- Everton defeated Brentford 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, thanks to a goal by Idrissa Gueye at the hour mark.
- With three games remaining, the Toffees made sure they would survive by virtue of a second-half goal from Idrissa Gueye.
Everton defeated Brentford 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, thanks to a goal by Idrissa Gueye at the hour mark, which guaranteed the team’s survival from relegation.
With three games remaining, the Toffees made sure they would survive by virtue of a second-half goal from Idrissa Gueye. They knew that victory would guarantee their survival because of other favorable outcomes that day.
The Toffees can enjoy a stress-free campaign finale as Sean Dyche’s team, who now sit in 15th place in the standings and have an unbeatable 11-point cushion over Luton Town in the drop zone, has a joyful finish to a season ruined by point deductions.
Thomas Frank’s team received precisely what they deserved from the match, but the visitors, who are now ranked sixteenth, will also participate in the top division in 2024–25 because they also benefited from the afternoon results.
How Everton won the game
Everton players celebrate with Idrissa Gueye. Photo/ ESPN
Premier League headlines were dominated by star attackers before the encounter on Merseyside. Ivan Toney was cleared to start for Brentford, but Youssef Chermiti started his debut game in England’s top flight since Everton was unable to rely upon the injured Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
In a thrilling first half, however, Dyche’s players faced their worst adversaries as neither club was able to manage a single effort on goal before leaving the tunnel. A total of 16 shots were unleashed, with 12 coming from the Toffees’ end.
Within six minutes of Chermiti’s complete Premier League debut, the goal almost rippled as the teenager missed a tap-in after stretching to try and grab Dwight McNeil’s pass across the box.
During the first half, last-ditch defensive efforts were the norm as Jarrad Branthwaite brilliantly blocked a golden chance for Brentford’s Mathias Jensen in the 19th minute.
Abdoulaye Doucoure had a great opportunity to break the tie in the 45th minute, or at least get an effort on target, but he mishit his strike after Chermiti set him up. Both defenses produced numerous more blocks before that point.
Five minutes into the second half, a goalkeeper would finally have to make a save. Jordan Pickford made a commendable one, racing across his six-yard box to deny Toney after Jensen’s exquisite delivery found the Englishman.
In the 53rd minute, Everton had a chance to break the deadlock and Mark Flekken was beaten, but McNeil’s curving effort struck the crossbar. Brentford had gone agonizingly close to doing so.
Everton had their tails up following McNeil’s incredible effort, even though Brentford had a gilt-edged chance of their own. The goal that the Toffees supporters had been waiting for arrived at the hour mark, when the Bees could only clear a corner as far as Gueye.
Idrissa Gueye. Photo/ Sky Sports
After Jack Harrison was set up by the midfielder’s clever pass back into the box, Brentford mishandled Harrison’s low ball into the mixer, which gave Gueye the opportunity to enter the game and smash a powerful shot into the side of the net.
A second round of applause broke out at Goodison Park as Gueye’s goal was upheld by a VAR review. In the 66th minute, McNeil went just inches shy of extending the hosts’ advantage when his shot from a tight angle sailed across the six-yard box and the far post.
The Bees escaped a last-minute heart-stopping situation in injury time when James Garner’s speculative free kick struck the crossbar above Flekken’s extended arm, despite Brentford’s vain attempts to penetrate a staunch Everton defense.
As time ran out, Pickford ducked low to deny Kevin Schade, but Everton’s defense held strong before the survival celebration got underway, and Dyche’s team will now be confident as they head to Luton Town the following weekend.
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