Everton came from behind twice to secure an important point against Europe-chasing rivals Brentford at the GTech Community Stadium.
Beto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall equalised for the Blues after Igor Thiago scored a brace to put the Bees in front twice. The Toffees maintain their eighth position in the standings as a result of the draw.
The visitors were dealt an early blow when Jordan Pickford was adjudged guilty of bringing down Kevin Schade in the box and Igor Thiago converting the ensuing penalty with just three minutes on the clock.
Everton were scrappy during this period of the contest but Beto managed to head home the equaliser from Gana’s first-time cross after 26 minutes.
Keith Andrews’ side began the second half on a stronger footing and kept pushing for the lead. Their Brazilian striker ended up securing the lead once again after deflecting Michael Kayode’s effort into the back of the net.
David Moyes’ men were not to be denied a point, though, as their search for an equaliser in the dying minutes came to fruition. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall found some space after a penalty box scramble and finished off his move from an acute angle to secure a vital point away from home!
Here are the player ratings from Everton’s 1-1 draw with Brentford:
Jordan Pickford: 6
Pickford made a mistake right at the beginning where he was slow to read Schade’s movement and clipped him inside the box, leading to a penalty. However, he made amends with a great save off Mathias Jensen and followed it up by blocking Dango Ouattara’s attempt from close range.
Jake O’Brien: 8
O’Brien’s persistence led to Beto’s equaliser as he used his physicality well to get the better of Keane Lewis-Potter. It was his shot in injury time that led to Dewsbury-Hall’s match-leveller.
James Tarkowski: 6
James Tarkowski had a fine defensive performance and dominated aerial contests despite the string of boos from the home crowd. However, he was slow to react to Schade’s run in the early minutes of the contest that led to the penalty after the forward was through on a 1v1 with the keeper.
Jarrad Branthwaite: 7
Branthwaite made his return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench against Chelsea. He provides a lot more composure building out from the back and looked comfortable carrying the ball into the opposition half.
Vitalii Mykolenko: 6
It was Mykolenko’s cross that found Ndiaye in the box, leading to Everton’s stoppage-time equaliser. However, Mykolenko could’ve done in the case of both goals where he was slow to react to Schade’s run and got taken out in the move with Ayode coming inside.
Idrissa Gana Gueye (replaced by Tim Iroegbunam at 74’): 8
Idrissa Gueye provided a lot of attacking threat and brought out a good save off Caoimhin Kelleher. He also picked out Beto for the equaliser with a delicious lofted ball.
James Garner: 7
Garner brought both craft and intensity to the engine room and constantly kept looking for the ball. Failed to prevent Kayode’s mazy run inside the box before his shot took off a deflection of Thiago leading to the equaliser.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall: 7
Dewsbury-Hall made amends for the 1v1 chance he had missed earlier with a fantastic strike to equalise in stoppage time. The ball fell kindly to him after O’Brien’s shot and the Everton midfielder made no mistakes this time around.
Dwight McNeil (replaced by Tyrique George at 74’): 5
McNeil’s best moment of the game was the lovely cross he played to Beto that led to the chance for Gueye.
Beto (replaced by Thierno Barry at 74’): 8
Beto showed great instinct to adjust his body and head home the first equaliser. He was also denied by a terrific save off Kelleher earlier, even though it was debatably ruled as offside in the aftermath of the action. It was another encouraging display from Eveton’s number 9 who had lost his starting spot to Barry for a large chunk of the season.
Iliman Ndiaye: 7
Ndiaye displayed calmness when he provided the lay-off for O’Brien to take a shot from the edge of the box, leading to Dewsbury-Hall’s equaliser. He had a decent opportunity to put the visitors in the lead in the second half but his shot was met by Kelleher’s trailing leg.
Substitutions
Thierno Barry: 6
Unable to have the kind of impact that Beto had in the game as Barry still seems to lack the predatory striker’s movement and hunger inside the box.
Tyrique George: 5
George failed to keep up with Kayode’s run and was partially responsible for Brentford’s second goal. The youngster, however, had chances of his own at the other end of the pitch.
