2025-26 Brentford Player Ratings – Matchweek 2

A 1-0 victory saw a debut goal for Dango Ouattara with just 12 minutes on the clock. Thiago flicking on from halfway to the Brentford record signing who broke clear. The combination of electric pace and physical strength seeing him break into the box, where Emi Martinez could only parry away his goal-bound effort.

There was to be no mistake from the follow-up – calm as you like, he guided it back from the direction it had come and into the back of the net. Ouattara up and running. Dango unleashed.

For fans who have become used to seeing their team playing it out of the box from goalkeeper to central defenders then passing it up field, this was very much a marked contrast. Kelleher hoisting it up, Thiago getting under it and the new man running clear. It was a much more direct style but it worked.

From there, the Bees felt and looked comfortable. In large part, due to having the right players in the right positions. KLP restored to left wing back. Jordan Henderson starting this one in his rightful position. Schade likewise (albeit last week’s omission as much due to coming back from injury).

Most important of all, the return of Mikkel Damsgaard. He missed out at Forest for personal reasons but what a relief to see him back in action. His strike for Brentford’s second goal, just minutes before half-time, absolutely magnificent.

He caught the ball so sweetly that Martinez has no chance as it thundered through a crowded box to send the home crowd wild. A howitzer of an effort that would have been a deserving goal of the month contender, had it not then been chalked off for an apparent infringement on the Villa ‘keeper by Nathan Collins.

From my perspective, I saw nothing at the time. Subsequent viewing has shown that the player was pressuring the ‘keeper, but one that really felt nothing more than two players going for the ball in a crowded box. However, Martinez made sure the ref knew about it, pulling a face like Kenneth Williams confronted with a shapely matron, and from that moment on, Damsgaard’s frustration was sealed.

To be fair, the Brentford skipper could have sat down and had a cup of tea rather than going for the ball. Even completely unimpeded, there was simply no way the ‘keeper was getting anywhere close to that. It was a shot caught so exquisitely and fired home with such venom that it was only going one way.

C’est La Vie, as popular music’s B*Witched once sang. 1-0 up at half-time and Matthew Benham’s choice of ‘Paranoid’ as the walk-off track hopefully nothing more than a touching gesture to a man so intrinsically associated with our opponents.

The second half saw subs by numbers at the appropriate points. Henderson going off to a hero’s reception in the 60-70 zone. Replaced by Frank the Tank in order to maintain balance, rather than the further mismatch seen when they came on simultaneously last time out. Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey amongst those to also receive rousing receptions as they came through in the final ten minutes or so.

Whilst it felt as though the Bees very much ‘shut up shop’ it never really seemed as though they were under any real pressure. Villa having a colossal 76.1% possession when the full-time whistle eventually blew but, once again, a demonstration of the oft mentioned lesson that balls in the back of the net are the only stat that really counts. Indeed, I can only recall Kelleher making two saves of real note – both of those with his legs.

The great news is a win for Brentford and up to ninth in the fledgling table. The team seemed so much more balanced and connected. The challenge for Keith Andrews (the Wissa situation aside) is how to get the best out of Igor Thiago. He’s a menacing presence for sure and handy in a crowd but playing it long or fast for him is not, as it stands, the way to go. Even Damsgaard was sitting ahead of him for most of the game.

I’m sure we’ll all work it out and, ultimately, the last few seasons have shown us that Brentford are about scoring goals from all areas of the park. That said, give the front man some service he can feed from and it would be blitzkrieg football.

Until then, it’s time for 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 see who ends up the eventual winner after game 38.

1st (5 points) Michael Kayode

Absolutely magnificent from Michael on Saturday.He is the only player to make it into our top five who also picked up points in the horror show at Forest. This time around though, there was some serious competition for top slot but he earns it on merit.

We know his long throws and his strength but it was the skill with the ball at his feet. We’ve seen him tearing up the right wing before but this was almost Damsgaard-esque in an ability to beat players or ghost past them as though they weren’t even there.

When the ball was with Villa – which, let’s be clear was a lot- he was a beast to face. Virtually impossible to get past and solid as a rock in the challenge. Most of all, he seemed to be everywhere. Covering, challenging, breaking.

A virtuoso performance with Kayode just getting the edge in top slot as much through having to do so much work in our half.

2nd (4 points) Mikkel Damsgaard

If ever you needed to know how badly he was missed at Forest then here was the perfect demonstration.

To be fair, it was ‘that’ close between Mikkel and Michael for star player. If anything, perhaps Mikkel is the victim of his own success last season. We were so used to seeing him in first place that having other players match his standards perhaps makes them stand out more.

Being frank, first or second this was vintage Damsgaard. He was a genuine joy to behold with the ball at his feet. Inch-perfect passes. Smashing the cross count. Running through Villa with all the ease of a sixth former playing against the year 7 kids.

Then there was his ‘goal’. I’m still salivating over this on Sunday morning. Had it actually been given a decent look at by VAR rather than being ruled out directly then perhaps he’d have had it allowed to stand.

Alas, it wasn’t to be but the most important thing for Brentford being that Mikkel has picked up where he left off last season.

3rd (3 points) Jordan Henderson

Thank goodness he was picked from the off. What a game from the new number 6. He provided that much-needed stability in front of the back line that was so brutally exposed by its absence last time.

It’s one thing being given the chance but you still have to take it. Fair to say he did this by the bucketload. Calming. Guiding. Talking his way through the game. Cleaning up the danger and breaking up the threat. Not afraid to get stuck in and then playing it out

Already, it feels like we’ve picked up a player who is going to have an integral impact on how the season pans out.

4th (2 points): Nathan Collins

Then there’s Nathan. Colossal at the back. Outjumping everybody. Getting stuck in to everything. Let’s not pretend that Brentford didn’t come under pressure at times but it never felt as though The Bees were in genuine danger.

I thought he had a cracking game and led the backline like a captain should.

No criticism whatsoever to be pointed his way for the Damsgaard effort being denied. If anything, Kudos for challenging and going in for the ball. Unfortunately, it was against somebody wearing clown shoes.

Where’s Maupay when you need him….

5th (1 point): Dango Ouattara

What an introduction to life as a Brentford player. Played 1. Scored 1. Won 1.

The technique and timing to make the run for the game’s only goal something very special. The presence of mind to finish off the move equally so.

Let’s be honest, he probably wasn’t a player most of us were overly familiar with whilst that price tag caused a few eyes to water. Yet if this is what you get for the money then happy days. Bring it on and here’s to more of the same

All of which means that after Round 2 of fixtures, the current top five is:

1st Michael Kayode – 8 points
2nd Kevin Schade – 5 points
3rd= Mikkel Damsgaard – 4 points
3rd= Rico Henry – 4 points
5th Jordan Henderson – 3 points

Next up, the trip to newly promoted Sunderland. Anything could go there……