Igor Thiago ended his brief goal drought in spectacular fashion at Hill Dickinson Stadium, scoring a clinical hat-trick as Brentford outclassed Everton 4-2 and leapfrogged them in the Premier League table. The Brazilian's treble, combined with Nathan Collins's header, delivered only the Bees' third away win of the season and propelled Keith Andrews's side up to seventh, while exposing deep defensive cracks in David Moyes's Everton.
Everton started brightly and did find the net twice through substitutes Beto and Thierno Barry, but those strikes merely added gloss to a scoreline that flattered the hosts. Brentford were organised, composed and repeatedly dangerous, and once they surged 3-0 ahead early in the second half, the outcome was never seriously in doubt despite a late flurry from the home side.
Fast Everton Start Quickly Unravels
On a grey afternoon, Everton initially suggested they might extend their recent run of four clean sheets in six league games. Dwight McNeil brought the first roar from the new Hill Dickinson crowd when he forced Caoimhin Kelleher into a low save from a Jack Grealish lay-off after only four minutes. From the resulting corner, James Tarkowski climbed highest and directed a firm header towards goal, only to see Thiago drop back onto his own line and clear, the first indication of the striker's all-round influence.