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
Gray wins a free-kick on the right and whips a dangerous cross into the middle of the box. Raya rushes off his line and completely misses it, but he does enough to put off Keane, who thumps his header wide of the near post.
Everton vs Brentford
Back up the other end, Everton win a corner of their own. Gray swings it into the near post, but it's met by Pinnock, who thumps it away.
Everton vs Brentford
Brentford try to catch out their hosts with another clever set-piece, as the corner is pulled back to Hickey on the edge of the area. He tries to loop it over the top, but there's too much on it for both Jensen and Mbeumo.
Everton vs Brentford
Brentford are starting to find their rhythm now and they win a free-kick which is lifted to the far post for Toney. He plays it back into the middle, but Everton scramble to clear it, giving away a corner.
Everton vs Brentford
Everton win a free-kick down the left and McNeil curls it to the far post. Tarkowski peels away to nod it back into the middle for Keane, but Pinnock gets there first to coolly nod it back to Raya.
Everton vs Brentford
Brentford look rattled after Everton's lightning-quick start, and they can't get out of their own half. Janelt look to sent it forward for Mbeumo, who got tight instead, and it's needlessly put out of play.
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