Everton live in fear
Lampard’s men remain in danger after loss
EVERTON 2 BRENTFORD 3
BY the end, it was just like it had always been. Home fans streaming for the exits long before the final whistle, the manager searching frantically for answers that would never come, and a team in disarray.
Everton hoped this would be the day they preserved their place in the Premier League but, during 90 chaotic minutes, the momentum painstakingly built up during the last fortnight had been checked to such an extent they enter the final week with fear creeping all over them.
For the nightmare to unfold, Leeds must go to Brentford next Sunday and win, Burnley need three points from their remaining two fixtures, and Everton have to lose to Crystal Palace and Arsenal. From that permutation, the one you can’t foresee is Thomas Frank’s side losing.
Brentford, at the end of a super first Premier League campaign, are growing in confidence. They played with ruthless efficiency when Everton’s 19-year-old central defender Jarrard Branthwaite was sent off for a professional foul on Ivan Toney in the 18th minute.
Lampard was adamant that the game was changed when VAR Darren England did not feel referee Michael Oliver needed to look at an incident in which Mads Sorensen grabbed at Richarlison’s shirt to such an extent you could see the Brazilian’s bare chest.
‘We are looking at potentially going to 2-0 with 11 men and it is a different game,’ said Lampard, who is becoming increasingly exasperated with the number of decisions he feels are going against his side. ‘It’s a clear shirt pull; it’s a foul — it’s a penalty.’
As Goodison Park howled for the spot-kick, Brentford cleared their lines and Toney got the wrong side of Branthwaite, forcing a tangle of legs and a push in the back. Out came Oliver’s red card and in went a pin to the home crowd’s optimism.
Everton took an early lead as Richarlison got something on Anthony Gordon’s free-kick but Dominic Calvert-Lewin had the last touch. With their tails up, it was impossible to see how Everton would not go on and do what was required but, having lost a man, they were always swimming against the tide.
They sneaked into half-time with a lead, Richarlison converting from 12 yards after another Sorenson foul, restoring hope after Seamus Coleman had diverted Yoane Wissa’s shot past Jordan Pickford.
In the second half, Brentford kept switching formation and Everton got deeper and deeper until they cracked.
Wissa’s near post header looped over Pickford after Richarlison failed to follow his run. Rico Henry scored the winner, Gordon switching off to allow him to convert Christian Norgaard’s cross. Substitute Salomon Rondon was then sent off for a lunge at Henry. It was a miserable end to a rotten day for Everton.