Brentford vs Everton. Premier League.
Gtech Community StadiumAttendance17,009.
Report and free highlights as Vitaly Janelt strikes late from Mathias Jensen's corner to earn Brentford 1-1 draw with Everton; Anthony Gordon's first goal of season had earlier given Toffees advantage at Gtech Community Stadium
Saturday 27 August 2022 18:33, UK
Thomas Frank said Brentford's performance would have beaten Everton "99 out of 100 times" after Vitaly Janelt's goal dragged them to a late 1-1 draw.
Janelt reacted quickest to fellow substitute Keane Lewis-Potter's flick-on from a corner to give the Bees a share of the spoils in a game where they had earlier hit the goalframe three times without reward.
"There can only be one winner, 99 times out of 100 in terms of the chances we created," Frank told Sky Sports after full-time. "I love our team, I think it's a fantastic team and we had the performance, it was a top performance.
"I know it gets more difficult when you're 1-0 down but in general I'm pleased, we gave very little away, there was a mistake for their goal but from then on we were on top of the game - and the mentality in this team, it's the third time we've come back in five games. Remarkable."
Brentford's fightback came after Chelsea target Anthony Gordon's smart finish from Conor Coady's through ball which provided the breakthrough in west London, and gave Everton the lead in a league match for the first time this season midway through the opening period.
The Toffees rarely threatened from then on but after Mathias Jensen, Ivan Toney and Christian Norgaard all struck the woodwork it looked like it would not be the hosts' day, until Janelt's close-range finish seven minutes from time left Everton still searching for their first three points of the campaign.
Everton boss Lampard paid tribute to Gordon's ability to shut out the noise surrounding him in his performance, telling Sky Sports: "There's a lot of pressure on young players because of the media and social media, I thought Anthony's performance was a credit to him and showed why he's an Everton player."
Everton's tough start to the season threatened to continue early on as Brentford, with the memory of thrashing Man Utd in their last home game fresh in their minds, flew out of the blocks in the opening minutes but after Bryan Mbeumo skewed Rico Henry's early cross wide, the visitors settled.
There was little in the way of serious momentum built by either side throughout much of the first period although much of Brentford's joy came down their left flank, and it was from there that Henry saw a delivery half-cleared to Jensen, who smacked the base of the far post from 20 yards.
Everton put that let-off behind them and then soon took the lead with the best move of the half. Coady's well-placed long ball found Gordon's run, and after holding off Zanka he fired across David Raya and just inside the far post.
Even without dominating the game, Brentford continued to produce the lion's share of the chances and after another left-wing cross found Ivan Toney, who headed against the post to set up a sitter for Yoane Wissa, only for him to sky over the bar from eight yards.
It took seven minutes of the second period for the goalframe to rattle again as Norgaard raised eyebrows with a spectacular overhead kick from Jensen's long throw, which clattered off the goal frame and nearly back over the line after hitting Jordan Pickford's back.
Ben Mee needed to be at his best on the rare occasions Everton managed to play in behind and after he was outpaced by Demarai Gray to Alex Iwobi's threaded through ball, he recovered well to block the flying forward's effort behind.
Instead, Brentford would grab a deserved equaliser seven minutes from time when Janelt reacted quickest to stab home Keane Lewis-Potter's flick from a corner.
The hosts pushed for a late winner but could not forge another clear-cut chance in the final minutes as both sides were left to settle for a point.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank tells Sky Sports:
"If it was simple [why Brentford keep conceding first], I'd change it, but it's much more to create a culture and mentality that these players have. There are games when you don't create anything but we created dangerous situations throughout the game.
"There was definitely something waiting for us. We have a good squad and I think when you have five substitutions, it's important to use them, which we did so I'm very pleased with many things.
"I love our team, I think it's a fantastic team and we had the performance. We created several chances, I know it gets more difficult when you're 1-0 down but in general I'm pleased, we gave very little away, a mistake for their goal but then we were on top of the game.
"The mentality of our team is remarkable."
Frank Lampard tells Sky Sports:
"It's a point gained, we can't take away from the fact they stuck the ball in their box, hit the post a few times. We know how they play, it's a real style they've had for a few years now.
"First half was really good from us, good play, good possession, stuff we're working on at the moment playing without a striker. At the end of it, we can be pretty happy with a point and move on.
"There's a lot of pressure on young players because of the media and social media, I thought Anthony [Gordon's] performance was a credit to him and showed why he's an Everton player.
"I saw a lot of progression in our performance today, there's a long way to go but we need to keep working in the right direction."
Brentford visit Crystal Palace on Tuesday in the Premier League at Selhurst Park; kick-off 7.30pm. Everton visit Leeds United at Elland Road on the same night at 8pm.
