Premier League: Everton Wary of the Bees’ Sting

Brentford vs Everton

Thomas Frank meets Frank Lampard on Saturday when Everton are the visitors to the Brentford Community Stadium in a battle for three priceless points.

Premier League: Brentford vs Everton is a clash between two sides expected to be in the bottom half of the table this season and that is never a comfortable place to be. But the Bees, who confounded all the critics last term with their fearless style of football which took them to safety, have made another sound start. They are on four points in eighth place and will fancy their chances for more this weekend.

In contrast, Everton, who have spent heavily in recent years, still don’t seem to be able to find a winning formula and Lampard will come under increased pressure if results continue as they have, with two defeats and a draw so far.          

Talking Points

No sign of second season nerves for Brentford

When a team makes it into the top flight for the first time in a while they can sometimes catch opponents by surprise and amass enough points to avoid relegation. Then comes the dreaded ‘second season syndrome’ when opposition teams have worked you out and points are harder to come by.

But Frank, a positive and progressive coach, has put together a group of players which plays its football with a spring in the step and knows how to hurt teams. There is no magic to it; they are simply very talented operators who work well together.  

A 2-2 draw away to Leicester on the opening day of the campaign and a 3-2 reversal away to Fulham at the weekend sandwiched one of the results of the season so far when Brentford thumped Manchester United 4-0. The Red Devils next game was against Liverpool and it seems that the Bees’ sting prompted them into some stunning action, as Erik Ten Hag masterminded a rare victory over the Merseysiders! 

Star striker Ivan Toney didn’t score against Manchester United but he already has two goals, one against the Foxes and the other against Fulham, and looks set to match or better his double figure tally of 12 goals last season. Toney has also made two assists, as has midfield ace Mathias Jensen, while Josh Da Silva has two goals to his name.

Denmark’s attacking star Mikkel Damsgaard is settling in nicely and the signing of Burnley’s out of contract centre back Ben Mee is another shrewd move on Frank’s part. Mee is a vastly experienced top flight defender, fearless and a great leader and, at 32 years of age, still has some of his best seasons to come.   

The loss of last season’s saviour Christian Eriksen may have worried some Brentford fans but, so far, their faith in Frank is unshaken as the Bees continue to entertain and win points.     

Sticky start for the Toffees

In contrast to their confident hosts, Everton have made a nervy start to the 2022/23 campaign, just three months after wild celebrations at Goodison Park greeted a miraculous escape last season as, on a dramatic last day when Burnley was the team to go down.

Leeds United, who were also in the relegation mire along with the Toffees last season, have made a great start this time around and have just thrashed Chelsea 3-0. And Brentford, who could feasibly find themselves in and around the relegation battle at some time, have also started well.

So the pressure is beginning to mount on Lampard and Everton, who find themselves in 17^th place on a single point, and ahead of three teams expected to climb the table fairly quickly, West Ham United, Leicester City and Wolves. And the pre-match Brentford vs Everton betting odds reckon it could be another tough day for the Toffees on Saturday.   

After losing their two opening games to Chelsea and Aston Villa, Everton picked up a first point in a 1-1 draw at home to new boys Nottingham Forest as Demarai Gray scored a late equaliser with an assist from Jordan Pickford. Everton’s only other goal was an own goal by old boy Lucas Digne in the loss to Villa, and that is a big worry in the post Richarlison era.   

Ben Mee’s old Burnley partner, James Tarkowski, has signed and is a class act in defence; but another former Claret, winger Dwight McNeil, is yet to convince. With Yerry Mina, Ben Godfrey, Dominic Calvert Lewin and Andre Gomes all sidelined Lampard is missing some experienced players but he needs the fit and healthy to earn their money this weekend.    

History

These two teams have met only four times since 2010 and the Bees have had the better of the head-to-head Brentford vs Everton results, winning three to the Toffees’ one.

Last season Brentford did the league double over Everton, winning 1-0 at home and 3-2 at Goodison Park in May, while the Toffees had some revenge, dumping Brentford out of the FA Cup with a 4-1 Fourth Round victory.   

Betting Tip

The draw is at a SBOTOP price of 3.20 and Everton is available at 3.48, but I’m struggling to see further than a Brentford victory and more misery for the Toffees.  

 

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