Everton analysis: Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s message arrives just as Sean Dyche is confronted with a fresh problem.

Everton analysis following the Premier League match against Brentford

One major arrival last month threatened to dethrone Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Everton’s number one striker, but it was another new addition – his own little bundle of joy – on the centre-forward’s thoughts as he celebrated the Blues’ third goal that sealed their victory at Brentford.

Calvert-Lewin proved he’s ‘The Daddy’ both on and off the pitch as he celebrated his calmly-taken finish with ‘thumb sucking’ and rocking the baby gestures, and if he has any restless nights ahead, he’d be excused for watching this strike back in the wee tiny hours. The 26-year-old doesn’t appear to be slowed by parenthood, as he scored his first goal from open play since a 3-0 home triumph against Crystal Palace 11 months ago.

More injuries have followed, with new manager Sean Dyche vowing to go to any length to determine his fitness, a “factory reset” over the summer, a collision with Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on his return, and, of course, the £25.8 million signing of Beto from Udinese.

Despite this, Calvert-Lewin has returned, and Everton now has true like-for-like alternatives battling to lead their assault.

Everton have too frequently had to rely on makeshift centre-forwards until the aforementioned arrival of Beto and the return of Calvert-Lewin, but although we’ve heard of ‘false’ number nines – on the week that Goodison great Trevor Steven turned 60 – is James Garner now a ‘false’ winger?

Sean Dyche’s decision to move Arnaut Danjuma, who had scored in the Blues’ previous two away games, out wide with Garner, who told the ECHO following the 4-0 defeat at Aston Villa last month that central midfield is his preferred position, was a risk. What appeared to be a negative move after Everton’s 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal last time out, when they failed to put a hand on Mikel Arteta’s side, turned out to be an amazing masterstroke from an under-fire Blues manager.

Garner’s deliveries from wide were consistently of good quality, with a crucial early boost in the form of his cross from wide – the left side – that picked up James Tarkowski for his spectacular flick-on that set up Abdoulaye Doucoure for the opener. If the prospect Dyche refers to as “Jimmy” was giving a convincing impression of a natural winger with that move, his grounding as a player in the engine room shone through in the build-up to the third as he harried Brentford into surrendering possession before showing his ability to pick a pass to find Calvert-Lewin and present his gaffer with a genuine selection dilemma going forward.

As bees sting, the blues lift.

It may only be three points, but after failing to get the results their previous performances deserved in their previous Premier League games this season, Everton will be hoping that this result serves as a springboard to a more positive campaign following the back-to-back survival battles of the previous two years.

Not only was this their third road victory in the last 12 months, but it was also their first-ever top flight victory at Brentford, with trips dating back to 1936, the year of three English kings. Since the Bees’ return to English football’s top flight for the first time since 1947, a trio of different Blues managers have visited the Gtech Community Stadium.

Rafael Benitez and Frank Lampard were unable to taste success in this part of west London, but it was third time lucky for Everton under Sean Dyche, but the outcome was far from fortuitous. Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League under Thomas Frank has been regarded as a breath of fresh air and the contrast to faded legends like the Blues, who have struggled to replicate past triumphs due to the detrimental influence of Farhad Moshiri’s excessive spending.

That age of extravagance is now over, with Financial Fair Play regulations biting and the Monaco-based owner unable or unwilling to keep the cash flowing. After agreeing to sell all of his shares to a contentious Miami-based private investment firm, Everton’s prospective new owners were greeted with a message that their arrival on Merseyside will not be met with universal approval in the form of a banner proclaiming ‘777 NOT WELCOME’ in the away end, but at least for once, all of the club’s post-match talk was about on-the-field events.

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