Tim Iroegbunam: 6
Replaced Gueye in the latter stages of the contest.
Reader Comments (26)
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()
2 Posted 12/04/2026 at 11:15:42
3 Posted 12/04/2026 at 11:17:48
I thought George did well when he came on, he looked sharp and postitive.
4 Posted 12/04/2026 at 11:23:47
But that is the Moyes mentality in a nutshell. Drives me crazy but this is what we must witness week after week, decent young players not given a proper chance to influence the game.
Meanwhile, Moyes's favourites plod on half asleep after the kick-off -- but at least Anjishnu marked both Tarkowski and Mykolenko down for failing to read that situation and take command for the penalty and early goal.
5 Posted 12/04/2026 at 13:29:33
I don't think it was Moyes that marked George down, it was Anjishnu, if that's indeed what he did. He could have marked him up for his attacking performance?
Maybe send an internal memo to ask him?
7 Posted 12/04/2026 at 14:12:14
Tarky seems hell-bent on abandoning opposing players, choosing to stop running, and being a second goalkeeper!
Goal apart, I also thought Dewsbury-Hall had a poor game, he is much better deeper.
8 Posted 12/04/2026 at 14:32:11
9 Posted 12/04/2026 at 15:15:22
George looked great going forward, very exciting, earned a start for the derby in my view, and I hope we sign him permanently.
But like it or not, Moyes demands full defensive effort, and George looked like a traffic cone allowing Kayode to coast past him for their second goal. In Moyes's system, the wide midfielder is responsible for defending the overlapping fullback. George didn't, and that may be a window into why Moyes has been starting McNeil ahead of George.
Graham #7, agreed on both. Tarkowski wasn't good. And I hope and expect that Dewsbury-Hall will play in the #8 spot next season alongside Garner. As he has said himself, it's his natural position.
11 Posted 12/04/2026 at 15:29:00
If that gets sorted and he learns, he is very young, let's not forget, he could be a very good weapon off the bench or as a starter.
Tark the Nark needs to be careful as, if he is not careful, a red will be coming.
The midfield were really solid and all deserved their marks.
Finally, a big shout for Jake O'Brien -- what a signing he has been, filling in at right-back and never letting us down. He is going to be an outstanding centre-back in the future and a little bit under-appreciated, I feel.
12 Posted 12/04/2026 at 15:48:24
Given that Tarkowski is looking increasingly vulnerable, I think we need to see Jake O'Brien in the middle with Jarrad Branthwaite... but I don't want to see James Garner at right-back.
13 Posted 12/04/2026 at 17:56:20
Out of position or not, Jake O'Brien looked absolutely dominant yesterday.
14 Posted 13/04/2026 at 13:36:40
He has time to learn and will be a good player if he continues to do so.
15 Posted 13/04/2026 at 15:12:59
Sure, Garner was slow to react as well, and maybe it was a miscommunication or misunderstanding, thinking he had cover, and partially a result of having played so little with us. Nevertheless, he was a half-step slow, and that's all it takes to lead to a goal at this level.
No one is saying he can't be an excellent player or isn't very good already. Nor that excellent players don't often have defensive lapses — Ndiaye seems to have one at least every other game, despite his work rate.
It's hopefully a good learning experience for George, and hopefully ir doesn't hurt him too much in the eyes of Moyes. I'd still give him a 7 for his cameo, given how dangerous he looked.
16 Posted 13/04/2026 at 15:26:56
17 Posted 13/04/2026 at 15:52:06
George was a dynamic threat from the left wing. Pacy and direct, he offers Moyes a point of difference in attack. Other options, such as Iliman Ndiaye, Dwight McNeil and Tyler Dibling, prefer the ball to feet, but George can stretch play and strike from range. Whether coming inside onto his stronger right foot or hitting the outside and using his left foot to stand crosses up to the back post, George gave the otherwise impressive Kayode a torrid time, twisting him one way and then the other. He saw a stinging shot saved by Kelleher and was involved in the build-up to Dewsbury-Hall’s 91st-minute equaliser.
