Everton 0-0 Brentford: 10-man Bees hold Sean Dyche's side to goalless draw at Goodison Park after Christian Norgaard's first-half red card
- Brentford held on to draw 0-0 away despite Christian Norgaard's early dismissal
- Everton move up to 15th but are only three points clear of the relegation zone
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Even against 10 men, Everton became the first team to present Brentford with a clean sheet this season.
Sean Dyche’s side, the Premier League’s lowest scorers bar Southampton, haven’t registered in three games and despite Christian Norgaard’s controversial dismissal after 41 minutes, the scoreline and subsequent jeers around Goodison were no surprise.
The home side worked hard with 27 goal attempts, though only five were on target.
But they never capitalised on having an extra player and their situation only three points above the relegation zone is ominous given December fixtures include Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
‘I thought we did better against 11,’ admitted Dyche. ‘It is more difficult against a blocked defence. We didn’t really have killer moments.
‘Goals have been a longstanding problem. A lot of managers change things by the chequebook but we can’t. Supporters have been concerned from before I walked in the door.’
Christian Norgaard was dismissed in the 41st minute after a sliding tackle on Jordan Pickford
Sean Dyche's side move up to 15th but are still only three points clear of the relegation zone
Despite their 27 shots, Everton failed to score against Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken
On their boos, he added: ‘They (fans) can direct it at whoever they want. They expect us to win. I expect us to win. It’s our responsibility and my responsibility to make sure we do better.’
The irony is Everton started brightly with Bees Mark Flekken saving from Idrissa Gueye and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, while Iliman Ndiaye looked lively.
What should have been a game-changer shortly before half-time didn’t turn out that way.
Brentford skipper Christian Norgaard stretched to reach a knockdown and his sliding leg caught Jordan Pickford high on the knee.
VAR invited referee Chris Kavanagh to the monitor and he showed a red card, angering the visitors, whose manager Thomas Frank was booked for protesting.
Frank said: ‘For me it was not a red card. Christain’s eyes are clearly on the ball and he is pulling out of full force. We will most likely appeal this and I also don’t think I should have got the yellow.
‘I didn’t abuse the fourth official. Yes, I was frustrated. My wife says I have an “evil eye” but the referee was 40 yards away so I don’t know he could have seen that.’
A second half onslaught never materialised. Instead, Brentford had the better chances, Pickford saving from Keane Lewis-Potter to add to his earlier stop from Yoane Wissa.
The Premier League's lowest scorers are now goalless in three matches after today's result
Referee Chris Kavanagh was assisted by a VAR intervention in his move to send Norgaard off
Brentford boss Thomas Frank received a yellow card for his reaction to Norgaard's sending off
Beto came closest to giving Everton the lead, missing a close-range header in the 79th minute
The Toffees had 71 per cent possession in the second half but managed just three shots on goal
The Londoners had lost all their other away games this season but a trip to Goodison can remedy such runs.
Vitaliy Mykolenko hooked a good chance over the bar and Beto had an effort blocked by Ethan Pinnock in injury-time. The negative response from the local Bluenoses at the final whistle was predictable.
One better piece of news is that striker Armando Broja, on loan from Chelsea, will step up his return from injury by playing for the under-21s on Monday.
