Brentford Player Ratings – Matchday 21

The Bees were at their scintillating best as they continued the fine form seen against Everton at the weekend. Another two goals for Igor Thiago, along with a first-ever for Yehor Yarmoliuk, helped move Keith Andrews’ side firmly into European contention.

Likewise, within a single point of the fourth Champions League spot. Only Liverpool (who play at leaders Arsenal on Thursday), Manchester City, and Aston Villa sit above them.

Whilst, of course, there is still a long way to run in this race, one can only pay tribute to the relentless approach of The Bees. Keith again confounding those who like to pick the team with Rico Henry and KLP replacing Aaron Hickey and Mikkel Damsgaard from that win at the Hill Dickinson.

Jordan Henderson also left on the bench, although coming on to a rousing reception later in the game. His team going for it from the start, with Jensen in particular running around the place as though he’d been given clear instruction to go ‘full tilt’ and burn himself out.

With the current strength of the bench, it is a shrewd strategy and, indeed, he might have even grabbed a goal for himself in that opening period after setting off on a quite wonderful box-to-box run.

Greed would have been the better option as he cut into the six-yard box, but, alas, his pass across came to nothing.

Instead, it was Igor Thiago who was to get things going for Brentford on the half-hour mark. Vitaly Janelt playing an absolute peach of a defence-splitting through ball. The sort of thing we normally see from Jordan.

Thiago, as always, timing his run to perfection as three defenders were left trailing in his wake. A wonderful extra touch and move to work the angle going round ‘keeper Robin Roefs, and there was no let off. 1-0 Brentford, and, you have to say Clive, it had been coming.

On pushed The Bees. The midfield running riot but not quite able to work the next goal. KLP’s free kick on to the bar just before half-time about as close as Brentford came. The crowd, nonetheless, buoyant as the teams came in. Keith’s weapon of choice serenaded off the pitch in appropriate style by DJ MC Matthew Benham.

In truth, it had felt a bit like the Everton game. That’s no bad thing, of course but, by the same virtue, one where The Bees had gone in with a single goal lead despite making several goal-worthy chances.

In days gone by, a situation where they may have lived to regret things, and on this occasion, it almost happened. Instead, the visitors spurned the opportunity in the most hilarious fashion.

Kris Ajer adjudged to have brought down Brobbey in the box, and referee Matt Donohue, whose own performance very much unwound in the second period, left no real choice but to award a penalty kick.

Caoimhín Kelleher between the sticks, Brentford’s last hope of salvation. He’s been on fine form this season when facing the spot kicks, but not even he could have expected what came next.

Enzo Le Fée stepped up. Kelleher holding his nerve rather than diving early. The Sunderland player already committed to his approach, which turned out to be the world’s worst panenka.

The ball gently chipped straight down the middle for Kelleher to pull of the simplest of catches. Kudos to our man for not moving early to keep out a penalty that even my cat could have stopped.

It was a game-changing moment. Instead of the worst sound in football – the muffled cheer from celebrating opposition support – there was a more unusual one. Namely that of our own joy intermingled with uproarious laughter.

It was that comedic a moment, with the pain felt by our visitors compounded almost immediately. The Bees slipped through the gears with almost effortless ease to really turn the screw.

First up, Thiago again. He’d already lined up Schade, only for the German to see his shot cannon to safety off the bar. It was all but the most temporary of reprieves for The Black Cats.

Jensen picking it up, playing the ball back in, and this time the service was reversed. Schade heading it back across for Thiago, who made no mistake. 2-0 Brentford.

Holy hot streak, Batman. His header straight Robin made it five goals in two games, and with it, breaking the record for the most Premier League goals by a Brazilian in a season.

The relief, given what could have come just minutes earlier, tangible. Sunderland had gone from almost delivering a knockout blow to now being dead on the ropes.

“Its all your fault,” sang the West stand as The Bees kept going at Roefs. Within ten minutes, it was 3-0. Jensen’s corner into a crowded penalty box lashed home by Yarmo. Wow. His first goal for The Bees in 90 games. The celebrations immense, and that was just Thiago who looked as pleased for his team-mate as we all did.

“Feeling quite emosh,” opined one fan as the most lovely of celebrations continued. Talk about team spirit. We’d already seen Keith Andrews running full tilt down the touchline, Mourinho style, to celebrate in the corner and now this.

On went Brentford. The scent of blood is now heavy in the water. Damsgaard lighting it up and coming close himself. Then, with the end in sight, he played the filthiest of chipped passes through to Reiss Nelson.

The Arsenal loanee almost making it 4-0 but instead seeing his effort go just wide of the post. It would have been up there as goal of the season had the ball gone in, but sadly, not tonight, Josephine.

