Demarai Gray will have delighted Sean Dyche with quality in first half of Everton vs Brentford
It’s been an afternoon to remember so far for Everton forward Demarai Gray putting in an action-packed first-half showing against Brentford at Goodison Park with the score at 1-0 to the Blues.
Sean Dyche’s men took the lead with barely a minute on the clock when Dwight McNeil received the ball on the edge of the area from midfielder Abdoulaye Docoure, before taking a touch and arrowing an effort into the far corner past David Raya.
The Toffees enjoyed much of the territory in the first half and could well have found themselves 3-0 up after huge chances spurned by Michael Keane and Amadou Onana, before Gray almost had a second just before the half but had it ruled out for handball.
In what is a must-win game for the Toffees, where a win could see them climb out of the relegation zone in the Premier League, Dyche will be absolutely ecstatic about the performance of his lone frontman, Gray.
The former Leicester City man playing in an unfamiliar role in Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s absence set the tone throughout the first half, showing his tremendous energy, skill and endeavour when leading from the front.
Gray, whose been urged by Dyche to “find the balance of his talent” in the crucial weeks ahead and Toffees ace has certainly located his best form, and his stats from the first half show just what he offers the Blues.
The forward won five of his eight ground duels, registered one key pass and a big chance created after brilliantly finding Keane from a free-kick in which the former Burnley man should have scored and completed all three of his dribbles in an electric first-half showing.
The 26-year-old could have had a goal of his own but was denied by Raya in the Brentford goal, before the late VAR intervention.
With the Toffees in desperate need of attacking inspiration with their main-man Calvert-Lewin currently out of action, Gray has shown in the last two games that he can step up to the mark when needed.
Dyche surely has something to think about moving forward for his Everton forward position.