Beto quietly impresses as 3/10 atrocious in horrid display – Everton player ratings vs Brentford
Everton produced a humiliating performance in a 4-2 defeat against Brentford at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The tone of the game was set when Igor Thiago opened the scoring in the 11th minute after turning home a delightful Vitaly Janelt cross.
David Moyes’ men failed to respond to this setback and were constantly second best against the Bees, who pushed to double their lead in the first half.
In an attempt to turn the tide, Moyes made two substitutions at half-time, introducing Merlin Rohl and Beto for Tyler Dibling and Dwight McNeil.
But instead of threatening to pull off a comeback, Everton conceded two goals in the matter of six second-half minutes, with Nathan Collins and Thiago’s second derailing any chance of a fightback.
The Toffees did net a consolation through substitute Beto, but that wasn’t enough for the floodgates to open, and Thiago netted his hat-trick in the dying embers before Thierno Barry grabbed the hosts’ second.
James Tarkowski was poor vs Brentford
James Tarkowski was excellent during Everton’s 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest as he successfully marshalled his side to a clean sheet and all three points at the City Ground.
But the Englishman failed to follow up that dominant performance against Brentford as he struggled to impose himself alongside the returning Michael Keane.
Tarkowski was guilty of gifting possession to Janelt in the build-up to the visitors’ first goal, with his distribution leaving much to be desired.
On top of being sloppy with the ball at his feet, he was clumsy and lacked aggression in the tackle, two attributes that are normally synonymous with the 33-year-old.
Beto made an impact vs Brentford
Everton’s hunt for a striker shows how much Moyes doesn’t rate his current options, Beto and Barry, with both struggling to grab the number nine jersey.
Moyes has preferred Barry to lead the line in recent weeks, but the pair played up top together in the second half.
While taking off McNeil compromised themselves defensively, the Guinea-Bissau international made a difference at the top end of the pitch and was a nuisance for Brentford’s defence.
The 27-year-old imposed himself physically, using his height and strength to cause problems, while glancing home a Jack Grealish cross in the 66th minute.
On an afternoon where many players looked sluggish and lethargic, Beto at least looked promising from the bench.
Everton player ratings vs Brentford
Jordan Pickford – 5
Jake O’Brien – 5
James Tarkowski – 3
Michael Keane – 4
Vitalii Mykolenko – 6
Tim Iroegbunam (off for Harrison Armstrong 77′) –
James Garner – 6
Tyler Dibling (off for Rohl 45′) – 4
Dwight McNeil (off for Beto 45′) – 5
Jack Grealish – 7
Thierno Barry – 5
Substitutions
Beto (on for McNeil 45′) – 7
Merlin Rohl (on for Dibling 45′) – 5
Harrison Armstrong (on for Iroegbunam 77′) – 6
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