Brentford 1 Everton 3: Toffees pick up first win of season to move out of relegation zone as Bees left stunned
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JAMES TARKOWSKI put former club Brentford to the sword to spark Everton’s season into life at long last.
A goal and an assist from the defender – almost as surprising as the three points heading back to Merseyside – capped an outstanding display from Sean Dyche’s side, who finally earned a first win.
Abdoulaye Doucoure opened the scoring early on in an evening which featured a fine display from new man Beto and even a much needed goal for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
After a dismal start to the season, the Toffees suddenly looked a completely different, dangerous side here.
It is not a happy time for the usually bright Bees, however.
Still without a win at home, Thomas Frank is having to deal with an injury crisis on top of the absence of striker Ivan Toney and David Raya’s departure.
The loss of Rico Henry to a season-ending ACL injury as well as the absence of Ben Mee ahead of this weekend forced Frank into a re-think at the back with Mads Roerslev and Kevin Schade brought in.
But there was another last-minute change when Schade went down injured in the warm-up and had to be replaced by Keane Lewis-Potter.
Everton fans, already having dealt with their fair share of misery over the past year or so, have been put through the mill again.
A much needed takeover was all but agreed, only for doubts to come about given owner Farhad Moshiri has found perhaps the shadiest potential buyers possible in 777 Partners.
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So you would have forgiven the trodden down travelling Toffees fans for not having had much optimism in west London, given their run of just three wins from the last 38 away games.
But this was a performance truly out of the blue.
Summer signing Beto caused the below-par Bees all sorts of problems going forward – but it was set pieces which really proved their undoing.
The hosts failed to properly clear James Garner’s early corner and the midfielder got the chance to swing another cross in for Tarkowski to nod down for Doucoure.
A sweeping finish brought his second goal of the season and an unexpected lead for the Toffees.
It was one they should have built on earlier.
There were chances for Dwight McNeil and Vitaly Mykolenko before Beto smashed one against the bar.
Everton were turning in their best performance of the season and Brentford their worst.
But this is Everton and nothing is ever straightforward.
The Bees soon found a burst of energy after some encouragement from those in blue.
Having wasted a number of chances to clear, space was left for Vitaly Janelt to slide a ball in behind for Jensen, whose low shot rattled the post and found the back of the net.
Everton responded well, with Beto in behind once more but unable to direct his clipped finish on target.
They should have been behind before the break when Lewis-Potter failed to tap in a Bryan Mbeumo cross at the far post with an empty net before him.
It was a rare flash from the Bees, who found themselves pinned in after the break and Tarkwoski looking like the most creative player on the pitch – never an ideal situation to be in.
Everton were pushing, McNeil firing on target before Amadou Onana and Beto both headed wide.
Just as they were really hitting their stride, Dyche hooked the influential Beto for Calvert-Lewin.
But it was a defender who grabbed the initiative once again.
Having sprayed passes around from just inside the Bees half, Tarkowski decided to make his mark in the opposing box.
The ex-Burnley man rose well above Jensen to meet McNeil’s looping corner and crashed home a truly deserved goal.
Having collapsed quickly after their first half opener, Dyche needed calm and composure – but his boys in blue didn’t fancy that and grabbed another.
Brentford got the treatment they so often dish out to other sides as Garner harried high up and won the ball from the sloppy Nathan Collins.
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Garner drove forward and played in Calvert-Lewin who kept his cool and claimed his first goal since May to leave the travelling fans stunned but celebrating.
Check out how the match unfolded through our live blog...