What an afternoon for Brentford. A 4-2 tonking of Brighton at The Gtech denting the Seagulls’ European aspirations whilst, just perhaps, opening the door to an 11th hour push from Thomas Frank’s team.

With five games to go, starting on Thursday week with the trip to Nottingham Forest, an unlikely tilt for the continent may still be on. Certainly, play like this and anything is possible. The Bees bossing Brighton from start to very finish. Bryan Mbeumo opening the scoring in the opening ten minutes and Christian Norgaard rounding it off deep in to time added on.

If truth be told, Yoane Wissa had already missed a glorious chance before the Bees eventually took the lead. Thankfully it mattered little as Damsgaard found KLP, whose ball to bisect the Brighton midfield was about as perfect as they come. An absolute work of art from the player who is getting better and better with each game. Mbeumo ran on to it and made no mistake clean through. 1-0 Brentford, nine minutes down and already having the feeling of a ‘done deal’.

We all know how football works though. Possession and passing counts for naff all if you don’t put it away at one end or stay awake at the other. Despite remaining in control for the opening period, the teams went in all square after Wieffer wafted one in for Welbeck to head past Mark Flekken with the referee Tim Robinson poised to blow up for half-time.

It was a goal that had threatened, in patches, and eventually came as much through a lack of focus as anything else. They all count though and 1-1 was the score as the teams trooped in.

Yet if there was any unrest at the way things had turned out, it was well concealed. A lesson the Brighton fans could have learned after turning on their own manager late on following his substitutions heading in to the final fifteen minutes. Boos and cat calls of “You don’t know what you’re doing” after Danny Welbeck was subbed off ringing around their tiny corner of the ground but by then the damage had been well done.

Fabian Hurzeler must have been wishing he could inspire his team like Thomas Frank had done because the Bees shifted effortlessly up the gears to put this one well out of sight. Firstly, Mbeumo curling one past Seagulls’ ‘keeper Verbruggen after receiving the ball from Wissa on 48 minutes. The shot perhaps taking a deflection off Lewis Dunk on the way through but (cliche alert) you won’t win the raffle without buying a ticket.

Ten minutes later and it was 3-1. This time Mbeumo and Wissa trading the roles of poacher and provider. Again, Dunk in the way of the ball heading goalwards, although he wasn’t alone in a crowded box so whomever got the final deflection is perhaps up for grabs. Bees fans won’t care though – the net rippling for a third time in under an hour and Wissa now on the scoresheet.

Surely it couldn’t get any sweeter than this, could it?

Oh yes being the answer as Mr Robinson showed a straight red to João Pedro for swinging an elbow at Nathan Collins off the ball. It was the correct decision and no real protest made.

Perhaps more importantly, a wonderful example of the old proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold.

Back in December at the Amex, there should have been a straight red served to João Pedro for swinging an elbow at Yehor Yarmoliuk. Somehow, it went unpunished.

Not this time, though. The Bees a player and two goals up with the last half hour to play. What could possibly go wrong? Well, as it happens almost a lot. Brighton, with nothing to lose gave one last push. The fans proving that, infact, they were the ones who didn’t know what they were doing as Hurzeler’s changes saw Kaoru Mitoma score within four minutes of coming on for Welbeck.

A tense finish now set up. Rico Henry doing his part in lieu of KLP – fans overjoyed to see him back out again. The Bees hanging tough and then finally putting the game to bed in the 95th minute. Jensen’s free kick into the box being met by the skipper to give the scoreline a gloss that the performance had absolutely warranted.

The game over in all but the final whistle. An anxious wait followed for medical treatment to be administered to Jan Paul van Hecke following an accidental collision with Yunus Konak. Thankfully, both players have since been confirmed as in good health despite the worry inducing scenes that played out over a ten minute delay.

Instead, the enduring memory of the game was a fine win for Brentford. The push for the top ten – and potentially beyond – well alive. After that trip to Forest there are games with Manchester United (h), Ipswich (a), Fulham (h) and Wolves(a) to determine that final position.

