Match Report Everton made it a hat-trick of home wins in the space of six days by edging Brentford 1-0 thanks to Idrissa Gueye’s 60th-minute strike that ensured the Blues’ Premier League survival for another season. After a fairly flat first half that saw precious little goalmouth action at either end, Dwight McNeil hit the crossbar as Everton came the closer to breaking the deadlock before Gueye popped up with his second goal in three games. Brentford were coming off the back of their biggest away win in the Premier League having thrashed Luton Town 5-1 last weekend and they had their moments after half-time, but Jordan Pickford came up trumps again when needed to deny Ivan Toney, Keane Lewis-Potter and Kevin Schade. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin still dogged by a stomach bug and knee complaint and Beto ruled out by concussion protocols, Sean Dyche handed a first League start to Youssef Chermiti while Ashley Young replaced the injured Vitalii Mykolenko at left-back. With all the emotion from Wednesday night’s dramatic win in the Merseyside derby, there was always a risk that Everton might struggle to raise their game but there was no shortage of effort in the opening minutes even if the quality in their play was largely lacking. In general, there was too much reliance on long balls which Chermiti often struggled to win against the likes of Ethan Pinnock and Kristoffer Ajer, but the Blues came close to registering another early goal in this fixture when McNeil flashed a shot across the face of Mark Flekken’s goal with Chermiti stretching to try and get a toe on it. Jarrad Branthwaite was called into action in the 20th minute to make a terrific block to deny Mathias Jensen after Vitaly Yanelt had found him with a cut-back from the byline and the Dane picked his spot past Pickford. Back down the Park End, Everton were being frustrated themselves by Bees defenders getting in the way of shots that might have tested Flekken as Jack Harrison and McNeil saw efforts charged down and the former lashed a first-time shot wide from the second opportunity. The best chances of the first 45 minutes fell to either side late in the half, first when Abdoulaye Doucouré, played in by a very neat touch from Chermiti that put him into space in the box, snatched at a left-foot half-volley and made a complete mess of the connection with just the keeper in front of him. Then Jensen bent an inviting ball behind the Toffees' defence for Toney but Pickford did brilliantly again to cover the angle and stop the shot, gathering at the second attempt after it has squirmed under his body. The contest started to come to life after the interval as Everton's confidence to move the ball on the deck increased and when Branthwaite made an uncharacteristic error by missing his challenge on Yoane Wissa and Toney was played in, Pickford came to his rescue with a smart save. McNeil, meanwhile, was enjoying the more roving role that he was given by Dyche against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, picking up space behind the striker, and when he had time to look up and unload from 25 yards, he cracked a tremendous shot off the face of the bar. The deadlock was broken on the hour mark, though, when Ajer touched the ball behind for a corner. McNeil’s delivery was initially cleared by Brentford but it came back to Gueye who chipped it out to Harrison who squared it to Branthwaite. He found his route to goal blocked by two defenders but when Ajer shovelled the ball away from the big defender’s feet, it fell invitingly for Gueye to sweep into the top corner and make it 1-0. McNeil drilled another left-footer across the face of Flekken’s goal before Brentford, amid a flurry of changes from the bench by Thomas Frank, tried to press home an equaliser. Pickford was alert to save by his feet when Toney flicked the ball on off a corner and Ben Godfrey had to clear the ball behind from Schade’s low centre but, in between, the Toffees’ goalkeeper pulled off his best save of the match, palming aside Lewis-Potter’s fierce drive. Chermiti, who would end up playing 20 minutes more than the sum total of all his Premier League minutes all season before today, had been growing into his challenging role as the lone striker and his best chance to score his first Everton goal would come six minutes from time but he knocked his shot wide just before the offside flag went up. It very nearly was 2-0 in the closing stages, however, first when substitute Amadou Onana led a really promising break but delayed his pass too long so that Doucouré strayed offside, with the latter seeing his shot saved regardless. Then, after Mbeumo had cynically felled McNeil as the winger led another charge down the left, James Garner shuddered the bar with a curling free-kick that just didn’t dip enough to sneak in. Pickford got down to save a final low drive from Schade as Brentford tried to spoil the afternoon but after six minutes of added time, enough for Michael Keane to come on for Chermiti and play up front, referee Darren England called time to signal Everton’s safety from the drop with three games to spare. The Club still have an appeal to be heard over the second points deduction which, combined with the six taken away by the first Independent Commission, have prolonged the Toffees’ battle to make sure of top-flight football in Goodison Park’s final season and there is an outside chance that the Appeal Board adds to that second sanction rather than reduces it. But it’s unlikely to make any difference in the final reckoning. For the second season running, Dyche has steered Everton to safety despite challenging circumstances and lifted the immediate