Sunday afternoon saw a derby game that had promised so much in the build-up petering into a 0-0 stalemate. A result that helps neither team in their aspirations to make progress up the league.
In truth it was a somewhat tedious performance that, at times, felt more like a pre-season friendly played out in the sunshine than any sort of blood-and-thunder game between two sides separated by just a few miles. The lack of passion and desire on show, savaged at full time by a furious Roy Keane (plus ça change). But enough about United – City.
Yet anyone who had been at the Gtech earlier may well have been suffering from déjà vu after seeing a Brentford- Chelsea game that had promised so much end in a 0-0 stalemate. A result that helps neither etc etc etc.
In truth, at least both sides went for it over in West London. Chelsea dominating possession and with a humungous 21 shots at goal but still looking more like Scotland at Euro 96 rather than a team who had been given the chance to get back in to the Champions League places. When they did get the ball on target, there was Mark Flekken to gather it up or push it away.
Brentford, with perhaps the clearest of the opportunities. Damsgaard getting himself caught up when set free. Mbeumo and Wissa coming close in the second half. Van den Berg with a glorious opportunity late on yet his header ending up over the bar. Chances were few and when they came, couldn’t quite be converted.
Even the half-time Centre Circle Challenge lacking its usual lustre. No celebrity Bees on hand to help out two contestants who gave it their all but took until the final effort before one of them even managed to reach the middle of the pitch. Stu Wakeford on P.A. duty during this segment doing his best to make the best of it but there are only so many ways to say ‘almost’. It was anything but amazing and even Peter Gilham might have struggled to get anything from this one.
A metaphor for the main feature? A good effort but ultimate failure to hit the target. That’s not to criticise Brentford though, let’s be clear.
The Bees were rock solid at the back and at least ended this with the kudos of a first top flight clean sheet at the Gtech this season. Don’t forget, either, the calibre of player in the Chelsea team. A galaxy of stars who should – at least on paper – be making more of a challenge at the very top of the table.
That they came away with just a point as much symptomatic of their own ongoing inability to find any cohesive shape or pattern as it was their longer term challenges in overcoming Brentford at this level. That’s on them, of course. For this fan there was perhaps an element of frustration at not quite being able to kill the game off and take all three points. Even if – cliché alert – we probably all would have settled for the draw beforehand.
If or no other reason that it was the point that means, mathematically speaking, a fourth campaign of Premier League football is assured. Thomas Frank’s team now 22 points clear of Ipswich Town with only 7 (seven) games remaining. Of course, even allowing for the historical ‘It’s Brentford, innit’ tendency to shoot ourselves in the foot, there can’t be anybody amongst the Bees’ faithful who has considered relegation even a vague possibility this season.
Instead, the opportunity remains for one last push at the top seven. The gap is 8 points of which there are 21 available. It’s a big ask but with several games against sides chasing Europe to come, starting on Saturday at Arsenal, anything is possible. The pressure and self-doubt on them way more than anything that a shackle-free Bees line up will feel.
That’s all to come though. For now, our usual our look at the top five player ratings in the ongoing quest to find an overall player of the season. Five points being awarded for star player, four for second place, three for third etc with the totals added up game-by-game to find an overall winner after game 38.
2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 31 (vs Chelsea)
1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Mark Flekken
A welcome return to the top five, and pole position, for the Bees’ keeper.
Chelsea with orders to shoot on sight. Flekken absolutely unflappable and coping admirably with anything that came at him. Which, being honest, wasn’t as much as it may have been given the opposition’s decision to don the Toblerone shaped boots.
Then again, you can only stop what comes your way and he was solid when threatened. Closing out the angles to force wayward efforts or gathering with consummate ease . Fine saves from Reese James and, err, Sepp van den Berg amongst others were then when required. Not to mention fast with the ball out looking to catch Chelsea napping in the sunshine.
Well done Mark on another great game.
2nd (4 points) – Nathan Collins
Nathan really has found his groove this season. The partnership with Sepp van den Berg restored for this game and he looked ‘brick-wall’ solid.
To be fair, the whole defence operated brilliantly as a unit – something all the more pleasing given the way that at times possession had been lost at Newcastle on Wednesday.
Yet it was Nathan who seemed to be at the heart of the action. As much him as Mark the reason Chelsea were forced into such rash decision making in the final third.
All achieved despite the lack of help from referee Michael Oliver. The choice of Foo Fighters ‘The Pretender’ over the tannoy just prior to his leading the teams out surely a coincidence?
Collins everywhere + Brentford cohesive = no goals conceded.
3rd (3 points) – Keane Lewis Potter
As one North stand observer opined to me, ‘It’s almost a shame Damsgaard has been SO good this season as otherwise KLP would be running away with player of the year’.
He’s not wrong but I’m sure KLP won’t mind. He just looked so assured breaking up and down the left flank. In covering off the threat and seeing it crumble into nothing.
The fact that fit again Rico Henry didn’t even make it off the bench – much as it was quite wonderful seeing him getting ready – saying everything about just how settled Keane was looking. Likewise, how he might even have turned provider as the game reached the death knell.
Sadly, it wasn’t to be so he’ll just have to settle for further plaudits and these three points instead.
4th (2 points) – Christian Norgaard
Like the backline, all three of the centre-midfield did their job with robust efficiency but, like Nathan, it was Christian who stood out from his peers.
He topped the charts for both tackles made and fouls conceded – across not just The Bees but Chelsea too. Which probably says everything needed about his dominance in midfield. His involvement in preventing the visitors from being able to take advantage of their time with the ball.
It was one of those games where fine margins separated most of the top five, not to mention beyond, but the captain is more than worthy of his inclusion.
5th (1 point) – Mikkel Damsgaard
The final spot might have gone to Sepp who played really well with Nathan but fifth place is awarded to Mikkel.
Came close to breaking the deadlock on a couple of occasions whilst ended the game joint top of the tackle chart (with Christian) and the cross count (with Bryan). Along with KLP, looked Brentford’s most dangerous player.
2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Overall (after Matchweek 31)
All of which means that, heading in to the final stretch of the season, Mikkel Damsgaard is almost home clear at the top of the star player table. Second place remains wide open whilst Nathan Collins remains the player best placed to break in to the top five, should one of the current contenders slip.
Next up, the trip to Arsenal…
1st – Mikkel Damsgaard (89 points)
2nd – Keane Lewis-Potter (60 points)
3rd – Mark Flekken (55 points)
4th – Christian Norgaard (54 points)
5th – Bryan Mbeumo (52 points)