Who cares, though? A 3-0 win for the Bees about as emphatic as they come. “Its a long way back to Sunderland in a ship, taunted the West stand.

At least, I think that’s what they were singing. It’s hard to make out sometimes but how nice that we give travel advice along with the goals, goals, goals.

Joy further compounded by seeing Spurs self-destruct( purely for their own fans’ meltdown), Man U being hed at Burnley to allow us past, and then Leeds United fall apart. Again. A top, top night all round

Ok. Top five time. Our game-by-game search for Brentford’s 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) Igor Thiago. Star man at Everton, and he’s done it again.

Being honest, this felt a really tough decision to make as he was by no means alone in having an absolute blinder. However, it’s a cliché as old as time itself, but goals win games, and he got two of them. Both of the highest quality.

The movement, positioning, and patience to score his first cannot be praised high enough. This really was the mark of a player in peak form and knowing enough about his own ability to pick out the spot rather than snatch at it.

The second was seeing him initially turn provider before making the space, slipping into the role of poacher and leaving Roefs stranded.

There’s so much more to his game than just goals, though. More than pulled his weight at the back when helping hold back a Sunderland team who gave it their best shot. This wasn’t one-way traffic. Likewise, his partnership with Schade one that continues to flourish. The interplay between the pair of them a joy to behold.

Whatever Keith is doing on the training ground clearly working wonders. That season opener at Nottingham Forest feels like a lifetime ago. Fair to say we’ve all come a long way since then.

2nd (four points) Vitaly Janelt We remarked in the Everton column how Vitaly had ‘only’ been award third place.

It feels much the same today with his second. Igor was magnificent, but Vitaly was hanging on his coat tails. Another 90 minutes for a man who has been a constant in this side over the last few weeks. It is no coincidence that our step up in form has coincided with his own presence.

Seriously, he was SO good last night. Most tackles, most passes, and only Jensen delivering more crosses. Vitaly was everywhere and having the game of his life. The ball to set up Igor’s opener one you could watch again and again. Perhaps with a box of tissues to hand, given how he caught Sunderland cold.

Awesome work, Vitaly. How good to have him back.

3rd (three points) Yehor Yarmoliuk. If second was tough, third was equally so.

Like Vitaly, I thought Yehor was absolutely bossing it in the centre of the park. He works so hard. So intensely. So energetic. Whether running through the middle or pushing out wide.

To see him score in front of the West stand an absolute pleasure. The celebrations that came with it from the team telling you just what it meant. Just how unified this side are. Very much one for all and all for one.

4th (two points) Rico Henry The king is back. Long live the king. Surely, now, Rico is unassailable as our first-choice left-back. That’s meant with the greatest respect to KLP, Kris Ajer, Aaron Hickey, and, I seem to recall, even Saman Ghoddos.

Many have tried to fill in over his lengthy injury spell, and whilst we still have more than capable alternatives, nobody can quite do it like Rico when he is on his game. Wednesday evening was one of those.

One mazy run in the second half was, like the aforementioned Jensen opportunity, one where perhaps he may have shot. It would have been another crack at goal of the season had he done so.

Instead, we had to be content with defensive solidity and the left flank on lockdown to a level not seen since the days of COVID. Not to mention his ability to turn defence into attack at the drop of a hat.

I’ve no doubt Keith will keep rotating – it’s what he does – but Rico blitzed it last night.

5th (one point) Caoimhín Kelleher Tough calls, of the nicest sort.

I thought Mathias played really well, yet again. Likewise, Kayode was brilliant whilst Nathan combined solidity with his own share of pushing forward through the centre.

I’m giving it to Caoimhín for another clean sheet, another night of ‘safe hands’, his fast distribution and, of course, ‘that’ penalty save. Sure, it was served up on a plate, but it still needed balls of steel to hold his nerve and wait.

Had he been beaten, we may well be telling a different story today. Instead, we are left to reflect on the quite brilliant sight of his catch and then ‘thumbs up.’

Please. Stop it, Caoimhín. You’re killing me. Actually, please don’t. More of the same at Chelsea will be quite fine.

All of which means that going into our next league game, at Stamford Bridge, Michael Kayode has been overtaken at the top of our table. Caoimhín moves up to third, but equally telling, Yarmo and Rico are now closing the gap on our top five.

We’ve got the FA Cup next and then the chance to further stretch our lead as the top dogs of West London football at Chelsea. Bring it on and see you there

1st Igor Thiago. 43 points
2nd Michael Kayode. 38 points
3rd Caoimhín Kelleher. 29 points
4th Jordan Henderson. 28 points
5th Mikkel Damsgaard. 27 points