Exciting stuff to look forward to but, for now, our game by game search for the top five players of the season.

As always, 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 33 (vs Brighton)

1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Bryan Mbeumo
He’s not been in the top five as much as normal in recent weeks, but Bryan was back to his brilliant best.

Two goals and an assist speak volumes. The opener taken with all the confidence of a player who knows he is having the season of his life. The second may have taken a knock from Dunk but let’s be sure it was still going in, regardless.

He set Wissa up for his and could well have had ended up with more. Every pass seemed to find feet or open up opportunity. Every run packed full of that lung-busting energy we are so familiar with.

This was vintage Bryan with about as easy a star payer performance as it is possible to name.

2nd (4 points) – Keane Lewis-Potter
Whilst Bryan takes top honours, it wasn’t for want of trying from KLP.

You won’t see a better controlled and timed pass through the middle as the one to get the scoring under way. Truly it was as good as it gets. Thankfully, Bryan did it the justice it deserved.

Rewind a few minutes and the ball up to Schade to set up Wissa was just as sweet. It really did feel ‘and Wissa must score.. and he hasn’t scored.. and Verbruggen has saved’.

A ball that deserved way more than it got but, ultimately, remains one of many feathers in the cap of a player who has broken through in quite wonderful style this season.

This was the sort of afternoon he had. Foraging down the left as The Bees went in search of further goals. Working particularly well with Damsgaard in particular. Tackling back tirelessly when the Seagulls were scavenging for scraps.

His eventual substitution allowed Rico Henry a chance to do his thing and gave both players the opportunity for a hero’s reception.

3rd (3 points) – Yoane Wissa
Let’s not overly dwell on that earlier chance. It happens.

Instead, a game where he (as always) worked those socks off and gave everything for the team. His partnership with Bryan, forged in the ashes of Toney’s absence and eventual departure, remains as prolific as they come .

That’s 34 for the season now between the pair of them as Brentford are the only team to have two players in the Premier League top 10 goal scorer’s chart. The speed and reading of the game between them, as defence is turned into attack with rapier like precision and pace, the reason.

Wissa set up Bryan for Brentford’s second. The favour returned for our third. The partnership relying as much on intuition as awareness of each other’s strengths.

When Wissa is in this mood, the Bees are unstoppable.

4th (2 points) – Christian Norgaard
How fitting that it was the skipper to complete the rout.

He was everywhere in this game. Shutting out the opposition – as per – but really apparent as the player whom everything was flowing through. He even out-passed Mikkel Damsgaard, which is no small feat.

When he didn’t have the ball he was going out of his way to get it. Oh, that interception to stop Welbeck after Flekken’s mis-kick was almost Kayode on Saka levels of wonderful.

Yet ultimately, it will be the goal that was the talking point for most observers and why not? Leaping like a salmon to meet Jensen’s cross, it was made in Denmark but scored in TW8.

5th (1 point) – Mikkel Damsgaard
Here. There. Just about everywhere. Or however it is the song goes.

It was another Damsgaard masterclass of tackling, ball control and precision passing. He may not have got the goals or the assists that will be the talk of the Sunday papers but he still played a blinder.

When Damsgaard is on fire then so are the Bees. This was yet another example of his insatiable drive and ability.

2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Overall (after Matchweek 33)

All of which means that Mikkel Damsgaard is almost clear at the top of our tree. One more point in the next five games will make him our player of the season. Only KLP is in with a mathematical chance of catching him.

The broader question now being what happens with the rest, where everything is still wide open.

I wouldn’t want to have to try and split them up…

1st – Mikkel Damsgaard (90 points)
2nd – Keane Lewis-Potter (65 points)
3rd – Bryan Mbeumo (57 points)
4th – Christian Norgaard (56 points)
5th – Mark Flekken (55 points)