And Boyland contradicts a previous uncredited report that Moyes had already made a decision not to keep George at the end of the season. He's played only 120 minutes and that isn't enough. There have been ups and downs. Cameos against Fulham on debut and Manchester United showcased his ability to drive from deep, beat players and fashion chances. Against Bournemouth, though, he had little joy against Alex Jimenez and was unable to combine with left-back Vitalii Mykolenko to stop dangerman Rayan. Moyes had been preparing to withdraw George before Rayan’s equaliser. Everton have the option to buy George at the end of the season. The fee has yet to be disclosed, but sources with knowledge of the deal, speaking on condition of anonymity to protect relationships, have suggested the Merseyside club will have to pay around £25million ($33.6m) to make the move permanent. Moyes has until the end of the season — six more games — to run the rule over a player who has impressed in fleeting glimpses behind the scenes, but is yet to produce a truly standout moment. He is judging potential as much as anything.
18 Posted 13/04/2026 at 16:05:34
I don't think he will start on Sunday but would like to see him given half an hour.
19 Posted 13/04/2026 at 16:18:21
If we're leading at 60 minutes, I don't think his chances are too good.
20 Posted 13/04/2026 at 16:30:09
If we are leading, he won't get on.
I'll settle for that! :-)
21 Posted 13/04/2026 at 16:40:30
If it's true and he wants to come here, which I assume is partially based on how much game time he thinks he'll get — which won't be a ton if we sign Grealish and play him and Ndiaye out wide, unless we play George up top — I think we have to strongly consider paying the money.
He showed more danger running at players than anyone in our squad all season bar Ndiaye in those 18 minutes he was on the pitch.
As long as he's in good shape, he'll learn the defensive part, but you can't teach attacking threat.
I really wonder whether he has it in him to be a Number 9. Quick, strong, an eye for goal, ability to beat defenders one-on-one.
22 Posted 13/04/2026 at 16:58:15
23 Posted 13/04/2026 at 17:44:08
I'd leave George out wide -- Chelsea played him on both wings -- because he likes the ball out in space and can stretch the defense. We haven't had that in a wide man since the early days of Bolasie.
24 Posted 13/04/2026 at 21:56:47
But I still think size matters up top for hold-up play and winning headers, and George has that. Doesn't mean I'm not curious to see if Ndiaye (or Dibling) is the answer in a 10 or false 9 role, but no sign Moyes is willing to try it.
25 Posted 14/04/2026 at 08:02:32
If you can't offer anything defensively then you can
A: go and play for Real Madrid or Barca
Or
B: learn to defend to get your place in the team.
If you want egos to define the team selection, then Real Madrid really are a good option to support. We tried that since Moyes left, it didn't work. Being pragmatic is taking us up the Premier League, so why not get on board?
If George can't defend, then he has no place here -- ask Jack Grealish, does he defend? Yes, he does, as does everyone else who is a team player.
26 Posted 14/04/2026 at 09:49:44
Grealish defending? I saw him once or twice come back, made a good tackle in the first home v Brighton.
But most of the time he was conserving his energy so he could play his slow attacking game on the wing.
27 Posted 14/04/2026 at 18:50:17
He will say, "Listen, lads, be careful... they have good players. They're not playing well but they're still dangerous." That's Moyes.
This man Moyes had the best young player in my lifetime (and I'm 66) called Wayne Rooney. I think he was invloved in about 34 games for us. Moyes gave him 17 starts and 17 games on the bench... ha ha.
Rooney went to Man Utd and Sir Alex Ferguson played him in every game for the rest of the season when he got fit.
Oh, Moyes gave George 2 mins at Arsenal and put Armstrong on the right wing 15 minutes earlier... Good luck.
28 Posted 14/04/2026 at 19:30:15
The manager will take a draw in a must-win game. The only way he gets on is if we are getting beaten.
Add Your Comments
In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.
Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.
How to get rid of these ads and support TW
-sm.jpg)
1 Posted 12/04/2026 at 09:29:03