Brentford Player Ratings – Matchday 27

Instead, they were left with the consolation of waking up on Sunday morning to find themselves still ‘only’ in seventh. The higher positions still well within touching distance, but nobody looking to gloss over what was a strangely subdued performance after the higher tempo football of recent weeks.

Perhaps it was a case of ‘After the Lord Mayor’s show’ following the stonking display against Arsenal and cup progression up at Macclesfield. Whatever the explanation, The Bees, missing the drive and strength of Michael Kayode, looked a shadow of the side that had risen to the top of the Premier League form table in the last ten games. 20 points earned over that period, a stunning record, but a total they were unable to add to against a Brighton side whose form coming into this one had been the polar opposite.

Ah, there you go. A demonstration once more that past performance and expectation of victory count for nothing once the game kicks off. It all comes down to who wants it more. Who is set up for the win. Who can adapt to the situation? Sadly, on this occasion, The Bees fluffed their lines in all three categories.

Sure, they missed Kayode. That driving force from the right back position apparently picking up a knock in training, but one man does not make a team. Especially at Brentford, where Keith Andrews’ side are so much about the collective effort. Besides, Keith moved quickly to try and change things over. The head coach making switches at half-time rather than waiting for his usual changeover point on the hour. Schade and Yarmo coming on for KLP and Vitaly, respectively. The pair followed 20 minutes later by Mikkel Damsgaard.

Yet, sadly, there was no real change in a game that had seen the Bees go in 2-0 down at half-time. Diego Gómez reacting quickest after Ferdi Kadioglu had seen a speculative curling effort from distance almost become goal of the season. Brentford momentarily saved by the crossbar, but Gómez in space and making no mistake. Kelleher in nets powerless to resist after already having denied the visitors, Mitoma in particular, on several occasions.

It got worse for The Bees. The arrival of Nathan Collins for the injured Aaron Hickey just before half-time was followed by the visitors doubling their lead just forty-five seconds later. A ball played over, and Collins struggling to adjust his position to clear it. The waiting Danny Wellbeck unable to believe his luck as the Brentford centre-back wafted a leg at the ball. The chance gobbled up by the veteran striker, and Brentford going in with a mountain to climb. Sadly, they left the ropes and crampons back in the changing room.

Only the late appearance of Romelle Donovan injecting any threat. Speculative first-half chances for Jensen and Janelt, along with Thiago being wonderfully released by Henderson before blazing over as close as Brentford got. The second half saw even slimmer pickings. Damsgaard’s tame lob straight at, rather than over, Brighton ‘keeper Bart Verbruggen when clean through the only one that sticks in the memory. Albeit the goalie had to be on his toes moments later to spare Joël Veltman’s blushes. Verbruggen’s save from almost point-blank range somehow denying his own defender what would have been an unfortunate own goal.

The sad truth is that an opposition own-goal, being the closest Brentford came, summed up the performance in a nutshell. Brighton wanted it more. Were faster. Sharper. Looking to move it forwards. The Bees, by contrast, reverting to that early-season tactic of passing it backwards, sideways, and up the other flank before repeating the move again. Ten steps taken to go one forwards. Even with the game entering the final ten minutes, a free kick awarded inside the Brighton half was still played backwards.

There you go. Well played, Brighton. Frustration from and for Brentford. There’s no whining about losing a game that The Bees didn’t really show up to, whatever the reason. Instead, we have to be content with the bigger picture of just how much has been achieved already and, more importantly, everything that is still on offer this campaign. One game won’t define the season. How Brentford respond with just eleven games and an FA Cup run to go, will. Starting at relegation-haunted Burnley on Saturday.

Until then, our ongoing search for Brentford’s player of the season and the top five player ratings from this game. Five points awarded for star player, four for second, three for third, etc., etc. The overall winner determined after game 38 when the final tallies are confirmed.

Star player (five points) Rico Henry. Defended well for most of the game. More importantly, was one of the few players who looked to at least provide some impetus going forward. Tireless up the wing, but it was hard for Brentford to build much when they were so far off the pace.

If everyone else was 6-7 out of 10, Rico at least came closer to an 8.

2nd (three points) Romelle Donovan A cameo role only, after being given less than a quarter hour, including time added on. Did enough in that period to at least suggest some form of fightback. To show that there was somebody out there prepared to run at his opponent and try to get the ball into the box.

We all know he’s very much one for the future. That he is being slowly fed into the side, much like Yarmo was last season. No matter how frustrating the overall performance of the team was, at least this glimpse of what we have to come was a silver lining.

3rd (three points) Mathias Jensen. He tried. ‘Shooooot’ exhorted the crowd in the first half when the ball was given away by Brighton, and he found himself staring down the barrel of the goal from distance. At least he obliged, even if the end product was statistically predictable.

Did what he could on a grim afternoon all round. At least looked threatening on set piece delivery – corners and throw-ins where he picked up the baton from Kayode – but it just wasn’t to be this time.

4th (two points) Caoimhín Kelleher Kept Brentford alive in the first half. Was powerless to resist either goal, and once the second went in, The Bees were left with a mountain to climb. On an afternoon where, in truth, only one side looked like scoring, Caoimhín stopped a regulation defeat turning into something that could have been way heavier. With the possibility of goal-difference proving crucial in May, even in defeat, he might have helped us longer-term.

5th (one point) Aaron Hickey Yarmo. Sepp. Kris. You could make a case for a few names as worthy of hitting the top five. I’ll give it to Aaron, as much as anybody else, he tried and didn’t do anything wrong, per se. Got injured – wasn’t his fault – but was playing well up until that point.

What can you do? The Bees now in the position of dusting themselves down, boxing this one off, and going back to what they know they can do when travelling to Burnley on Saturday.

All of which means Michael Kayode remains in top spot despite not playing, although we have a new entrant in the top five. Take a bow, Rico Henry.

1st Michael Kayode. 46 points

2nd Igor Thiago. 45 points

3rd Caoimhín Kelleher. 35 points

4th Mikkel Damsgaard. 30 points

5th= Vitaly Janelt. 29 points

5th= Rico Henry. 29 points