A thrilling Gtech encounter between Brentford and Everton ended all square at 2-2 with both teams probably feeling they should have won.
In truth, it was the Bees who came away smarting after Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall bagged a 91st-minute equaliser for the visitors. His cool finish, picking up the ball after Kayode had blocked Iliman Ndiaye’s initial effort, was a cruel blow to the gut that sent shockwaves around support dreaming of Europe.
It was a brutal finish to an end-to-end game where both ‘keepers were in magnificent form, and Brentford had taken the lead less than two minutes into the game.
None other than Igor Thiago with the goal. Another from the spot after Jordan Pickford had fouled a goal-bound Kevin Schade. The German probably should have scored when clean through, but instead opted to try and go around the last line of defence. The net result was still the same. A perfect finish, which the England goalkeeper could only pick out the back of the net despite guessing the right way on his dive.
Brentford couldn’t have asked for a better start. On they pushed, but it was the visitors who then stepped up. Kelleher with a magnificent double save that had alarm bells ringing. Sure enough, the pressure eventually told as the containing game being played by the Bees came undone.
Beto’s precision header from Gueye’s cross leaving Kelleher no hope. It was a great finish, no question, but plenty of questions asked by the Bees’ backline, who felt KLP had been shoved off the ball in the build-up.
Alas, neither VAR nor the referee agreed. It was the correct call, too, and despite Schade almost restoring the lead after Pickford was saved by the woodwork, it finished all square at half-time. Two prize fighters still largely eyeing each other up to try and find a way through resolute defence and deep-lying midfields.
Whatever Keith Andrews said at half-time inspired his Bees to step it up and cruise through the gears. Damsgaard, later revealed to have been unwell before the game, was replaced by Reiss Nelson. The Arsenal loanee the only change made from a Bees bench that could be politely described as an homage to our B-team’s depth. Regardless, Brentford went for it.
Nathan Collins hit the crossbar. Pickford dominated the opposition box. The visitors, to a man, defending as though their lives depended on it. The Brentford wide players unable to find that killer ball, but then Kayode struck.
The Italian weaving his way through before unleashing goalwards. If there was any question about it finding the back of the net, Thiago put that beyond any doubt with the sweetest of touches to deviate the path of the ball. The destination remaining the same, but the direction of travel now completely bamboozling Pickford.
The grin on the Brazilian’s face mirroring that from his opener. The Gtech erupting in celebration. The dream of Europe well and truly on. Not even a hint of this one able to be denied, and with under a quarter hour left to see the game out, The Bees were back in front.
One couldn’t, and frankly wouldn’t, attempt to deny Everton their point. The opposition giving as good as they got and never saying die. On they pushed in search of an equaliser that wouldn’t come The Bees’ defence content to suck it all up. The ninety-minute mark reached. Three minutes additional time shown and then, disaster.
The cat, like Kelleher unable to deny Dewsbury-Hall with just 150 seconds left to play. The celebration from the visiting support exactly what you’d expect and equally painful. The wind well and truly dropping out of the Brentford sails as the chance to go level with fifth-placed Liverpool fell away in the most painful of styles.
A late, late cross from KLP just eluding Thiago, with three Brentford players perhaps getting in each other’s way, such was the desperation to reclaim all three points.
Instead, it finished 2-2. The Bees still seventh. Europe remaining very much on, but a subsequent win for Liverpool seeing the gap to Champions League football now stretched out to five points. Still doable, but something that will need a derby win against Fulham on Saturday lunchtime. If ever there was an incentive to beat the neighbours, then here it is.
It was a disappointing end to the game, no question. Broader context sees this as another match unbeaten. Another point on the board from a brutally hard-fought encounter. Of course, it hurts to be caught at the death, whatever level you play at and whatever stage of the season you have reached, but with six games to play, all possibilities remain alive. Who’d have thought that at the start of the season?
Until then, time to look at the top five player ratings from this game. Five points awarded for star player, four for second, three for third, etc., etc. The overall winner of our player-of-the season then determined after game 38 when the final tallies are confirmed.
