Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scores late equaliser for Everton at Brentford
By Edward Elliot, Press Association
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall struck an added-time equaliser as Everton salvaged a 2-2 Premier League draw against fellow European hopefuls Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Igor Thiago twice had the hosts on course for victory, becoming the Bees’ record scorer in a single Premier League season by taking his tally to 21 with an early penalty and a fortuitous 77th-minute finish.
But midfielder Dewsbury-Hall finished on the rebound a minute beyond the 90 to frustrate home supporters after Beto headed the Toffees’ initial leveller in the 27th minute.
The two sides remain firmly in the mix for continental qualification but missed the chance to pile pressure on Liverpool and Chelsea in the battle to secure Champions League football through a top-five finish.
Brentford stay seventh after edging on to 47 points following a fourth consecutive league draw, with eighth-placed Everton below on goal difference ahead of next weekend’s Merseyside derby.
In a game packed with chances, Kevin Schade and Brentford captain Nathan Collins both headed against the crossbar with the score at 1-1.
While Everton manager David Moyes has openly embraced the prospect of a European adventure, Bees boss Keith Andrews has been more conservative.
Andrews, who has enjoyed a fine debut season in management since replacing Thomas Frank last summer, watched his side make a dream start.
Schade burst clear of a static defence before being brought down as he attempted to round Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, allowing Thiago to coolly find the bottom left corner from the spot in the third minute.
By converting from 12 yards, the Brazil international, who netted a hat-trick in a 4-2 win over the Toffees in the reverse fixture in January, moved alongside Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo as Brentford players to have scored 20 goals in a Premier League campaign.
Bees goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher produced a solid stop to deny Idrissa Gueye a 22nd-minute leveller before superbly blocking Beto’s follow-up effort, albeit the offside flag was raised.
Beto, who scored twice in a thumping 3-0 win over Chelsea prior to the international break, was not to be denied four minutes later.
With the hosts appealing in vain for a possible foul by Jake O’Brien as he dispossessed Keane Lewis-Potter deep in Brentford territory, Gueye delivered from the right and Beto rose to nod into the far corner.
Everton started to take control of the contest but could easily have gone in behind at the break.
Pickford atoned for conceding the early penalty by turning wide from Mathias Jensen and then blocking Dango Ouattara on the rebound after Schade headed against the bar from a corner.
Collins turned Jensen’s free-kick against the frame of the goal within three minutes of the restart as Brentford resumed in the ascendancy before Jarrad Branthwaite made a crucial block to thwart Schade.
At the other end, former Liverpool keeper Kelleher denied Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye with his right foot and later produced a key save to keep out Dewsbury-Hall.
Brentford looked to have won it with 13 minutes to go when Michael Kayode burst into the box from the right and saw his effort deflect in off Thiago.
But, following a couple of major scares, there was no reprieve for the Bees at the death. O’Brien’s initial effort was blocked by Kayode, only for Dewsbury-Hall to sweep home and celebrate with the delirious travelling fans.
