Brentford Player Ratings – Match Day 17

For the hosts, their most unenviable of records continued with the game ending in a tenth successive Premier League defeat. Two points from seventeen games (with visits to Liverpool and Manchester United next) does not bode well for even the most optimistic of supporters thinking the drop is something that can be avoided. They were beyond atrocious, and there’s fast becoming an almost grotesque fascination with just how far their statistical nightmare can stretch. Next in their sights is Aston Villa’s 2015-16 run of 11 successive defeats.

To be fair though, it wasn’t a scintillating performance from either side. At last, in the first half. Rather than go full tilt to avoid away defeat for what would only be the second time all campaign, Keith Andrews chose to leave Mikkel Damsgaard and Jordan Henderson on the bench. Igor Thiago was fit and started but cut a lonely figure up top as supply to the final third was what we could politely term ‘limited’.

Despite the Bees dominating play, they had still failed to manage a shot by the 35-minute mark with an XG ranking of ‘0’ compared to that of the hosts ‘0.12’. Minutes later KLP’s working space in the box before firing on target but comfortably saved by José Sá, the only real chance I can recall The Bees making.

It was one for the record books only by the time they went in at the break. Moments of inspiration or actual chances as thin pickings as Tiny Tim’s Christmas dinner. Brentford unable to think or play their way past hosts whose talent to misplace passes was on a par with their inability pick up points. Yet the scores were still level and there was always the thought that this was but a mere miscued deflection away from turning in to an awkward defeat. It’s Brentford, innit?

Then half-time happened. Now it would be fair to say I didn’t agree with Keith’s initial setup beyond his playing 4-3-3 and selecting an actual left back at left back. For me, as a fan, start with your strongest. Look to play thorough the opposition – especially when the scent of blood is heavy in the air. Yet despite sticking with his starting XI, whatever he said at half-time clearly worked wonders. Whilst Wolves came out offering more of the same i.e. nothing, The Bees gave the impression that tea cups had been thrown, rockets administered to backsides and talkings to given.

Talk about a transformed approach. All of a sudden, they were breaking. Penetrating. Schade sitting much higher up alongside Thaigo but, more importantly, the ball being delivered into the danger zone. The German with two wonderful efforts to break the deadlock.

KLP’s cross met with a bullet like header and then Yarmoliuk’s ball in, also from the right, hit first time and surely a goal. Surely. Ah, there was that man Sá in nets once more, twice more, to preserve Wolves’ modesty. To somehow keep things level when the reinvigorated Bees had seemed set to open their account. Each time Wolves beyond grateful to their ‘keeper for somehow keeping things level.

With the hour mark just gone, it was predictable substitution time. Keith’s love of a 60th minute substitution up there with his somewhat peculiar-feeling use of the 88th-minute changeover. This time it was Damsgaard to come on in place of Jensen. With the pressure building it was crying out for him to push things over the edge yet before the change could be completed, the dam finally burst.

Vitaly Janelt, who had a cracking game, I have to say, playing a long diagonal into the box. KLP cutting in, letting it go over the last defender and then firing it back across Sá for 1-0. The noise from the travelling support as loud as the omnipresent feeling of business as usual from the home side. Wolves giving the England cricket team a run for their money in the inevitability stakes.

On pushed the Bees. Damsgaard, now on the pitch, coming close after another fine ball in from Yarmoliuk. An almost carbon copy of that which set up the opener. The Bees continuing to dominate play and, eventually, the lead was doubled.

Again, it was KLP who proved the most unexpected of target men. Damsgaard the provider after fine work in the build-up from him and Yarmo in chasing lost causes. In winning back the ball from a team who by this stage looked so nervous and fragile they barely knew what to do with it. So lost that when they did have it that they ended up half a yard off the pace. It was all that Brentford needed. KLP timing his run to perfection and once again, hitting back across Sá when the Dane’s delivery reached him.

2-0 Brentford and surely, now, game over? Nothing could go wrong from here with Wolves all but out for the count and just 7(seven) minutes on the clock. That is, until Matt Doherty was adjudged to have been fouled by Kelleher in the box. There were few complaints, to be fair, but the late lifeline of a penalty kick had Brentford buttocks clenched. As Jorgen Strand Larsen lined up to take aim, there was a simultaneous cry of “bottom left” from the North stand observer and I watching the game together.

Sure enough, the Norwegian hit it towards his favoured area, right into the zone of saveability. Kelleher, timing his dive to perfection and pulling off a wonderful stop. Wonderful, as much as anything else, because that was the final nail in the coffin. Instead of having to endure a kitchen sink period of stress during time added on, The Bees were able to see it out in utter comfort. Any thoughts of a last-gasp comeback dispelled in that moment.

