Everton frustrated in goalless draw against 10-man Brentford

Everton frustrated in goalless draw against 10-man Brentford! Everton missed a crucial opportunity to move away from the Premier League’s relegation zone after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Brentford at Goodison Park.

Despite playing with an extra man for the entire second half, Sean Dyche’s side failed to capitalize on their advantage, leaving fans and players alike disappointed.

First Half: Everton Show Promise, Brentford Hold Firm

The Toffees started brightly, dominating possession and creating several chances. Dominic Calvert-Lewin was at the heart of Everton’s early efforts, but Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken was in inspired form.

Everton frustrated in goalless draw

Flekken made an instinctive save to deny Calvert-Lewin’s flicked header and later blocked a powerful near-post drive from the Everton striker.

Brentford, however, almost struck against the run of play. Yoane Wissa found himself one-on-one with Jordan Pickford after a swift counter-attack, but the England goalkeeper managed to stretch a leg and keep the ball out.

The game took a dramatic turn just before halftime when Brentford captain Christian Norgaard was shown a straight red card. Referee Chris Kavanagh consulted the pitchside monitor and deemed Norgaard’s knee-high challenge on Pickford dangerous, reducing the visitors to 10 men.

Second Half: Everton Struggle to Break Down 10 Men

Despite the numerical advantage, Everton struggled to break down a resolute Brentford defense. Idrissa Gueye tested Flekken with a swerving long-range strike, but the Dutch keeper remained unflappable. The hosts’ best chance fell to Vitaliy Mykolenko, who somehow missed the target from six yards out after being set up in the box.

Brentford, for their part, looked dangerous on rare forays forward. Substitute Keane Lewis-Potter could have snatched a late winner but fired straight at Pickford from a promising position.

Late Drama: Everton Fall Short

Everton’s final chance came deep into stoppage time. Substitute Beto latched onto Iliman Ndiaye’s knockdown in the box, but his low shot was heroically blocked by Brentford center-back Ethan Pinnock. The home side had to settle for a single point, leaving fans frustrated at the lack of cutting edge in front of goal.

Lack of Goals a Growing Concern for Everton

Everton’s inability to score remains a glaring issue. They have now gone three consecutive games without finding the net and have failed to score in six of their 12 league matches this season. Calvert-Lewin, once a prolific goal scorer, extended his barren run to eight matches, while Dwight McNeil wasted a golden opportunity in the second half, slicing his shot wide after a promising solo run.

With a daunting December fixture list that includes matches against Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City, Everton desperately need to rediscover their attacking form. Currently, they sit just three points above the relegation zone, and their lack of goals could spell trouble in the weeks ahead.

Brentford Resilient Despite Red Card

For Brentford, the draw marked a positive milestone. Thomas Frank’s side had lost all five of their previous away league games this season but managed to earn their first clean sheet of the campaign at Goodison Park. Their defensive discipline, especially after Norgaard’s red card, was commendable.

The delayed debut of £30m club-record signing Thiago also provided a bright spot for the Bees. The Brazilian midfielder, who has been sidelined with a pre-season knee injury, came off the bench in the second half and will be a key addition as Brentford navigate the busy holiday fixture period.

Final Thoughts

Everton’s inability to convert opportunities into goals continues to haunt them. While their defensive structure under Sean Dyche remains solid, the lack of a clinical finisher is undermining their efforts to climb the table. Brentford, on the other hand, can take pride in their resilience and will hope to build on this result as they aim to solidify their mid-table position.

With challenging fixtures looming, both teams will need to find answers to their respective issues if they are to achieve their season objectives.