Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s injury-time finish rescued a point for Everton as they came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at Brentford in a pulsating Premier League encounter with European implications for both sides.
David Moyes‘ men were forced to show their mettle on Saturday afternoon, twice pegging back a Brentford side who had looked threatening throughout. It was a display that underlined just how far this Everton squad has come, even if a nagging sense of what might have been will linger given the hosts’ missed opportunities.
The afternoon began badly for the Toffees. Inside two minutes, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford rushed from his line to bring down Kevin Schade, conceding a penalty and picking up a yellow card in the process. Igor Thiago, ice-cool from the spot, made no mistake to hand Brentford a third-minute lead – his 20th goal of the season.
Everton, to their credit, refused to wilt. Pickford more than atoned for his early error with a superb save from Mathias Jensen on the half-hour, before the equaliser arrived. Jake O’Brien won a tussle on the left, Idrissa Gueye floated a delicate chip into the box, and Beto rose highest to nod past Caoimhin Kelleher and level things up on 26 minutes.
The second half was a largely even affair, with Brentford carrying the greater threat on the ball and Everton looking dangerous on the break through Iliman Ndiaye. Moyes freshened things up on 74 minutes, introducing Tyrique George, Thierno Barry and Tim Iroegbunam – and it was George who injected real energy into Everton’s attacking play, forcing Kelleher into a sharp stop from close range.
Brentford retook the lead on 77 minutes through Thiago’s second of the afternoon, a fortunate deflection off his thigh from Michael Kayode’s ambitious effort. The hosts looked set to hold on, but Everton kept pressing – and were rewarded deep into stoppage time when Dewsbury-Hall pounced on the rebound from Ndiaye’s low shot to bundle home and send the away end into raptures.
It had been Dewsbury-Hall himself who had spurned a glorious chance to put Everton ahead earlier, hesitating one-on-one with Kelleher before the goalkeeper blocked his left-footed attempt. The midfielder made sure there was no such regret second time around.
The point keeps Everton in the hunt for European football, with Moyes remaining characteristically measured about their prospects. “I don’t think it is just seventh and eighth,” he said. “I think it could go down to quite a few other teams below us – it gives us something to play for.”
A draw it may be, but for a side that has endured far darker days in recent seasons, a never-say-die point at Brentford feels like exactly the kind of character-building result that could define a memorable campaign.