It ended 2-0. The awful away sequence ended in style, albeit there aren’t the words to describe how out of form, ghastly and utterly despondent Wolves were. A mere smattering of ad-hoc resistance snuffed out by a Bees team who continued to build and were well worthy of the win that came. Keith Andrews seeing his team move above Saturday’s visitors, Bournemouth, and just six points off fourth placed Chelsea in what remains the tightest of mid-table zones.

With Thomas Frank and his hapless Spurs team (another defeat and two red cards against Liverpool not boding well) due in the game after, who knows what could be built on this base as we welcome in the new year.

That’s all ifs and maybes though. For now, our regular 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 (five points) Keane Lewis-Potter: This one is about as clear as it comes.

I thought KLP was magnificent. One forgets he was originally bought as an attacking midfielder, such is the comfort with which he has made the emergency wingback role he was thrust into by Thomas Frank his plat du jour.

The player who has historically done everything but score (who could forget Bournemouth the other season?) made up for that in some style. The first half chance stopped by Sá suggested he had the taste for goal and even though denied, was noteworthy for the way he created the opportunity in the first instance.

In the second half, it all changed in the most delightful way possible. Both finishes were delivious. Wonderfully hit. Perfectly placed. The run to reach the ball timed to perfection. The patience to wait, equally so. The expression on his face showing just what it meant. A steely determination writ clear as he celebrated with his fellow Bees.

With Dango out on AFCON duty, KLP has been handed a wonderful opportunity to cement his position. A chance for a consolidated run rather than being chopped, changed or brought off the bench. Bring on Bournemouth to see how he goes next…..

2nd (four points) Vitaly Janelt: No Jordan? No worries.

Now its true we missed the England captain’s delivery, but Vitaly was quite formidable sitting in the middle. Even moreso as the game progressed.

It would be absolutely fair to say that things started slowly, for everybody. However, by the point we reached full-time, Vitaly was responsible for most tackles made, most passes played and most balls delivered into the box. Six crosses including that scintillating delivery to set up KLP for the opener.

Kept going to the very end. Never letting up and even earning a 90th-minute yellow card for his troubles, such was the determination to see out the game

3rd (three points) Caoimhín Kelleher: In a game with all the hallmarks of potato skin placed in front of Brentford, Caoimhín did quite brilliantly to make sure that it was as regulation a win as it eventually transpired.

Make no mistake, whilst Wolves had only a handful of chances they could well have found the net on more than one occasion. We’d likely be telling a very different story this morning had that happened.

His first half stretch to divert David Møller Wolfe’s opportunistic lofted effort was reminiscent of vintage Mark Flekken. Albeit with the ball pushed clear rather than floating over him. He was quick off his line in the second, thrusting himself into the heart of danger zone when the ball was hoisted forwards. For a moment it looked like anything could happen but the danger was nullified as fast it had arisen.

Then there was the penalty save. True, he’d been the one who transgressed but it could be argued that had he not dived in – and it still looked like he got hands to the ball first before taking out his countryman – then The Bees could have been equally at risk. Regardless, another cracking stop summed up his, and Wolves’, afternoon.

A fourth top-three appearance in four games for Caoimhín. With Jordan and Sepp playing so well at present, perhaps we should go shopping at Anfield more often. I hear they may have an Egyptian chap become available soon.

4th (two points) Yehor Yarmoliuk: A three-way battle for the final two spots, in my opinion. Matthias Jensen played well but misses out, this time.

Like Vitaly, I thought Yehor gave a non-stop display from start to finish. The only player from, with respect to the others, our first-choice central trio and he showed why. Set up one goal. Could have supplied a second. Delivery to make Postman Pat turn green.

5th (one point) Mikkel Damsgaard: Came off the bench just as it turned 1-0.

Made an immediate impact as The Bees looked to put this one to bed. Could have had a goal himself although eventually set up the second for KLP. An outcome that was as much due to his and Yehor’s tenacity and fight.

All of which means that heading into the game with Bournemouth, our top five are now clear of the chasing pack. Damsgaard and Kelleher the only two in this group to score points this time around, making the fight with Michael Kayode (not one I’d want to step between) all the more intriguing

• 1st Michael Kayode – 37 points
• 2nd Igor Thiago – 29 points
• 3rd Jordan Henderson – 28 points
• 4th Mikkel Damsgaard – 25 points
• 5th Caoimhín Kelleher – 24 points