The siren set the tempo. That haunting, ear-splitting alarm rang around this famous old stadium for the first time this season. It echoed for an eternity and maybe, just maybe, the players were held back for an extra second or two so the piercing tone could have maximum impact.
It transformed a nervous, tense corner of L4 that was all too aware that Bournemouth had once again landed a blow to Everton’s hopes by beating, of all teams, a supposedly reborn Liverpool. Of course they did.
But as the rain fell and the coldness crept into nearly 40,000 desperate bones and the siren turned into Z-Cars and Seamus Coleman emerged, training top draped over a young mascot’s shoulders, the Grand Old Lady erupted. Would you want to be the enemy stepping onto this freezing, sodden battleground as the battle cry of a passionate, raucous fanbase dominates your senses? I would not.
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Brentford may not have done either. The eleven players in red and white were perhaps still awestruck when Dwight McNeil collected the ball just inside their box and rifled into the far corner from 16 yards. The 35 second break from the start of the match to the goal simply had not been enough for the away side to find its composure.
Still reeling from the sights and sounds of the bear pit they had stumbled into they were hit by another wave of Goodison noise. It set the tone for a match that Brentford, unbeaten in 12, were unable to recover from. The conquerors of Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool were vanquished at the altar of Sean Dyche.
This was Goodison at its fiercest best. Once again Everton is turning to its fans as it attempts to draw every ounce of energy from a season of failure and disappointment. Once again, they are answering that call. Against Brentford, so did the players. Abdoulaye Doucoure snapped and hustled, James Tarkowski, the sensational James Tarkowski, towered over the dangerous Ivan Toney, Idrissa Gueye sprung from midfield and McNeil, Alex Iwobi and Demarai Gray jumped on every loose ball. The goal came from Iwobi pouncing and finding Doucoure, who spread the ball to McNeil who did the rest.
It was the perfect start and it should have been better. Michael Keane, proving a nuisance in the opposition box again, beat goalkeeper David Raya to a Gray free-kick but nodded wide. Raya then palmed an Iwobi cross into the path of Amadou Onana but the Belgium midfielder, leaning back, could only send the ball tamely over when he looked a certainty to double Everton's lead as well as his tally for the club.
As the first half was played almost entirely in Brentford's half Dyche added to the pressure being applied on the pitch and from the stands, arguing, debating, disputing every questionable decision with the nearest linesman and the fourth official from the edge of his technical area. He had good cause to rage again as Gray bundled in just before half time. Everton's false nine had slid in celebration, dusted the blades of grass from his knees and reset for a restart by the time VAR eventually concluded, questionably, he had handled the ball.
After spending the first 45 minutes looking desperate to regroup Brentford emerged for the second 45 a different side. It took a superb, sprawling Jordan Pickford save to deny Rico Henry's close-range header from drawing the away side level. Bryan Mbuemo, who provided that cross, became a threat but Ben Godfrey matched his hunger and Tarkowski - joined ably by Keane - continued to dominate Toney.
Just before the hour mark Goodison took its cue to engage again and erupted in 'Spirit of the Blues'. As Brentford introduced energy from the bench Everton sourced it from the stands. They needed it. This was not a perfect second half. Everton buckled and strained under immense pressure. But it was enough. They survived a deflected Toney free-kick, McNeil cleared off the line, Kevin Schade headed wide then Raya, up for a corner, did the same in five excruciating minutes of stoppage time.
As the drama unfolded in front of them the crowd burst into action again and again. There was the chorus of 'Everton' when Gray relieved the pressure by winning a free kick with 10 minutes to go. There was the rendition of 'If you know your history' in the 89th minute and then there was the passionate, stands-shaking explosion on the final whistle.
When Everton visited Brentford at the start of the campaign, manager Thomas Frank recalled the home fans who had tried to power the Blues to survival when these sides met at the end of last season, writing: “We have shared some great battles with Everton; our 3-2 win at Goodison Park in May is one of my standout memories of last season. Credit to Everton’s supporters, and those of you in the away end that afternoon, for creating one of the best atmospheres I have ever experienced.”
On Saturday he again returned to Goodison Park and again witnessed an atmosphere for the ages. Just like last year, Everton need their supporters if they are to escape from peril. For everything that has gone on around the club over recent months and for all the fatigue there may be about having to fight for their side for another time, Everton's fans showed they can power their side beyond the limits of their ability so long as those in royal blue have the desire and willpower to respond. Under Dyche, against Brentford, they responded.
