Brentford picked up their first Premier League away point of the season at the sixth attempt as the 10-man Bees held a wasteful Everton to a 0-0 draw at Goodison Park.
Even with a numerical disadvantage for the entire second half, the visitors' dogged rearguard action trumped Everton's meek attacking performance, leading to some expected jeers from the home faithful at full time.
Brentford's enthralling, goal-laden displays at home this season have not translated into similarly entertaining away days, and so it proved in the first half at Goodison Park, which Sean Dyche's team largely dominated.
Dwight McNeil in particularly was carrying the threat for the hosts, but Thomas Frank's men were digging in defensively and were also counting their lucky stars that the Toffees were lacking a killer touch in front of goal.
However, Everton's efforts were aided significantly in the dying embers of the first half, when Brentford skipper Christian Norgaard was sent off for a high challenge on Jordan Pickford, leading to fierce protests from Frank and his troops.
Inevitably, Dyche's side were doing all of the huffing and puffing as the second half began, although they continued to be their own worst enemies in the final third and were at risk of being hit on the counter-attack.
Frank did not shy away from some offensive changes, bringing on newly-signed striker Igor Thiago for his belated debut after his summer knee operation, but it was all backs against the wall for the visitors approaching the closing stages.
There were no significant scares for Frank's men in the dying embers, though, and that point has temporarily lifted them into the top half of the Premier League table, while Everton languish in 15th after their fourth straight game without a win in the top flight.
EVERTON VS. BRENTFORD HIGHLIGHTS
Christian Norgaard red card vs. Everton (41st min, Everton 0-0 Brentford)
© Imago
Brentford's captain is sent for an early bath!
The Dane is stretching to try to prod the ball home in a penalty-box scramble and catches Pickford on the shin with a high boot, which Chris Kavanagh deems red card-worthy after being told to go to the screen.
The visitors will play the entire second half with 10 men!
MAN OF THE MATCH - MARK FLEKKEN
© Imago
Even before Brentford went down to 10 men, Flekken had to be on his toes to keep Everton at arm's length, and the Dutchman more than earned his keep in between the Merseyside posts.
Flekken produced five saves, one punch and two high claims to help end the Bees' away hoodoo, and he heads back to West London with a richly-deserved shut-out to his name.
EVERTON VS. BRENTFORD MATCH STATS
Possession: Everton 59%-41% Brentford
Shots: Everton 27-9 Brentford
Shots on target: Everton 5-2 Brentford
Corners: Everton 10-4 Brentford
Fouls: Everton 8-10 Brentford
WHAT NEXT?
Next weekend, Everton have the honour of being the visitors to Old Trafford for Ruben Amorim's first Premier League home match in charge of Manchester United, who host the Toffees on December 1.
As for Brentford, Frank's side are in action a day before, welcoming Leicester City to the Gtech Community Stadium in one of the 3pm slots next Saturday.
Ben Knapton
