Sean Dyche said Everton’s “resilience” and “mentality” is growing after Dwight McNeil’s first-minute goal earned his side a priceless victory over Brentford.
The Blues started the day 18th but capitalised on teams around them failing to win by moving out of the Premier League relegation zone, leaping two points and three places above trouble.
McNeil’s delightful strike after just 35 seconds gave the hosts the perfect start, rasping a finish across goal which nestled into the far corner.
Buoyed by a vocal crowd, the home side were swarming all over the Bees and created much the better chances with Demarai Gray seeing a second goal ruled out for handball by VAR.
Brentford looked to salvage something from the game but were not at their best, Ethan Pinnock having a header cleared off the line by McNeil and Kevin Schade heading wide at the far post as their 12-match unbeaten run ended.
Manager Dyche said: “I spoke to the players and media about building a firmer mentality in my way and my thinking of football.
“The players are adapting, working hard, but we are finding that balance in making the defence more resilient and creating more chances.
“There is no lack of effort since I have been here and the crowd play a massive part for us in the end. They are on it – the energy from them helps the players enormously, but it is just another step.
“Wins are to be enjoyed in the Premier League. There are strong signs that the mentality is growing.”
Battling Toffees given hope
Dyche said “every” league game is now a must-win as he looks to preserve Everton’s top-flight status.
But after seeing Bournemouth beat Liverpool earlier on Saturday, then Nottingham Forest, Leicester and Leeds all dropping points around them, the Toffees needed a win.
A gritty, battling performance allowed them to hold on to McNeil’s first-minute goal to collect their third 1-0 victory in seven games since Dyche’s appointment in January.
After 26 games this season Everton had 22 points, identical to the same stage under Frank Lampard last term when the former Chelsea boss guided them to safety.
Five victories in their remaining games was sufficient on that occasion, and now they have real hope of doing the same under the ex-Burnley manager – with Dyche’s former Clarets player McNeil the match-winner at Goodison Park.
Everton should have been out of sight but Michael Keane headed wide when the goal was gaping after beating David Raya to the ball, while Amadou Onana screwed over from eight yards with the goal at his mercy.
The lively Gray – who was unlucky to have a goal chalked off – saw a low shot saved by Raya and the Brentford goalkeeper also kept out Alex Iwobi’s close-range effort from the resulting corner.
“The win was satisfying for different reasons,” said Dyche. “The first half we were very good, you could arguably say we should have gone more in front – we were effective.
“In the second half they were a team 12 unbeaten, a good outfit that has matured and they came back into it.
“It was good play from them. They ask questions of you with some very good players. It gets nervy but we gave them too many turnovers with the ball. You have to find ways of winning Premier League matches.”
Thomas Frank’s side last lost in the Premier League back in October but were second best for large periods as their run came to an end.
Striker Ivan Toney was well shackled by Everton’s centre-halves, while Rico Henry had a header blocked on the line by Seamus Coleman.
With the visitors in desperate search of an equaliser keeper Raya trotted upfield in injury time, but sent a free header from 10 yards past the post.
Frank said: “I don’t know how many teams in the last five years have gone 12 unbeaten in the Premier League, apart from Manchester City and Liverpool.
“But that is the past and for the history books. Now in the dressing room we have to make sure we are so determined and willing to bounce back on Wednesday [against Southampton]”.
Player of the match
McNeilDwight McNeil
Everton
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Squad number7Player nameMcNeilAverage rating
7.35
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Squad number23Player nameColemanAverage rating
7.12
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Squad number2Player nameTarkowski
Average rating7.05
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Squad number19Player nameMykolenko
Average rating7.01
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Squad number11Player nameGray
Average rating7.01
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Squad number16Player nameDoucouré
Average rating6.91
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Squad number22Player nameGodfrey
Average rating6.83
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Squad number17Player nameIwobi
Average rating6.75
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Squad number27Player nameGueye
Average rating6.71
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Squad number8Player nameOnana
Average rating6.65
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Squad number1Player namePickford
Average rating6.61
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Squad number5Player nameKeane
Average rating6.58
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Squad number20Player nameMaupay
Average rating6.51
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Squad number26Player nameDavies
Average rating6.32
Brentford
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Squad number17Player nameToney
Average rating6.37
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Squad number1Player nameRaya
Average rating6.04
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Squad number2Player nameHickey
Average rating6.03
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Squad number16Player nameMee
Average rating5.91
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Squad number8Player nameJensen
Average rating5.84
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Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard
Average rating5.79
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
Average rating5.75
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Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Average rating5.74
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Squad number3Player nameHenry
Average rating5.71
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Average rating5.68
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Squad number5Player namePinnock
Average rating5.53
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Squad number11Player nameWissa
Average rating5.45
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Squad number9Player nameSchade
Average rating5.43
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Squad number10Player nameDasilva
Average rating5.38
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Squad number15Player nameOnyeka
Average rating5.18
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Squad number14Player nameGhoddos
Average rating4.99
Line-ups
Everton
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Pickford
- 23ColemanBooked at 61mins
- 5Keane
- 2Tarkowski
- 22Godfrey
- 17IwobiSubstituted forMykolenkoat 90+2′minutes
- 16DoucouréBooked at 70mins
- 27Gueye
- 8OnanaSubstituted forDaviesat 80′minutes
- 7McNeil
- 11GraySubstituted forMaupayat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Holgate
- 13Mina
- 15Begovic
- 19Mykolenko
- 20Maupay
- 26Davies
- 30Coady
- 37Garner
- 50Simms
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 2HickeySubstituted forWissaat 74′minutes
- 5Pinnock
- 16Mee
- 3HenrySubstituted forGhoddosat 86′minutes
- 27Janelt
- 6NørgaardBooked at 45minsSubstituted forOnyekaat 74′minutes
- 8JensenSubstituted forSchadeat 62′minutes
- 19Mbeumo
- 17Toney
- 24DamsgaardSubstituted forDasilvaat 62′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Schade
- 10Dasilva
- 11Wissa
- 14Ghoddos
- 15Onyeka
- 18Jansson
- 20Ajer
- 26Baptiste
- 34Cox
- Referee:
- Simon Hooper
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Everton 1, Brentford 0.
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Second Half ends, Everton 1, Brentford 0.
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Foul by Yoane Wissa (Brentford).
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Séamus Coleman (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. David Raya (Brentford) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Saman Ghoddos with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Vitaliy Mykolenko.
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Substitution, Everton. Vitaliy Mykolenko replaces Alex Iwobi.
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Foul by Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford).
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Abdoulaye Doucouré (Everton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Offside, Brentford. Ivan Toney tries a through ball, but Yoane Wissa is caught offside.
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Corner, Brentford. Conceded by James Tarkowski.
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Attempt blocked. Josh Dasilva (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bryan Mbeumo.
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Frank Onyeka (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Dwight McNeil (Everton).
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Substitution, Brentford. Saman Ghoddos replaces Rico Henry.
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Substitution, Everton. Neal Maupay replaces Demarai Gray.
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Foul by Rico Henry (Brentford).
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Tom Davies (Everton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Everton. Idrissa Gueye tries a through ball, but Abdoulaye Doucouré is caught offside.
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Foul by Josh Dasilva (Brentford).
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