Key events
26 min Garner’s long-range shot is well blocked by Norgaard. Garner has taken up some very interesting positions, and yes I know I had him crossing for himself in the 17th minute. So sue me!
26 min “Can’t help but think that both the Brentford team and crowd were expecting a routine win today as they’re both well below par,” says Stephen Carr.
25 min Pinnock’s crossfield pass goes out of play for an Everton throw. Brentford have been very poor by their standards, particularly in possession.
24 min “Brentford was the last place we lived in the UK before emigrating and I would occasionally trot along to Griffin Park,” writes Adam Robrts. “One morning my lovely wife, God bless her, is reading the Brentford and Chiswick Times and says: ‘Isn’t Declan McManus Elvis Costello’s real name?” “Yes” And she shows me a tiny box in the Classifieds – Declan McManus, Waterford Arts Centre, date and a price. So I trot along to the Watermans and we got to see an intimate little set by one of my musical heroes. Demon Records was based in Brentford and Nick Lowe lived in The Butts.”
23 min Everton break dangerously, five on five, but McNeil’s cross is behind both Garner and Doucoure.
22 min Here’s Doucoure’s goal if you’re into all that.
21 min: Great chance for Mykolenko! McNeil’s cross from the left goes straight to Pinnock in the D. He tries to clear it but instead contrives to play a through ball for Mykolenko, who shoots straight at Flekken with his right foot. That was a really good chance.
21 min Everton are playing pretty well, though they might be missing a trick by not going in for the kill. I doubt Brentford will play this badly for the entire game.
19 min Brentford aren’t at the races.
17 min Garner’s angled cross is headed wide by Onana. A tenth of a chance.
16 min Beto looks a good player. He can appear ungainly but he has a deft touch and excellent awareness of the players running off him. He also loves a bit of hard graft.
14 min: Chance for McNeil! A long ball forward is headed on superbly by Beto towards McNeil, who surges between Roerslev and Pinnock and drives a low shot just wide of the far post. That was a pretty good effort from a tight angle.
14 min The passing from both sides hasn’t been the best. The last time I checked the passing accuracy was around 70 per cent, which is almost in England v Ireland at Italia 90 territory.
12 min A few groans from the home crowd when Hickey’s pass to Janelt is intercepted. It’s not happening for Brentford, yet.
10 min The home crowd seem a bit stunned by that goal. It hasn’t been the greatest start from Brentford, even if they have had most of the possession.
The corner was punched away by Flekken, but Young picked up the loose ball and gave it back to Garner on the left. His cross was headed down by Tarkowski towards Doucoure, who swished it past Flekken on the bounce. That’s a fine finish.
GOAL! Brentford 0-1 Everton (Doucoure 6)
Abdoulaye Doucoure scores another crucial goal for Everton!
5 min McNeil wins Everton’s first corner down the left. From which…
4 min That crackle of electricity from Lewis-Potter aside, it’s been a slow, subdued start to the game.
2 min Mbeumo curls the free-kick well wide.
1 min A brilliant run from Lewis-Potter, who came into the Brentford team at the last minute. He zips infield and is brought down 25 yards from goal by Young, who is booked.
1 min Peep peep! Everton kick off from right to left as we watch.
A late change for Brentford Kevin Schade injured his groin in the warm-up, so Keane Lewis-Potter replaces him.
Brentford (possible 4-3-3) Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Hickey; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeuemo, Wissa, Lewis-Potter.
Substitutes: Strakosha, Balcombe, Jorgensen, Ajer, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Yarmoluk, Olakigbe, Brierley.
Everton (possible 4-4-1-1) Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Garner, Gueye, Onana, McNeil; Doucoure; Beto.
Substitutes: Joao Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Godfrey, Hunt, Calvert-Lewin, Danjuma, Chermiti, Dobbin.
Referee Michael Oliver.
Sean Dyche speaks to Sky Sports
The last time Everton played a brilliantly run club whose named begins with Br-, they won 5-1, so there’s that.
Everton start the game in 18th place, hoping to escape the mini-league they have formed with the promoted clubs. Brentford have had a solid enough start to the season and sit in 11th place; a win tonight would put them seventh.
Today’s Premier League results
Team news
Brentford bring in Kevin Schade and Mads Roerslev for the injured pair of Ben Mee and Rico Henry. That means a switch to 4-3-3.
There’s one change for Everton: James Garner is in for Arnaut Danjuma.
Brentford (possible 4-3-3) Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Hickey; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeuemo, Wissa, Schade.
Substitutes: Strakosha, Jorgensen, Ajer, Ghoddos, Onyeka, Yarmoluk, Olakigbe, Brierley, Lewis-Potter.
Everton (possible 4-1-4-1) Pickford; Young, Tarkowski, Branthwaite, Mykolenko; Gueye; Garner, Doucoure, Onana, McNeil; Beto.
Substitutes: Joao Virginia, Patterson, Keane, Godfrey, Hunt, Calvert-Lewin, Danjuma, Chermiti, Dobbin.
Referee Michael Oliver.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Brentford v Everton at the Gtech Community Stadium. We’ve been having technical problems – sorry sorry sorry – so let’s cut straight to the team news.
