Everton’s two red cards and insane 10 minutes denied Frank Lampard’s side safety pad – David Anderson

Everton twice took the lead against Brentford but two red cards proved too much for Frank Lampard’s side to struggle through, leaving them just two points above third-place Burnley

The many empty blue seats around Goodison Park told their own story.

They were filled with ecstatic Everton fans after 62 minutes as the Blues’ 10 men led 2-1 and were less than half an hour away from ensuring Premier League survival. But Brentford scored twice in the space of two minutes to turn the game on its head and still keep Everton’s high-profile future in the balance.

Everton also finished with nine men for the first time in 15 years after Salomon Rondon was sent off within four minutes of being substituted on. They lost Jarrad Branthwaite after 18 minutes and Frank Lampard, who was without Ben Godfrey, Yerry Mina and Michael Keane yesterday, are quickly running out of defenders.

They stay two points clear of Burnley, who is bottom of the relegation zone. Thursday’s home game against Crystal Palace comes before Sunday’s last game at Arsenal. It could be as exciting as 1994 and 1998 and the nightmare of a first relegation since 1951 remains possible.

Everton fans knew the importance of this clash and Goodison Road was packed with supporters waving flags and chanting and signing to greet Lampard and his players as they arrived in their trainer. Everton used that energy to get off to a positive start and Richarlison twice got close before they opened the scoring after 10 minutes.

Anthony Gordon swung a free-kick to the near post from the right and Richarlison’s miss was touched by Dominic Calvert-Lewin for his first goal since August 28. The jubilant mood in Goodison changed after 18 minutes when Branthwaite showed a straight red card for fouling Ivan Toney when he was last man.

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Everton were furious and claimed they should have gotten a penalty for Kristoffer Ayer’s shirt pull on Richarlison seconds before Brentford left the field. But referee Michael Oliver and VAR Darren England were unimpressed.

Goodison seethed and her anger grew when Brentford equalized in the 37th minute. Andre Gomes failed to clear from a corner and Toney drilled the ball over the goal to the back post where Yoane Wissa scored with a shot that hit Seamus Coleman in the face and defeated Jordan Pickford.

Everton rocked and Pickford made two key stops in quick succession. These saves became even more significant when Everton restored their lead in the second minute of added time in the first half with a Richarlison penalty.

Mads Bech Sorensen made contact with Richarlison and the Brazilian took the opportunity to go down. It looked a bit soft but Everton didn’t care and Richarlison converted it to restore their lead.

Everton retreated deeper and deeper, challenging Brentford up front and the Bees’ pressure showed as they scored twice in two minutes. First, Richarlison Wissa lost, brilliantly heading home Christian Eriksen’s corner at the near post, to the anger of Everton assistant manager Paul Clement, who threw his water bottle on the ground in disgust.

Everton were dazed and Brentford delivered the knockout blow when Rico Henry was given too much time and space to put Christian Norgaard’s cross home. Things got worse for Everton when Rondon was sent off for a stupid two-footed lunge on Henry with two minutes left – just four minutes after coming on.