Frank Lampard praised his players for an "outstanding effort" as he said crucial decisions changed a match Everton had controlled.
The Blues had taken an early lead against Brentford today and, fuelled by another intense Goodison Park backing, were on top. But he said a red card for Jarrad Branthwaite - from a move that began amid claims for an Everton penalty - "changed" the game.
Lampard believes the penalty should have been given, and also that Brentford's Mads Bech Sorensen should have received a second yellow card after he brought down Richarlison near the end of the first half.
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Of the red card in particular, he was left questioning why play was not stopped earlier for the shirt pull on the Brazil star inside the away side's box.
Seconds later Branthwaite brought down Ivan Toney and Everton were down to 10 men with more than 70 minutes to go. A 3-2 defeat prevented the Blues from securing their Premier League status - but a win on Thursday against Crystal Palace would be enough to confirm their survival.
Asked what he had told the players after the final whistle, Lampard said: "It was a great effort, an outstanding effort...we were brilliant for the period of 11 v 11 - it felt like a game we controlled and more goals would maybe come.
"We should have scored more against a really good side. It is really hard to say anything to them after that. Seventy minutes in the Premier League with one man down is a really big ask.
"They are a quality team Brentford, they can move the ball. The effort was amazing from the players. It's a hard one to react to quickly.
"It's time for a day off tomorrow and come away from it for them because their effort was massive and they will have to have more massive effort on Thursday."