Star player (5 points) Caoimhín Kelleher
Whilst Igor Thiago will grab the headlines, I really thought this game was ultimately down to a battle of the two ‘keepers. Jordan Pickford keeping the Bees out on multiple occasions, but, more importantly for us, Caoimhín keeping them in it to the point where an Everton win seemed on the cards.
Sadly, he could do nothing about either goal. Both were pinpoint finishes, and there are no complaints on that front. Instead, we are left to reflect on what Caoimhín did so, so well. From that initial double stop to a whole series of cool-as-a-cucumber moments in the second half, where opposition players broke through.
He was quick off his line to deny at speed with a determination and decision making that I just can’t imagine his predecessor having – certainly not the ‘first season’ variant.
Anything in to the box was dealt with admirably, whilst distribution was quick. He remained calm throughout despite the storm raging around him in the face of constant visitor pressure. Everybody knew what this game meant – to both sides – yet he kept us in it. Four clear goal-saving chances the cherry on a cake of serene performance.
Without him being on top if his game, Everton would have left with all three points.
Second (4 points) Igor Thiago
Boom. If Caoimhín was calm down one end, then Igor was equally so at the other.
Talk about nerves of steel to tuck away that initial penalty so early into the game. Against a ‘keeper we’d spoken about on these pages in such glowing terms during the build-up. Pickford went the right way but didn’t even get close to it. The only thing sweeter than Igor’s stutter in his walk-up to the ball was the subsequent celebration. You can see what scoring goals for this team means to him.
It was a reaction we were treated to again in the second half. Kayode, the provider, but Thiago once gain showing his creative side. It doesn’t matter how they go in, they all count. So much so that on Sunday morning, the race for the golden boot showed Erling Haaland now just one goal ahead, 22 plays 21.
With the Brentford widemen struggling to carve out opportunity against David Moyes’ well-disciplined side, I thought Igor was as creative as anybody. It isn’t just the goals but he passing, too, as he looked to find a way through and release his team-mates.
Third (3 points) Michael Kayode
The Italian master does it again. Brilliant for the 90 minutes with just that one frustration – their second goal. Perhaps it is the incredible standards Michael has set, but I thought he may have done better with the ball that found its way to Dewsbury-Hall.
That’s not to criticise but more to reflect that on another day, he finds safety, and everybody leaves talking about a cracking win for Brentford.
That’s football. Fine margins, and let’s not forget what an incredible job Michael did all the way through this one. Defending, of course, but second-half especially looking to do whatever it took to find a way through the Everton backline.
He continues to play this high line. Teaming up with the widemen and taking over. He deserved our second goal, and I think it would likely have gone in, even without Igor’s interception. However, kudos to Michael for the strength, skill, and technique to power through before opening it up for a shot
For me, he really stood out on an afternoon where creativity was a fleeting commodity.
Fourth (2 points) Keane Lewis-Potter
For Kayode, see also: KLP. Perhaps not as high profile or in your face as Michael, but equally effective. Could you imagine the noise had his attempt to set up a late, late winner come off?
On an afternoon where there was little respite from the bench or broader support through the flanks, KLP worked his socks off. He was tricky to pick up, lost his man with consummate ease when pushing up, but when the ball was down our end, was utterly reliable.
I had half a thought he might end up getting dinged for Kris Ajer going into this one. Thankfully, Keith recognised his potential and opted for overall balance.
Fifth (1 point) Mathias Jensen
With Mikkel unwell and Jordan Henderson not even involved, it was the sometime skipper who ended up playing a real captain’s role in the middle. Talk about having to pick up the load.
Forced Pickford into one magnificent first-half save with most of the stadium thinking his blistering effort had found the back of the net – such was the way it flew towards goal. Yet it was his bossing of the midfield areas, his picking out team mates and looking to constantly create (no matter how tough an ask this proved) which give Mathias the final spot on our top-five board.
All of which means that with only seven games left to play, things remain as tight as ever in our top five. That game with Fulham could have more than just bragging rights at stake…
- 1st Michael Kayode. 59 points
- 2nd Igor Thiago. 55 points
- 3rd Caoimhín Kelleher. 43 points
- 4th Mikkel Damsgaard. 38 points
- 5th Mathias Jensen 37 points
