Brentford 1-3 Everton
by Layth Yousif
at the Brentford Community Stadium

SECOND-HALF goals from James Tarkowski and substitute Dominic Calvert-Lewin sealed a welcome victory for the Toffees in a lively match in west London on Saturday evening.

The strikes came after the Bees’ Mathias Jensen had levelled Abdoulaye Doucoure’s early opener for the visitors, as Everton savoured their first league victory of the campaign.

Speaking after the game, a delighted Sean Dyche said: “Progression was the idea [before the start of the season].

“We know the story of the past two seasons, firstly we need to do better than that. Our performances have been but the outcomes haven’t — it was good to get the outcome.”

Earlier, Doucoure fed off Tarkowski’s header in the box to fire home with aplomb past Bees keeper Mark Flekken, to put Sean Dyche’s side 1-0 ahead in the seventh minute — sending their loyal, long-suffering support into raptures at the other end.

It was understandable that their 1,600 travelling fans celebrated wildly: after all, it was only the second time the Toffees had been ahead all season. Dwight McNeil could have doubled their lead shortly afterwards, after Beto’s perceptive header, but the 23-year-old former Burnley wideman failed to capitalise. It was Amadou Onana’s turn to go close moments later, but his close-range header from James Garner’s ball did not trouble Flekken.

Conversely, Thomas Frank’s side looked off the pace, but perhaps given the fact that they lost left-back Rico Henry for the season before the match, after picking up what the Bees boss said was a “serious injury” during their defeat at St James’ Park last time out. Not to mention losing their excellent keeper David Raya to Arsenal before deadline day, and the goals of Ivan Toney, to a long-term suspension from the FA, following breaches of betting regulations.

If you throw in the fact Frank also lost the influential Ben Mee, after picking up a knock last time out in the north-east, and that the talented 21-year-old Kevin Schade was injured in the pre-match warm-up — later to be spotted on crutches — to be replaced by the raw 22-year-old Keane Lewis-Potter, it was no wonder Brentford started the game in underwhelming fashion.

Reflecting after the match, Frank said: “First and foremost Everton deserved to win. We performed badly. This was very unlike us and these fantastic players that we played like that.

“This group of players have been good at bouncing back. It’s very important we do so again.”

Bees hopes rose for a moment, following a cracking strike from the Bees’ Jensen to equalise for Frank’s side on 28 minutes. VAR correctly ruling that Yoane Wissa was onside during the build-up, as the 27-year-old Danish international fired across Jordan Pickford and low into the far corner to make the score 1-1.

In an open game, Beto fired narrowly wide for Everton, after being sent through by Idrissa Gueye, prior to the Bees’ Lewis-Potter failing by inches on the goalline to connect with an intelligent Bryan Mbuemo ball into the box.

However, Everton came out fired up for the second half, with James Tarkowski heading home McNeil’s corner on 67 minutes to make it 2-1, prior to substitute Calvert-Lewin coolly slotting past Flekken for 3-1 four minutes later to seal the points for the blue half of Merseyside, who ease to the heady heights of 16th place, which after the start this mighty club have had is reason enough for celebration.

“The bigger picture is to start the process of moving forward. I said to the players, we’re the only ones who can change the story of Everton,” Dyche added.

“The fans play their part, but it’s on the pitch you can change stories and that’s our job. We’ve got to change the story, get it more positive and build from what we’re doing.”

For Dyche and his team, the campaign starts now.