Brentford 1-1 Everton: Vitaly Janelt rescues a late point for the Bees

Brentford grabbed a deserved late equaliser at home to Everton to leave Frank Lampard’s side winless in the league. 

Lampard had warned Chelsea he wanted a resolution on the future of Anthony Gordon. And just five miles away from Stamford Bridge, it was the 21-year-old who nearly provided a solution with a moment of brilliance that nearly gave the Blues their first league win of the season.

Everton have lacked that finishing touch this season thus far and Gordon’s neat finish midway through the first half looked set to give them a crucial three points against a wasteful Brentford outfit that created chance after chance but failed to convert till the late stages. 

Substitute Vitaly Janelt tucked home in the 84th minute from a flicked on corner to give Thomas Frank’s side no less than they deserved.

Lampard made two changes from the side that drew at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend with Amadou Onana coming into the midfield for Tom Davies and Dwight McNeil replacing Salomon Rondon in the front three. 

Despite the rumours surrounding the Everton winger and Chelsea’s interest, Lampard included Gordon in his starting eleven admitting he had been impressed with how the youngster had dealt with the external noise, even though he told his manager he wanted to leave. 

For Thomas Frank, there was just the sole change from last week’s 3-2 defeat at Fulham with Zanka coming in for Pontus Jansson, who was out with a minor knock.

Bryan Mbuemo should have given the home side the lead early on but he missed the target from inside the box. 

The west London club climbed to ninth in the Premier League table, with Everton stuck in 17th

Anthony Gordon fired Everton ahead in the 24th minute after converting Conor Coady’s pass

It was far too easy for Brentford with Ben Mee finding Rico Henry in acres of space down the left flank and he cut the ball back across the edge of the box into the path of Mbuemo whose first-time left footed strike went narrowly wide.

Lampard was even more furious with the space in behind the Everton defence when Brentford failed to capitalise on a 4v3 situation a few minutes later. Pickford was nothing more than a spectator when Mathias Jensen’s left-footed effort came back off the post.

But Brentford were made to rue their missed chances when midway through the first half, Conor Coady’s delightful ball over the top found Gordon in space. He calmly allowed the ball to bounce, before taking a touch with his left-foot to steady himself and finish superbly past David Raya.

For all the talk of Gordon’s valuation despite scoring just four goals in the league last term, this was an accomplished finish that may just be what another side in West London can look forward to seeing. 

Gordon wheeled away in celebration pointing his fingers to his ears as if to say he was blocking out all of the noise, as blue smoke billowed from the away fans on the opposite side of the pitch.

It was Gordon’s first away goal for Everton and may well be his last if Chelsea manage to get their man before the transfer window deadline on Thursday.

Lampard’s side were desperate for some luck and somehow went into the break still ahead. 

Ivan Toney rose highest in between James Tarkowski and Nathan Patterson to meet Henry’s cross and again, Pickford was merely a spectator as the ball bounced back off the post and Yoanne Wissa skied over from the rebound when it was harder to miss.

Mbuemo forced a save from Pickford at the back post and then his curling strike deflected wide. At the interval, it was Gordon’s spark that separated the sides after a half that neither manager would have been overly impressed with.

The 21-year-old Toffees winger has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea this summer

Coady provided a superb assist from defence after making his move from Wolves to Everton

Seven minutes after the break, the woodwork saved Everton again with Christian Norgaard’s overhead kick coming back off the bar and into the arms of Pickford. Gordon came close to doubling the advantage with a volleyed effort that forced a double save from Raya as the Brentford keeper denied Vitalii Mykolenko on the follow-up.

Frank made a triple change throwing on Shandon Baptiste, Keane Lewis-Potter and Janelt and Pickford made a good save to push away Janelt’s header. But the England keeper could do nothing to deny the German after Lewis-Potter’s flick on found Janelt at the back post.

Everton managed just one point from their travels in the capital last season and would have been disappointed not to take all three at the GTech Community Stadium after taking the lead. As the full time whistle blew, Gordon was serenaded by the Everton fans and he ran over to hand his blue shirt and applaud the travelling supporters. Only time will tell which blue shirt he’ll be seen in next?