Everton player ratings from the 2-2 Premier League draw with Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall celebrates his dramatic equaliser for Everton at Brentford(Image: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Everton came from behind twice to earn a deserved share of the spoils in their European qualification head-to-head against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s stoppage time equaliser gave them a 2-2 draw after Igor Thiago scored another two goals against the Blues after his hat-trick in the reverse encounter at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Bees went ahead after just two minutes from the penalty spot through Thiago after Jordan Pickford had brought down Kevin Schade and despite Beto, heading the Everton level on 26 minutes, the Brazilian restored the west London side’s lead on 76 minutes when deflecting Michael Kayode’s effort into the net.
David Moyes’ men were not to be denied though and came back again in the dying seconds as following some penalty box pinball, Dewsbury-Hall slammed home.
And here’s how we rated the players…
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Jordan Pickford 7
Redeemed himself with a smart save to turn Mathias Jensen’s stringing drive around the post and then blocking a close range shot from Dango Ouattara after being caught out just a couple of minutes into the contest as he clipped Kevin Schade in the area and although he went the right way with the penalty, he still couldn’t keep out Igor Thiago’s effort and then was wrong-footed again by the Brazilian’s deflected effort off Michael Kayode.
Jake O’Brien 7
Terrific hustle on Keane Lewis-Potter in the build-up to the equaliser – it was checked for a foul by VAR but in truth it was just a case of the Everton right-back being stronger and offering his side an outlet going forward, it was also his stoppage time shot that fell to Dewsbury-Hall for the second equaliser.
Vitalii Mykolenko 6
Was the covering man for the penalty to ensure Pickford didn’t pick up a red card for a professional foul, although he was caught out of position a couple of times by diagonal balls over the top and then found himself taken out in the move that brought Brentford’s second goal, although it was his cross that resulted in Everton’s stoppage time equaliser.
James Tarkowski 7
The Everton captain remains a target of the Brentford boo boys, but he was in his element here, flinging his head and other parts of his body at the ball as the hosts pumped it into his penalty area.
Jarrad Branthwaite 7
Restored to the starting line-up after coming off the bench against Chelsea, he continues to offer Everton a different dimension coming out of defence, by carrying the ball forwards, and tried his luck from distance with a shot from outside the area that flew wide, although he’d be relieved that a Brentford chance fizzled out after he’d lost his footing when Thiago charged forwards.
Idrissa Gueye 8
Produced a terrific, firm but fair challenge on Kevin Schade while also providing a threat further forwards, bringing the best out of Caoimhin Kelleher with a smart shot before picking out Beto for the equaliser with an enticing lofted ball, he produced a strong showing before making way.
James Garner 7
Fresh from his first two England caps, he continues to combine silk and steel in the engine room, always offering an option on the ball, although he was booked for bringing down Dango Ouattara and despite almost playing Beto through with a through-ball from a free-kick, he couldn’t stop Michael Kayade from pushing forwards to fashion Brentford’s second goal.
Dwight McNeil 6
Continued his rehabilitation following his collapsed move to Crystal Palace by plugging away as an unlikely inverted right winger, with his work-rate impressing David Moyes and winning appreciation from his team-mates, it was just after he’d gone off and Ndiaye switched to his side that Everton left themselves open for Brentford to restore their lead.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 8
From potential villain to saviour, he coolly took his chance to put Everton level for the second occasion in stoppage time, having put his head in his hands, knowing he should have done better when played through one-on-one but just couldn’t get the chance to fall kindly on his favoured left foot and the miss proved even more costly when Brentford went down the other end and restored their lead soon afterwards, he was always probing and trying to knit things together between midfield and attack, getting the ball up the field when carrying it from deeper positions.
Iliman Ndiaye 7
Had an inviting opportunity to put Everton ahead in the second half when cutting inside from the left wing but his shot was blocked by Caoimhin Kelleher’s trailing leg and while we didn’t see many of his flicks and tricks, as we’ve known for a long time, he’s much more than a show pony and the Senegal international worked hard for Everton off the ball in this physical contest and he also displayed the composure to lay the ball off to O’Brien in the move for the second equaliser.
Beto 8
Did really well to cleverly move his body back into a favourable position to nod in the equaliser, having already been denied by a terrific save by Kelleher before his equaliser – although it wouldn’t have counted as the flag went up for offside – he produced a strong centre-forward’s display.
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Thierno Barry (on 74 for Beto) 6
Brought on to provide some fresh legs up front after Beto had put in a real shift, but was unable to have the same kind of impact.
Tyrique George (on 74 for McNeil) 6
Found himself culpable for Brentford restoring their lead as he couldn’t get close enough to Michael Kayode and enabled the right-back to gain the momentum to push forwards, he was predictably better going forwards and tested Kelleher with a wicked shot soon afterwards.
Tim Iroegbunam (on 74 for Gueye) 6
Gave veteran Gueye a rest in the latter stages for what was a dramatic finish.