weight off Blues fans’ shoulders, even if, off the pitch, the takeover saga remains of huge concern. Lyndon Lloyd top Matchday Updates Everton ground out a third win in their third Premier League match of the week as they narrowly beat Brentford at Goodison Park to confirm their Premier League survival (* more points deductions notwithstanding). Mykolenko misses this match with possible ankle ligament damage after twisting awkwardly on Wednesday night, while Beto will remain sidelined following the Premier League's concussion protocols. Seamus Coleman and Nathan Patterson are also out injured. No Calvert-Lewin as Chermiti starts up front for the first time in the Premier League, but Sean Dyche is running out of players with two goalkeepers and three U21 players on the bench. No Neal Maupay of course for Brentford as he is on loan from Everton, but Ivan Toney starts upfront for The Bees, who kick off knowing they are safe from relegation after the afternoon's Premier League results. Pickford's first hoof avoided Chermiti and went straight to Flekken; Chermiti got his head on the second, but it still went through to Flekken. Chermiti ran down the third to force a throw-in. Brentford won the first corner off Branthwaite, delivered in well and scrambled away before being put behind, the ball hitting Douccure's armpit with his arm straight up. Very odd! Harrison delivered a great cross that fell for McNeil but his ferocious cross was just too hard for Chermiti to reach. Godfrey could not get past Wissa down the right. Wissa got behind the thin blue line and Pickford did a bizarre De Bryune impression with a dramatic headed clearance beyond his area. Garner delivered a good cross to the back post where Harrison was coming in but a defender cleared. A very deep cross-ball from Collins forced another Brentford corner off Godfrey that Tarkowski, then Branthwaite cleared. In the next phase, Pickford came out uncharacteristically beyond his goal area to punch clear. Brentford were finding a worrying amount of space with the forward balls played to their pacey forwards but Everton looked reasonably comfortable at the back with the tempo of the game sinking into a lull. But Branthwaite then had to head a decent cross clear before he got his body down quickly to deny Jensen a clear chance. The corner was strangely played along the ground, and then led to another wicked cross, slightly deflected, that you could have wafted in with yer cap but Tarkowski cleared the danger. Pickford came forward to take an advanced free-kick but nothing came of it and Brentford could again get wide and cross in but Pickford gathered and tried to release McNeil. Branthwaite was again perfectly placed to snuff out a key Brentford pass. Everton got forward but Garner's cross was straight to Flekken. Everton built again, Harrison's shot blocked at source. Chermti forced an error from Pinnock for a first Everton corner, McNeil from the right, beyond the back post, Brentford clearing. Everton almost forced their way through, then worked the ball around well enough until Gana's pass was intercepted. A better passing move through midfield Garner failed at McNeil. But Everton came back and won another corner, it was worked around, McNeil's cross headed poorly by Godfrey. Brentford sought to counter but Toney drove the ball into Tarkowski's block. The ball fell for a Chermiti shot that was hit first time but blocked. Brentford countered more strongly and Everton had to clear. Chermiti and Yanelt collided, the Everton man staying down and needing treatment, but he was only winded. Some competitive stuff followed, McNeil eventually fouled after the age it required for Chermiti to be allowed back on. McNeil played in Harrison but his shot was blocked behind. McNeil's corner was cleared but McNeil's hot was blocked then Trakowski mishit behind. Brentford looked to break quickly but Reguilon caught Garner for a yellow card. From the freekick, Chermiti spun a difficult cross toward Doucoure who made an awful mess of his first-time volley. Everton mounted another attack in which Chermiti tripped over Reguilon's legs before the whistle went for half-time with neither side doing enough to break the deadlock. After they resumed, a clever Pickford free-kick from the half-way line to McNeil almost took Brentford by surprise down the left but Jensen got the right side to deny the cross. Brentford got forward very quickly and Pickford produced an amazing close-range block to deny Toney when it seemed easier for him to score. Everton tried to pass their way forward but put it out of play. But in the next attack, a left-foot laser from McNeil smacked the bar! Harrison was then shoved over by Wissa, pleading his innocence. The free-kick was flicked behind by Flekken's gloved fist above the crowded goal area. A corner from the left was cleared but Young punted it back in and out of play behind. Everton were working the ball around for an opening but struggled to find aa path forward. But the cross eventually won a corner, that still wouldn't produce anything as it was played around.... or would it? Gana Gueye said as he smashed it into the top corner for a very fine goal! Unbelievably, the VAR decided there must have been an offside in the third of eight phases before they finally agreed it was a valid goal. Pathetic nonsense from the VAR. After a brief Brentford foray, Everton attacked again and a big shout went up for handball when it hit a Brentford defender high up the body, on the shoulder. McNeil then lashed a shot from wide right, just past the far post. Chermiti almost went one-on-one but Flekken was out faster. Everton had to do some defending but they were