Facing my pal Ben Mee from the Bees was strange, admits Dwight McNeil

Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone

New Everton starlet Dwight McNeil admitted that it was odd coming up against Brentford defender Ben Mee on Saturday.

The pair were teammates at Burnley between 2018 and 2022 before the attacking midfielder moved to Goodison Park and Mee became a Bee.

At Turf Moor they shared a tsunami of highs like three survivals under Sean Dyche. Yet those accomplishments were marred by last season’s relegation.

Reflecting on the 1-1 draw and having had to directly battle it out for the three points with his friend, McNeil exclusively told CapitalFootball: “It is a bit weird obviously.

“I played with him for four years but on Saturday we only focused on the game.

“And then we caught up after the game.

“It was good to see and catch up with him and it’s nice seeing him do well and enjoying his football as well.”

Brentford dominated large parts of the game, hitting the woodwork three times while Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Missa missed other glorious opportunities.

When asked if the stalemate felt like two dropped points due to the late concession of the equaliser or one earned considering the Bees’ hegemony, the 22-year-old Englishman said that the Toffees are all crushed by Vitaly Janelt’s spoiler.

He said: “I think in the first half, looking back, we played really well and deserved to be up.

“And then in the second-half it got a bit difficult.

“The lads are disappointed not to take all three [points] but in the end it’s an earned point on the board and we’re looking forward to Tuesday.”