Idrissa Gueye’s strike sinks Brentford and ensures Everton’s safety
The celebrations were not as euphoric as the derby but Brentford marked another momentous step for Everton nonetheless. Despite two separate points deductions totalling eight points, doubts over their financial future and ownership, Everton have secured their top flight status for a 71st year in succession.
Idrissa Gana Gueye’s goal was enough to deliver a fourth consecutive Premier League win here and complete a superb achievement by Sean Dyche.
Everton savoured staying up in relative comfort. Their past two relegation fights have gone to the final week. Thanks to a superb reaction to the 6-0 defeat at Chelsea a fortnight ago, however, plus the fight and organisation that Dyche has instilled in his players, Everton have completed the task with three games to spare. “We shall not be moved” rang out defiantly after the final whistle with good reason.
Luton’s defeat at Wolves was welcomed by both sides in the evening kick off. The result at Molineux guaranteed Brentford’s safety and Everton knew they would also secure their top-flight status. The occasion did not live up to the prize at stake.
Dyche had called on Everton to park the emotion of Wednesday’s win over Liverpool but move on with the same intensity and quality that delivered a momentous derby victory. A comedown was always likely, however, in the performance and atmosphere, and the absence of Dominic Calvert-Lewin dealt a serious blow to Goodison’s hopes of a repeat. The Everton centre-forward was absent due to illness and a slight knee problem. With Beto also missing as he recovers from a head injury Dyche gave the 19-year-old Youssef Chermiti his first Premier League start in attack.
The Portugal under-21 international, signed from Sporting last summer, was a fraction away from giving Everton an early lead when just failing to connect with Dwight McNeil’s drive across the face of goal. Otherwise, the teenager was easily contained by the vastly more experienced and physical defensive duo of Nathan Collins and Ethan Pinnock.
It was a flat first half with both teams lacking urgency, threat and accuracy. Vitaly Janelt created a decent chance for Mathias Jensen after working his way to the byline but the Brentford midfielder’s placed shot was blocked by Jarrad Branthwaite.
Collins followed suit at the other end, throwing himself in the way of a Jack Harrison drive after a rare incisive move into the Brentford area by the on-loan winger and McNeil. Chermiti did create a good opening for Abdoulaye Doucouré on the stroke of half-time but released by the forward’s neat flick the midfielder sliced badly wide when well placed.
There was more incident in the opening eight minutes of the second half than throughout the entirety of the first period. Ivan Toney was presented with a fine opportunity to break the stalemate, his first of the game, when Yoane Wissa released Jensen in space down the right and the midfielder swept an inviting cross behind Ben Godfrey.
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Toney connected cleanly at the back post but Jordan Pickford blocked superbly at point-blank range before pouncing on the loose ball. Moments later, McNeil sized up Mark Flekken’s goal from 25 yards out and let fly with a ferocious drive that smacked the crossbar.
Gueye had been one of the few players to sustain his derby levels. His efforts were rewarded with a second goal in three games as Everton profited from a set-piece yet again. Gueye kept the pressure on after a McNeil corner had been headed clear, first having a shot blocked and then floating a good ball out to Harrison. The winger found Branthwaite on the edge of a crowded six-yard box and though his touch was blocked by Collins the rebound fell perfectly for the incoming Gueye to sweep home.
Brentford finished strongly and Pickford had to be alert to deny Bryan Mbeumo, while James Garner curled a free-kick against the bar late on.
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