Brentford 1-3 Everton: Calvert-Lewin seals first EPL win of season for Toffees

Everton secured their first Premier League victory of the season in impressive fashion as Dominic Calvert-Lewin completed a fine 3-1 win over Brentford on Saturday Night Football.

Abdoulaye Doucoure's sixth-minute opener gave Sean Dyche's side an early platform before Mathias Jensen levelled against the run of play (28).

But the visitors would not be denied a first win since the final day of the last campaign as James Tarkowski, on his return to Brentford, headed in Dwight McNeil's corner before Calvert-Lewin latched onto James Garner's pass to seal the victory.

Everton rise out of the relegation zone into 15th in the table while Brentford drop to 12th.

Everton rediscover winning habit

Dyche took his under-fire team to West London having failed to win any of their opening five Premier League games, with just one point on the board so far. The Blues boss urged his team to "play with a smile" despite the tough start to their campaign - and they made the perfect start.

From Garner's measured corner, Tarkowski headed the ball into the path of Doucoure who sliced across the ball to drill beyond the wrong-footed Mark Flekken for his second goal of the season.

The recent negative press surrounding the club appeared alleviated as the visitors came close to a second inside the opening 15 minutes when Beto's cushioned header was latched onto by McNeil but his shot across goal was just wide of the far post.

Brentford, winless in their last three, were then thankful to the woodwork as Doucoure bullied Mads Roerslev off the ball from McNeil's centre but was denied by the crossbar with his rising effort.

Just 89 seconds later, Jensen was celebrating scoring Brentford's equaliser.

Yoane Wissa was deemed fractionally onside in the build-up as Vitaly Janelt found Jensen for a precise finish across Jordan Pickford and in off the post. It was Brentford's first shot on target.

Keane Lewis-Potter went close to completing the turnaround before the interval but was unable to convert Bryan Mbeumo's low cross.

Everton had a spate of chances after the restart with McNeil's shot into the gloves of Flekken before Amadou Onana and Beto both headed wide.

Brentford lost their first Premier League game this season last weekend when they went down 1-0 at Newcastle - but they were well below their standards as Everton wrestled control of the contest.

McNeil's corner was headed in by Tarkowski to deservedly nudge the visitors back in front - and Calvert-Lewin came off the bench to score his first goal since May and alleviate the pressure on Dyche.

Player of the match - Abdoulaye Doucoure

Since Sean Dyche's first Premier League game in charge of Everton back in February, Abdoulaye Doucoure has scored more goals than any other player for the Toffees (7).

Floodgates open for Everton - Opta stats

What's next?

Brentford host Arsenal in the Carabao Cup second round on Wednesday at 7.45pm before returning to Premier League action at Nottingham Forest next Sunday at 2pm, live on Sky Sports.

Everton travel to Aston Villa on Wednesday in their Carabao Cup second round tie (kick off: 7.45pm) before they host Luton Town at Goodison Park next Saturday in the Premier League at 3pm.