Everton vs Brentford LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
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An early goal from Dwight McNeil earned Everton a precious 1-0 win over Brentford at Goodison Park that dragged Sean Dyche’s struggling side out of the Premier League relegation zone on Saturday.
McNeil put Everton in front with a superb left-footed finish in the opening minute after an assist by Abdoulaye Doucoure.
The home side spurned several chances to extend their lead in the first half, with Michael Keane, Amadou Onana and Demarai Gray all guilty of poor finishing, while Brentford keeper David Raya saved well from Alex Iwobi following a corner.
Gray, who shot straight at Raya when put clean through by Idrissa Gueye just after the half-hour mark, bundled home minutes before halftime but the video assistant referee ruled the goal out for handball.
Everton keeper Jordan Pickford denied Rico Henry with an excellent save minutes into the second half in a match in which Everton’s back line did brilliantly to deny Brentford’s prolific target man Ivan Toney the time and space to operate.
Brentford pushed hard for an equaliser and dominated possession after the break, coming agonisingly close in injury time when Raya went up for a corner in the dying minutes but headed narrowly wide.
Victory moved Everton up four places to 15th in the table on 25 points, while Brentford stayed ninth.
Everton vs Brentford
CLOSE! Brentford win yet another corner, and Raya is sent forward for it. Mbeumo picks out the goalkeeper with his cross, and he thumps a header towards the far post, but it bounces just wide.
Everton vs Brentford
Final change for Everton now, and it's a defensive one as Dyche looks to see out the win. Iwobi goes off, with Mykolenko on for him.
Everton vs Brentford
Into five added minutes here, and Godfrey sloppily gifts the ball back to Raya, allowing Brentford to play out from the back once more.
Everton vs Brentford
Cross after cross is being sent into Everton's box and the hosts are scrambling to get it clear. Tarkowski throws himself in front of Dasilva's ball and during the following corner, Wissa is found offside. It gets one of the loudest cheers yet from the home crowd.
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