Saturday evening saw a 3-1 home defeat for Brentford against an Everton side that, on paper, one would have fancied as perfect opponents to bounce back from the pain of Newcastle.
That’s not how football works, sadly. There’s no such thing as a gimme and despite the Toffees abject start to the campaign they were on it for the whole game. Quicker. Sharper. More determined. A desire to win that, aside from a first minute burst by Keane Lewis Potter, seemed strangely lacking from The Bees.
That first game without Rico Henry was always going to be tricky. Brentford’s cause not helped by Kevin Schade, named in the starting XI, picking up an injury in the warm up and so having to be replaced by KLP.
Ben Mee joined Rico, Shandon and Josh in the medical room and the challenge now faced by Thomas Frank as much highlighted by his having two goalkeepers on the bench when the game began.
That’s not to make excuses. Thomas chose the same XI that I, and most supporters, would have done from the available personnel. It wasn’t that anybody stood out per se but more a collective averageness about Brentford that we’ve seen occasionally. An inexplicable collective ‘switching off’.
The injury to Schade of course upset the rhythm and I think he’d have had a field day, for what it’s worth. Yet even that aside the defence was gappy, the balls forward wayward and the will to win seemingly off on holiday. It was as out of character a performance as Brentford have given in a long time. Up there with Aston Villa away from last season or the visit to Southampton in our opening campaign at this level.
Everton were a goal up after just six minutes. Mark Flekken opted to punch rather than catch from a corner and the ball played back in. There was Abdoulaye Doucouré to make the space past Roerslev and volley home across the face of goal from close range. Flekken had no real chance and whilst there was nothing intrinsically wrong with the quality of his punch, had he been able to catch then the move would have been closed out there and then. Instead, Bryan failed to pick it up, Everton got the chance to go again and Mark was let down by his defence giving our visitors the freedom of the box.
The Toffees one-nil up and flying. It could well have been more. Beto ran on to a ball played through the gap between Roerslev and Pinnock, only to see his shot go just wide of the far post.
A long ball over the midfield through Roerslev and Collins then found Doucouré. He caught it wonderfully despite, the attentions of our right back, but could only watch as it flew past Flekken before cannoning to safety off the bar.
Nobody could have complained had The Bees found themselves 3-0 down but instead scores were suddenly level on the half hour mark. Wissa lost it as Brentford pushed but the ball fell to Vitaly who played it out to Jensen. The Dane made no mistake firing hard and low past Pickford to the far side of the net for a third goal of the season. A frustrating wait for VAR came to nothing and that was it – scores level.
Totally against the balance of play but another example to highlight the importance of taking your chances. Surely Brentford would take advantage of this get out of jail card they had been handed? Surely Everton, whose confidence must have been shaky coming into this one, would now roll over and die?
Alas not. KLP had an opportunity to perhaps give us the lead just prior to half time but was denied at the back post by a timely interception. Just prior, Beto had his own chance to restore the advantage. It was a warning that Brentford should have paid far greater heed to in the second half.
That brief resurgence into life which had accompanied our equaliser was left behind in the changing room. Nothing of any substance created at a time where even stringing a few passes together would have been nice. Instead, twenty minutes in and a corner hoisted into the box was headed home by the Everton captain. The myriad of Brentford players in the box unable to get anything on it or put the goalscorer under even the slightest pressure.
Our visitors’ will-to-win then shown by their own backs to the wall defending where a free kick in the box saw Onyeka, Collins and Norgaard all with chances to perhaps bang it in as pinball ensued. No quarter was given from an Everton defence determined to hang on to this rarest of leads and the opportunity fizzled out.
Brentford’s heartbreak them compounded by Dominic Calvert-Lewin racing on to a ball played through the centre backs and putting it out of sight. Flekken left totally exposed again and no chance of stopping it.
3-1 it finished to the visitors and no complaints on the way this one played out. Captain Christian Norgaard would acknowledge afterwards that, “Obviously today’s performance was not one to be proud of”. Thomas Frank also pointed to his team’s lack of quality in defensive set pieces whilst also noting that “Today we were off it in terms of passing, touches – especially first half”.
That’s football. We’ve all seen the action in one form or another so this one really needs no further comment. It happens. The proverbial bad day at the office. What’s more important now is how Brentford bounce back for the trip to Nottingham Forest next Sunday.
Until then comes the somewhat challenging task of trying to pick our top five performers and star player. Even after going through the action again the morning after the night before it’s a hard call, with no prizes awarded for ‘not having as much of an off day as the others’.
So without further ado, let’s crack (briefly) on.
2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 6 (vs Everton)
1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Not awarded
Even the ‘official’ Brentford Twitter feed declined the opportunity to put up the usual player-of-the-match poll at full time. This break in normal service was perhaps as much for diplomacy purposes as anything else. Nobody needs the tirade of raw emotion that would have followed this one.
For me, it’s a simpler decision. We really didn’t have a star performer. Even for half an hour. There were a few players who deserve mention so will still get points but that’s about as far as it goes.
2nd (4 points) – Mathias Jensen
Against the run of play he hauled us back in to it. By the time Mathias levelled it up Brentford should have been dead and buried. Everton out of sight. The whole stadium knew it. Presumably the players were also aware. Yet Mathias retained the presence of mind for a cool finish past the England goalkeeper.
We could have pushed on and that we didn’t isn’t down to one man who still served as our only outlet in taking the ball to the opposition. One suspects that reliance on Mathias will only continue next time out with more defensive steel being added to the back line in lieu of a creative player for the trip to the City Ground.
3rd (3 points) – Saman Ghoddos
Came on for Aaron Hickey with 20 minutes (and a fair portion of stoppage time) to go. Showed more desire in that period than most of his team mates put together.
We all know Saman as the Iranian Messi. As the player who gives his all for Brentford. Whilst his return surprised more than a few supporters after that emotional farewell at the end of the last season, few could deny his attempts to get amongst the Everton team.
4th (2 points) – Michael Olakigbe
Michael had the briefest of runs towards the end of the game but, as against Bournemouth where his late performance form the bench gave hope, there was once again the positive of potential. Of what he may bring to Brentford in the future.
Despite the bleakness of the situation he was thrust into, the 19 year old provided a breath of fresh air and the suggestion that with careful management he could very well be one for the future.
5th (1 point) – Not awarded
There really was that little to write home about. Sorry Bees – fans and players. I thought Mark Flekken was sold up the river and almost gave him a point but losing like this, it would only have been sympathy rather than anything else.
Instead, one to file away and never talk of again. It happens. Instead, all focus must be on Nottingham Forest next week and perhaps a first start for Neal Maupay….
2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 6)
Until then, a quick look at that latest leader board which does a see a change at the top.
T1st – Ethan Pinnock, Mathias Jensen (14 points)
3rd – Bryan Mbeumo (12 points)
4th – Nathan Collins (10 points)
T5th – Christian Norgaard, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade (7 points)
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