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
Brentford lose it in midfield again and Iwobi spreads it out to McNeil down the left once more. He tries to thread it through for Gray in the middle, but Pinnock stretches to block it.
Everton vs Brentford
Coleman trips over himself during an attempted clearance and Damsgaard pops up to nick it off him. Toney darts into the box, but the cross is over everyone in the middle and doesn't trouble Everton.
Everton vs Brentford
Brentford are still gifting possession back to Everton with some sloppy passes and Onana profits this time. His first thought is to play one down the left for Doucoure, but he can't get anywhere near it.
Everton vs Brentford
The referee is indicating that he's not happy with Everton's time-wasting at the moment as Pickford comes forward to take a free-kick. When he eventually gets it into the box, it's cleared by Mee.
Everton vs Brentford
GOOD SAVES! Everton break quickly with Gueye sliding it into Gray down the left. He takes it outside Henry before drilling a low shot at the near post which Raya keeps out with his legs. From the resulting corner, Iwobi fires one straight down the middle, but Raya is equal to that one too.
Everton vs Brentford
Brentford are yet to win a game when conceding the first goal this season in the Premier League, drawing four and losing six.
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