David Moyes blames “shabby defending” for his side’s 4-2 loss to Brentford at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The Blues began the game on a positive note with Igor Thiago clearing James Tarkowski’s header from the goal line, but it took just 11 minutes for Brentford’s number nine to lay down the marker. He finished from close range after Vitaliy Janelt capitalised on a poor pass from Tarkowski.
“I thought we started well. The first 10 minutes we started the game well and I don’t know exactly when they scored,” Moyes said after the game.
“The keeper made a couple of good saves but we gave away a terrible goal and then I think the rest of the half we were chasing it. We never really got to grips with it after that. I think we had a chance just before half-time, which we maybe could have equalised with.
“So we hadn’t played well enough, but we got in 1-0 down, which gave us an opportunity in the second half to try and come out and be better. But it was unlike us, really.
“The first goal and obviously the other goals as well were unlike us completely. So it never really gave us a chance of winning. It was just poor defensively, really.”
Nathan Collins, left unmarked during a corner-kick, headed home to double the visitors’ lead while Thiago made it 3-0 from an efficient counter shortly after the break. While there was a glimmer of hope after Beto pulled one back with a fantastic header, it was quickly dashed when Thiago completed his hattrick two minutes before the end of regulation time.
Thierno Barry scored his third goal for Everton from Jack Grealish’s cross in injury time, but it proved little more than consolation.
“We don’t concede four goals too often, and I thought we conceded them in a really, really shabby manner today,” the Everton boss added.
“If you think how well they defended in midweek [in the 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest] compared to today, it just didn’t stack up.
“But obviously, we’ve tried to win the game at home. We were a bit more open. We were trying to make things work and happen. And I thought they punished us.”
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Posted
05/01/2026 at
11:09:16
So who thinks Moyes plans to shore up the defence by bringing in Patterson, renowned for his limited defensive abilities?
Posted
05/01/2026 at
11:17:39
‘We don’t concede four goals too often” is a classic example of Moyes managing expectations downwards, normalising shipping four goals to anyone.
What frequency of this occurrence is acceptable? Apparently twice in 5 home games.
Posted
05/01/2026 at
13:08:00
Moyes himself changed the back four around for this game, moving O’Brien, who was superb against Forest, to right-back. The combination of Tarkowski and Keane is too slow and they were exposed time after time by pacy forwards.
Watching the game again today, Rohl was dreadful when he came on. Gave a goal away and looked like a non-league player. The only decent buy in summer was Dewsbury-Hall.
Posted
05/01/2026 at
14:05:09
But not a word about how it could be improved or why it was so bad. Still, we wouldn’t want to forewarn our next opposition, eh.
They must be wondering at the complexity of not changing anything, moving O’Brien central with Patterson or Garner at right-back with the outside chance of Rohl or Coleman.
But then should we try a gung-ho midfield or just sit back to put more numbers in defence and adapt training to hit long balls (rather aptly named) to a lone forward or a wide Grealish?
Posted
05/01/2026 at
14:06:45
Why would you change Tarkowski and O’Brien who were outstanding against Forest, to bring back Keane, when you could see the complete lack of pace which Thiago exposed?
Completely down to Moyes.
Posted
05/01/2026 at
15:05:16
People just can’t stop having a pop at Patterson.
Let’s have a bit of perspective: the lad hadn’t played for ages, came in and done a decent job up against a fast tricky winger in Hudson-Odoi. I’d sooner have him there than O’Brien, who should be centre-back.
Patterson gets load of stick but look how abysmal Tarkowski has been this season — he’s made loads of cockups this season. But just because he was really good against Forest in a game that suits his back-to-the-wall defending, he gets a let-off
Fuck me, if Patterson gets skinned by a winger as fast as a greyhound, he gets dog’s abuse. Patterson more than played his part in that defence the other night, he won plenty of headers and don’t forget he had a novice in Dibling ahead of him.
Me personally, I can’t wait till we replace Tarkowski.
Posted
05/01/2026 at
15:53:55
I have to agree with Moyes, we did defend poorly… although sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say Brentford played very well and were the much better side.
I too would have been happier if Patterson was full-back and O’Brien played instead of Keane. Moyes is always loyal to some players he rates, though; his selections for the Wolves game will be interesting.
Posted
05/01/2026 at
16:19:38
“If you think how well they defended in midweek [in the 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest] compared to today, it just didn’t stack up.”
It does stack up if you take into account that Forest just pummel directionless crosses into the box for 90 minutes whereas Brentford run with the ball, exploit space left by our slow defenders, and put pressure on people who are prone to make mistakes.
We saw that occur in the Man Utd game with the Gana – Keane screw up but somehow on that occasion we suddenly improved.
Everyone seems to have certain defenders they absolve of responsibility and others who can do nothing right. But in truth they all have very obvious failings and some positive attributes.
But we haven’t had halfway decent full-backs in years — and that is the bigger issue than the centre-back situation.
Posted
05/01/2026 at
16:30:37
As a defence-oriented manager, should Moyes not be coaching them to improve?
Posted
05/01/2026 at
18:45:27
Mick, 6, Patterson gets skinned every game because he simply can’t defend.
He’s been with us 4 years now. If he was any good he would have secured his place. Moyes doesn’t rate him, tried to get rid last summer. This summer he’s gone.
Posted
05/01/2026 at
21:23:04
Clive @10,
Along with Moyes, hopefully.
Posted
06/01/2026 at
01:17:33
We were shabby all over the park, not just in defence.
Posted
06/01/2026 at
07:29:03
I’ve not seen the game highlights yet so only have my view of the game from the stand to go off, but I was certain their 2nd goal would get disallowed by VAR.
Pickford was impeded exactly the same as that Spurs keeper was when O’Brien’s goal was cancelled out but I’m not sure VAR even looked at it.
Pickford should’ve gone down as soon as he felt the contact and then VAR would’ve been forced to look at it and it would have been cancelled out — he was definitely impeded.
We must be the only team in the Premier League who don’t do “the dark arts” (fuck off Slot!) Brentford were at it all game and got away with it.
We need to stop being so nicey nice.
Posted
06/01/2026 at
12:11:48
Mark, yes it was clear on MotD highlights that Pickford was impeded. He was held, pushed and prevented from going towards the ball. VAR didn’t look at it.
The ref was very poor, allowing Brentford to get away with pushing and holding all game and time wasting on free-kicks and throw-ins.
The ref also slowed the game down by being fussy on free kicks and corners and talking to players about god knows what.
Posted
06/01/2026 at
12:46:15
Moyes saying he doesn’t understand why the defence was so bad… but was so good against Forest. Look at your selection!! You took the best centre-back we had against Forest and played him right-back!
We definitely need Patterson playing. [There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write!] However, a natural right-back balances the side so much better.
If we had Gana and Dewsbury-Hall, I’d put Garner at right-back.
McMeil offers nothing. Play Barry deeper off Beto. At least Barry presses in a structured way, and doesn’t look like his boots are made of lead.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see exactly the same line-up against Wolves.
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