David Moyes's Everton extended their Premier League unbeaten run to seven games with a deserved 1-1 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Bees came into the midweek clash without a home win in 2025, though having recorded three wins from their last four matches, they were full of confidence.
Thomas Frank's team were undoubtedly the better side in the opening 20 minutes, but the visitors grew into the match and arguably had the best chances of the half when in-form striker Beto twice found himself one-on-one with Mark Flekken, though the Everton man disappointingly squandered both gilt-edged opportunities.
Almost poetically, Moyes's men were made to rue their missed chances just before the interval when Yoane Wissa netted his 13th goal of the season - his highest ever league tally - and sent the Bees into the break with a lead after some poor defending from a long throw-in.
In the second period, Everton controlled proceedings, and it took almost 25 minutes for Brentford to threaten, though Wissa's finish on the 69th minute was deemed to be offside after the ball reached him behind goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
However, the Toffees eventually made good on their dominance and found an equaliser through a Jake O'Brien header to earn themselves a share of the spoils, leaving the hosts as the only side without a clean sheet on their own turf in the league this season.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
With three wins and a draw from their last five games, Brentford seem to have truly come out of their poor run of form that saw them record just one victory between mid-December and mid-January, and Bees fans will be delighted to see their team within reach of Aston Villa ahead of their clash with Unai Emery's side next time out.
Thomas Frank's men faced uncertainty at the start of the campaign after the departure of star man Ivan Toney, but the established attacking talents of Wissa and Bryan Mbuemo have been joined by Mikel Damsgaard, who has finally found his feet for the Londoners this campaign after a couple of seasons in obscurity, and Kevin Schade, who has been crucial on the left-flank.
That being said, Wednesday's hosts are still waiting for their first home win of the year, and the boss will be unhappy with the fact that his side dropped points from a winning position and were nullified in the second period.
As for Everton, they are a comfortable 15 points in front of Ipswich Town in the relegation zone after the Tractor Boys were beaten by Manchester United, having picked up exactly 15 points during their now seven-game unbeaten run.
However, despite coming from behind to take a point, Moyes will be disappointed that his side squandered a number of opportunities to take the lead in the first half, and will also be unhappy with the lacklustre defending that led to Wissa's opener.
BRENTFORD VS. EVERTON HIGHLIGHTS
39th min: Beto (Everton) big chance missed
Yoane Wissa goal vs. Everton (45+5 mins, Brentford 1-0 Everton)
Everton fail to deal with Kevin Schade's long throw into the box from the right-hand touchline and the ball bounces to Mbuemo, who heads it onto the bar before Wissa leaps above everyone else to put the rebound into the back of the net.
Jake O'Brien goal vs. Brentford (77th min, Brentford 1-1 Everton)
Everton are level!
Vitaliy Mykolenko plays an excellent cross from the left-hand side of the pitch, and O'Brien loses Brentford substitute Paris Maghoma on the back post before firing a diving header into the bottom-left corner.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JAKE O'BRIEN
The Everton right-back was strong defensively and limited left-winger Kevin Schade, was part of a defence that kept Brentford quiet in the second half and went on to score his side's equaliser.
Such an all-round performance has epitomised Moyes's resurgent Toffees, who are now unbeaten in their last seven league matches.
BRENTFORD VS. EVERTON MATCH STATS
Possession: Brentford 52%-48% Everton
Shots: Brentford 12-14 Everton
Shots on target: Brentford 3-4 Everton
Corners: Brentford 2-5 Everton
Fouls: Brentford 3-6 Everton
BEST STATS
WHAT NEXT?
Next time out, Brentford will play host to Unai Emery's out-of-sorts Aston Villa on March 8, while Everton will travel to take on relegation-battling Wolverhampton Wanderers on the same date.
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