford’s midfield as well as Bryan Mbeumo, though the Cameroonian star won’t be happy with his final ball on the day.

No surprise to see James Tarkowski’s lofty rating, though it must be said that only Ashley Young (yellow card) and Jordan Pickford (little required) are outside the green areas of 7.0+ on the day.

Brentford vs Everton player ratings (fotmob.com)

Earned, deserved, and needed: Everton put on a great showing away from home to secure this win.

The Toffees’ maligned attacked out-attempted Brentford 18-12 and produced a 1.84 xG total.

It was the big chances that told the tale, as Everton had five on the day according to Fotmob. Sean Dyche can sleep well tonight.

James Garner slides Dominic Calvert-Lewin into the box, and he’s gotta get the ball around the keeper.

He does, as Flekken can’t get a hand on the big No. 9’s shot, and Everton is up 3-1.

Remember how we said James Tarkowski was Man of the Half and could be Man of the Match?

That’s rocketing up the odds chart, as the ex-Burnley back glances a header past Flekken for a 2-1 Everton lead.

That first half was a ride.

We only saw two goals, but it might’ve been 3-2 on another day as both Brentford and Everton will feel there were wasted chances.

Everton is winning the xG scrap 0.84-0.26 and Brentford will feel it’s had enough to be level or even ahead given Jensen’s goal and a begging Mbeumo pass through the six.

The Toffees are also up 9-7 in shot attempts, but the score’s 1-1 and there’s plenty to like for both teams. James Tarkowski is probably the MOTH. Will he be the Man of the Match?

VAR takes a long look at this one, but the goal counts for Brentford!

Yoane Wissa’s mistouch goes off an Everton back to Vitaly Janelt.

The German quickly spots Mathias Jensen in the right side of the box, and the latter drives a low shot past a horizontal Jordan Pickford.

1-1, just like that. It’s very much Everton’s story of the season.

A second Everton goal nearly comes from the man who scored the first.

Doucoure runs onto a Tarkowski long ball, and the midfielder bodies up Mads Roerslev.

A couple touches later, it’s a volley past Flekken but onto the crossbar.

Sensational technique, but a quarter-of-an-inch off.

Perhaps it was Kevin Schade’s injury changing the plan a bit, but Brentford’s done very little since Keane Lewis-Potter won the opening free kick.

In fact, Everton’s taken four of the game’s five shots and could’ve claimed a 2-0 lead through 24 minutes.

The Toffees look strong up the middle. Can Brentford break into those spaces, or will it have to find love out wide? Young is on that yellow card on the right...

Really good, Sean Dyche-desired stuff here.

Long service, a powerful knockdown, and no waste on the finish.

It’s James Garner sending in the cross, and James Tarkowski gets high to knock the ball back across the 18 to Abdoulaye Doucoure.

There’s no mistaking his effort, a powerful ball past Mark Flekken for 1-0 to the visitors.

Keane Lewis-Potter was a last-minute starter, but he clearly prepared like one.

He blows by Ashley Young, who drags down the Brentford attacker just 10 yards outside the box.

It’s a yellow for Young — ouch — who will have manage playing under caution, but the double ding doesn’t come as Bryan Mbeumo wastes his curling free kick high and wide.

Kevin Schade is unable to feature after an injury in warm-ups.

Schade took a left-footed shot and crumpled to the turf, appearing to hold his groin/inner thigh before limping off the pitch.

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has to make a change and opts for Keane Lewis-Potter.

Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and Kevin Schade all start for the Bees, who will look to take the game to the Toffees.

Arnaut Danjuma dropped to the bench, where he joins Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Two goals scored versus nine conceded will not work wonders for a team.

Abdoulaye Doucoure and Arnaut Danjuma are the lone goal scorers after five games, and no Toffee player is averaging more than Danjuma’s 0.49 expected goals per 90 minutes. Doucoure’s at 0.40 before a dip to Beto at 0.15.

Dele Alli and Seamus Coleman remain out, while there are slim chances that Andre Gomes and Jack Harrison could be available.

Rico Henry’s undergone surgery and is set for a long absence from a Bees team with problems at the back already. Brentford is waiting to see whether Ben Mee and Kristoffer Ajer can face Everton.

Mikkel Damsgaard could return, but Shandon Baptiste and Joshua Dasilva are out and Ivan Toney continues his suspension.

Bryan Mbeumo (four) and Yoane Wissa (two) have accounted for all but two of Brentford’s eight goals this young season.