There was nothing separate Brentford from Everton either on the balance of play, or on the scoreboard, as the Bees and Toffees played to a 1-1 draw at Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday.
WATCH – Brentford v Everton full match replay
A point apiece will be as satisfactory as it is unsatisfying for both sides, with Brentford (38 points) holding steady in 11th place (but failing to capitalize on Aston Villa’s heavy defeat to Crystal Palace on Tuesday) and Everton (32 points) slipping from 14th to 15th. The Toffees are, however, a full 15 points clear of the relegation zone and now unbeaten in their last seven Premier League games (4W-3D-1L in 8 games since David Moyes returned as manager).
Yoane Wissa put Brentford ahead with a header right on the doorstep deep into first-half stoppage time, and it was a header that pulled Everton level late in the second half as 6-foot-6 right back Jake O’Brien stooped as low as he could to turn Vitalii Mykolenko’s cross home in the 77th minute. Wissa briefly thought he had doubled the Bees’ lead not too long before O’Brien equalized, but he had just strayed offside as Keane Lewis-Potter fired the initial shot.
Moyes brings belief back to Everton
Take the results and the goals that Everton have scored since Moyes returned, and put all of that to the side. Above all else, Moyes has brought back a belief that Everton can (and will) compete in each and every game — and they have, and will continue to do so. Without making a single signing during the January transfer window, Moyes has taken the exact same team that Sean Dyche had up until the very end and picked up the 3rd-most points in the PL (15 from 8 games). They were 16th, with 17 points from 19 games, when he took over. No real fancy point to be made here — much like Moyes’ football — but it just get the job done, doesn’t it?
Player ratings - Brentford vs Everton
What’s next?
- Brentford vs Aston Villa — Saturday, March 8 (12:30 pm ET)
- Wolves vs Everton — Saturday, March 8 (3 pm ET)
How to watch Brentford vs Everton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:30pm ET Wednesday (February 26)
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium — London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Brentford vs Everton live updates - by Andy Edwards
Brentford vs Everton final score: 1-1
Goalscorers: Yoane Wissa (45'+5), Jake O’Brien (77')
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Everton: O’Brien stoops low to head the Toffees level (77')
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Everton: Wissa soars in from nowhere to head home the opener (45'+5)
Brentford starting lineup
Flekken - Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter - Janelt, Yarmolyuk, Damsgaard - Mbeumo, Schade, Wissa
Everton starting lineup
Pickford - O’Brien, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko - Gueye, Garner, Lindstrom - Alcaraz, Harrison, Beto
Thomas Frank’s Brentford have secured three wins in their last four Premier League games, as they battered Leicester 4-0 away from home last Friday. The Bees have Wissa, Mbeumo and Schade flying up top, Damsgaard is a joy to watch in midfield but injuries keep popping up. The Bees have a chance to be in the scrap for European qualification which would be a magnificent achievement given all of their injuries.
Everton are unbeaten in five Premier League games under David Moyes as they should have made it five wins from their last seven but coughed up a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 at home against Manchester United at the weekend. They should have had the chance to win it in stoppage time but had a penalty kick controversially overturned after a pitch-side VAR review. Still, all is well in their final season at Goodison Park as the Toffees are well clear of the relegation zone and will move three points behind Brentford with a win.
Brentford team news, focus
This Brentford side are in full-flow at the moment and Mbeumo, Wissa and Schade are so dangerous. They are so solid everywhere else, which is incredible as so many key players remain out injured.
OUT: Sepp van den Berg (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh), Rico Henry (hamstring), Igor Thiago (knee), Josh Dasilva (knee), Gustavo Nunes (back), Mathias Jensen (groin), Christian Norgaard (illness)
Everton team news, focus
Beto has stepped up massively in recent weeks with five goals in his last four Premier League games. The likes of Doucoure and Alcaraz are making fine runs off him into the final third. Everton will be trying to keep Brentford quiet from set pieces and improve on their defending of the second ball after their initial clearances.
OUT: Iliman Ndiaye (knee), Dominic Calvert-Lewin (thigh), Orel Mangala (knee), Armando Broja (ankle), Dwight McNeil (knee), Seamus Coleman (calf)| QUESTIONABLE: Youssef Chermiti (thigh), Nathan Patterson (thigh), Jesper Lindstrom (illness)
Brentford vs Everton prediction
This has the feel of a draw and will see plenty of direct play. Whoever comes out on top on set pieces will prevail. Go for the Bees to nick it. Brentford 2-1 Everton.
