- Brentford held on to draw 0-0 away despite Christian Norgaard’s early dismissal
- Everton move up to 15th but are only three points clear of the relegation zone
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Everton failed to take advantage of Christian Norgaard’s first-half dismissal as Brentford collected their first away point of the season to the sound of boos at the full-time whistle.
Norgaard was shown red after 41 minutes following a VAR intervention for his sliding challenge on Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
But Sean Dyche’s side, the Premier League’s lowest scorers other than Southampton, were unable to get their first goal in three matches with Bees ‘keeper Mark Flekken saving from Idrissa Gueye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
With a difficult December fixture list ahead – Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal all lie in wait after next Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford – Everton knew the importance of this game.
They started quickly with Iliman Ndiaye showing quick feet before firing over and Gueye’s deflected strike heading to the bottom corner until a strong hand from Flekken.
Ndiaye’s dribbling got the Goodison crowd onside and Dwight McNeil, returning from a knee injury, dragged a shot wide when well set on the edge of the box.
Christian Norgaard was dismissed in the 41st minute after a sliding tackle on Jordan Pickford
Sean Dyche’s side move up to 15th but are still only three points clear of the relegation zone
Despite their 27 shots, Everton failed to score against Brentford’s goalkeeper Mark Flekken
It took Brentford 15 minutes to pose any danger to the Everton goal with Sepp van den Berg’s shot curling away from the target at the wrong moment.
The Dutch defender represented the other side of the city, Liverpool FC, until the summer when he joined Brentford in a £20million deal.
After the rapid start, Everton struggled to continue the momentum against a well-organised defence and the first groans were heard after misplaced passes from Vitaliy Mykolenko and Abdoulaye Doucoure.
McNeil upped the tempo again after 27 minutes with a well-weighted pass that Calvert-Lewin ran onto. The striker hit the target but Flekken beat the ball away at his near post.
Brentford forced Jordan Pickford into his first save after 37 minutes when Yoane Wissa’s pace saw him burst clear until the England ‘keeper turned his shot around the post.
A major talking point erupted when Bees skipper Norgaard slid in to try and reach a knockdown inside the Everton six-yard box and caught Pickford’s right knee with his trailing leg.
As the Everton No1 and had treatment, referee Chris Kavanagh was sent to the monitor by VAR and returned to the pitch brandishing a red card.
The visitor’s angry response to the decision saw several players surrounded the official and a yellow was shown to a protesting Frank in the Bees technical area.
The Premier League’s lowest scorers are now goalless in three matches after today’s result
Referee Chris Kavanagh was assisted by VAR intervention in his decision to send Norgaard off
Brentford boss Thomas Frank received a yellow card for his reaction to Norgaard’s sending off
Beto came closest to giving Everton the lead, missing a close-range header in the 79th minute
The Toffees had 71 per cent possession in the second half but managed just three shots on goal
Brentford’s injustice saw them try to slow the game down at the start of the second half. Whether genuine or not, when Flekken laid down requiring treatment there were boos from the Gwladys Street End suspecting delaying tactics.
Everton pressed and had a chance after 62 minutes when Ndiaye squeezed the ball into the danger area where the oncoming Mykolenko hooked over the bar.
Brentford’s occasional breaks also spelled danger. Keane Lewis-Potter, playing out-of-position at left-back cut inside and shot at Pickford who spilled it and was relieved Mathias Jensen then drove the rebound high.
Thomas Frank sent on £30million Brazilian Igor Thiago as one of two changes with Dyche countering by sending on Beto and Orel Mangala. Interestingly, Calvert-Lewin stayed on the pitch to leave the home side with two out-and-out strikers.
Beto had one half-chance in injury-time but his shot was blocked inside the penalty area as Bees held on for their first clean sheet of the campaign.
