Everton kids ignite late raid as Dewsbury-Hall silences Brentford in stoppage time

Brentford thought they had cracked the European race, but Everton raided the 90th minute and left west London with a 2-2 draw that keeps both clubs locked together on 47 points. Igor Thiago carried Keith Andrews’ 4-3-3 for most of the afternoon with goals in the 3rd and 76th minutes, yet D. Moyes watched Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall slide inside from the left channel to equalise at the death.

Jordan Pickford began the chaos with a yellow card in the 2nd minute for the foul that handed Thiago his opening penalty. It set the tone: Brentford were razor sharp on turnovers, Mathias Jensen dictating with three key passes, Michael Kayode providing width from right-back. Everton staggered early but steadied once Idrissa Gueye found Beto between Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg, the striker levelling in the 26th minute. Understand Moyes has been drilling that vertical release all week, and this time it held the line.

Andrews reshaped at the interval, sending Reiss Nelson on for Mikkel Damsgaard in the 46th minute. The switch gave Kevin Schade a central starting point and pushed Dango Ouattara higher, eventually dragging Everton’s block wide enough for Kayode to pick out Thiago’s second in the 76th minute. Brentford’s 2.84 expected goals reflected their control: 17 shots, 12 inside the box, and the best football the Bees have played since New Year.

Everton leaned into youth when the tide turned. Moyes made a triple substitution in the 74th minute, withdrawing Dwight McNeil, Beto and Idrissa Gueye for Tyrique George, Thierno Barry and Tim Iroegbunam. The energy bump was immediate. George forced Caoimhin Kelleher into a sharp save, Barry won territory with direct running, and Iroegbunam tidied second balls. James Garner’s caution in the 47th minute had cut down his ability to press, so the fresh legs mattered. When Dewsbury-Hall arrived unmarked in the 90th minute, it was Barry’s movement that pulled Collins away and allowed the midfielder to roll home.

Key flashpoints mattered because of what came next. Pickford, already booked, had to tread carefully every time Thiago backed in. Jensen and Yehor Yarmolyuk kept Everton’s midfield in recovery mode, as evidenced by Brentford’s 55 percent share of possession and 457 completed passes. Yet Everton’s resilience under pressure, the hallmark of Moyes’ winter revival, emerged again as they twice came from behind to claim a draw.

Key numbers

• Shots on target: Brentford 4, Everton 7
• Expected goals: Brentford 2.84, Everton 1.53
• Possession: Brentford 55 percent, Everton 45 percent
• Saves: Kelleher 4, Pickford 2

The draw leaves Brentford seventh on 47 points, Everton eighth also on 47, both desperate to hold off Brighton while keeping sight of Liverpool’s stuttering push for fourth, explored in Liverpool vs Fulham. Arsenal’s lead at the top remains a reference point for ambition after their latest win, covered in The Story. Brentford now need to turn draws into wins before Everton arrive at Goodison for tougher tests; both sides will scan the fixture list knowing Liverpool’s Champions League priorities, outlined in Liverpool vs Paris Saint Germain, could yet open a lane to Europe.