able to make it very difficult. But Pickford was booked for his aggression toward Wissa then we had two balls on the pitch, which was blamed on Tarkowski, who was booked when the ref realised. That was after giving Brentford a disputed corner which Pickford needed to save, with the ball spining ever so slightly off Tarkowski's hand. Potter got forward well and found space for a shot that Pickford had to punch away. Brentford continued to threaten with the substitutes well involved as they pressed Everton hard for the equalizer. Chermiti was played in by McNeil but he had come from an offside position and could not beat Flekken anyway. Onana then got a breakaway chance but hesitated before passing to Doucoure who was offside and stumbled on the ball anyway. With Brentford pressing, Everton were finding openings to get forward but were unable to take real advantage as the clock ticked down to 6 added minutes. Mbueno brought McNeil down in full flight down the left and he was shown a yellow card. Garner's free-kick from very wide left incredibly smacked into the bar! But Brentford had a really strong spell, forcing Everton back, Pickford tested again and having to make a low save from Yarmolyuk. Keane replaced Chermiti who had tried pretty hard but really needed a lot more playing time. And Everton finally played out, with a further 3 points that should ensure their Premier League survival for another season. Everton: Pickford [Y:73'], Young, Tarkowski [Y:74'], Branthwaite, Godfrey, Gana, (78' Onana), Garner, Doucoure, McNeil, Harrison, Chermiti (90+5'Keane). Subs: Virginia, Lonergan, Danjuma, Gomes, Warrington, Hunt, Metcalfe. Brentford: Flekken, Ajer, Collins, Pinnock, Reguilon [Y:44'] (77' Schade), Jensen, Nørgaard (77' Yarmolyuk), Janelt (66' Damsgaard), Mbeumo [Y:90'], Toney, Wissa (66' Lewis-Potter). Subs: Valdimarsson, Jorgensen, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Roerslev,. Attendance: Michael Kenrick top Match Preview Everton will have a fourth successive home win in their sights when they reconvene at Goodison Park hoping to take the momentum from Wednesday night’s pulsating 2-0 win over Liverpool into the late afternoon clash with Brentford. Goals from Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin and a top-drawer performance from the whole team on the night saw the Blues win their first home derby since 2010 and take another huge step towards ensuring that the Grand Old Lady will host top-flight football in her final season. Calvert-Lewin was immense from start until he was withdrawn a couple of minutes from the end to milk well-deserved applause from the home faithful but arguably his best display for quite a while came despite sustaining a knock to his knee against Nottingham Forest three days previously and then coming down with a stomach bug on derby day. Sean Dyche explained in his press conference at Finch Farm yesterday that he and his team are hopeful that "DCL" can shake the illness off in time to face the Bees, particularly because Beto will miss a second match because of the Premier League’s protocols around head injuries. The Portuguese was knocked out cold late in the game against Forest but is expected to be available for the trip to Luton Town next Friday. Vitalii Mykolenko will also be missing this weekend after badly rolling his ankle in the first half against Liverpool and then leaving the stadium with his foot in a protective boot and Seamus Coleman is doubtful with a groin injury. How many changes Dyche elects to make purely to manage fatigue as he prepares for a third fixture in six days remains to be seen but he has scope to switch things up in midfield, as Idrissa Gueye has battled tightness in his calf, and also on the wings, although it’s unlikely he would see fit to drop either Dwight McNeil or Jack Harrison at this stage. Having gone through a sticky patch that saw them win just once in the Premier League between 20th January and 13 April and, at one stage, had them involved in the conversation around relegation this season, Brentford have now gone five games without defeat and are, themselves, one win away from mathematical safety. Thomas Frank has been boosted by the staggered returns of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo but it was Yoane Wissa who was the star of their 5-1 win over Luton last weekend, a result that underlined just how good the Bees can be on their day. Frank is hoping that Toney will be available despite a recent hamstring injury but Aaron Hickey, Ben Mee, Joshua Dasilva and Rico Henry are ruled out with injury and striker Neal Maupay is ineligible to face his parent club. With 18th-place Luton travelling to Wolves in a 3pm kick-off and, realistically, needing to win to keep alive their hopes of catching the Toffees, it’s possible that Everton will know what they need to do against Brentford to guarantee their safety by the end of the day. Defeat for the Hatters at Molineux would mean that a point would be enough to effectively see Dyche’s men safe because of their vastly superior goal difference. A win, however, would leapfrog the Toffees back over Brentford and into the position they briefly occupied before the second of their two points deductions dropped them back down to 16th. Kick-off: 5:30 pm, Saturday 27 April 2024Referee: Darren EnglandVAR: Michael OliverLast Time: Everton 1 - 0 Brentford Predicted Line-up: Pickford, Godfrey, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Young, Onana, Gomes, Harrison, McNeil, Doucouré, Calvert-Lewin Lyndon Lloyd top * Unfortunately, we cannot control other sites' content policies and therefore cannot guarantee that links to external reports will remain active.