SWARM OF BEES STING NINE-MAN EVERTON WITH A FIGHTING COMEBACK VICTORY.
Brentford ended a run of four straight away H2H defeats against nine-man Everton, as their 3-2 win at Goodison Park left the hosts’ Premier League (PL) status in the balance.
The Gwladys Street End was again at its raucous best, bellowing Everton to a victory that would have secured their top-flight status after Leeds United could only salvage a point against Brighton and Hove Albion. When Dominic Calvert-Lewin bundled home a freekick from Anthony Gordon in the 11th minute, Everton looked to be on their way to just that. Goodison had turned into a celebration, the home faithful were up and the flares were out in abundance.
Then it all changed. If there was anguish in the stands when Richarlison had his shirt pulled inside the area, there was fury when Jarrad Branthwaite was sent-off 18 minutes into his third club appearance. Lost in the emotion of the penalty appeals, the young defender was the last man when he tripped Ivan Toney from the resulting long ball, and could have no complaints as he headed down the tunnel for an early bath. Unsurprisingly then, Goodison simmered with nerves as Christian Eriksen sent the resulting freekick inches past the post. The home support then reached boiling point, silenced as Seamus Coleman deflected Brentford’s equaliser into his own net in the 37th minute.
Everton did move back in front when Mads Bech Sørensen gave away a penalty, which Richarlison converted in first-half stoppage time, but any thoughts of a famous victory were swept aside in the second half. After Yoane Wissa darted to the front post and flicked in Eriksen’s corner, Rico Henry completed the comeback, heading home from close range less than 120 seconds after the equaliser. When substitute Salomon Rondón was sent-off four minutes after his introduction, Goodison was sombre, silenced by a challenge that summed up the mess Everton had become on and off the field. The ‘Toffees’ now need one win from their final two matches to secure top-flight safety. Meanwhile, the ‘Bees’ have now been victorious in seven of the nine PL games in which Eriksen has started.
