2026/27 Brentford Player Ratings – Matchday 3

The game was an almost carbon copy of last weekend’s at Elland Road with the visitors dominating the first half and even taking the lead (until VAR intervened. This time). The momentum then changing in the second period with the hosts dominating before things eventually finished all square. Whilst the scoring sequence was slightly different, Keith Andrews may well be feeling frustrated about another similarity to that draw with Leeds – the conceding of an equaliser around the 80-minute mark.

However, this time around it could well be argued there was plenty to complain about after referee Thomas Bramall decided Keane Lewis Potter was guilty of holding Wilson Isidor in the box. To those watching in the stands, it felt about as soft as they come – at best, six of one – but with KLP not looking at the ball as the players grappled, it was the Brentford man adjudged to be at fault. Irony of ironies, up stepped Enzo Le Fée to have a go at beating Kelleher.

Few of us could forget last season’s woeful effort from the spot, with one North Stand observer opining, “The last thing anybody will expect is another Panenka”. Sadly, Le Fée wasn’t that stupid. The ball fired to the right and Kelleher’s net breached. 1-1 and that’s how the game finished.

A result that felt a bit harder to take given the performance of the referee over the course of the game. His stall being set out early with a free kick awarded after Michael Kayode’s flimsiest of accidental contacts to Nilson Angulo’s neck. Something even Keith would acknowledge at full-time, noting:

“I have to be a little bit careful here. Overall, I didn’t love the decisions today” before, perhaps surprisingly, adding that he didn’t have too many qualms with the penalty.

Yet for long periods of the 90 minutes it seemed as though the Bees could be looking at another three points. KLP making space in the box to find himself completely unmarked for the first real chance of the afternoon. His pick-up from a well-worked short corner lashed goalwards but deflected away. The visitors then waking up and taking a stranglehold on a game with a set-up that, if we’re being honest, Brentford struggled with.

The deadlock broken just 7(seven) minutes in. Dan Ballard firing home, only to see his effort eventually chalked off by VAR after Kevin Danso’s advanced position was deemed to be obstructing Kelleher. It was a bold, albeit ultimately correct, decision and whilst the Spurs loanee may not have touched it, he was blocking. Timothy Wood at Stockley Park determining the goalie’s closer, Kevin Danso.

Had it stood, there would have been uproar given as the free-kick played to Ballard had only been awarded following the aforementioned Kayode ‘foul’. Brentford rescued but rather than taking advantage, were then forced to weather a first-half storm of pressure from seemingly sockless Sunderland.

Le Fée’s rising piledriver leaving hearts in mouths as it smashed against the post. Next up it was the turn of substitute Jannik Schuster, on for calf-strain victim Nathan Collins after just 17 minutes, blocking a goal-bound effort after the right channel had been exploited. Noah Sadiki also profiting from a ball down the right, only to be denied by another deflection – albeit from one of his own players.

Brentford, by contrast, offering little as they kicked towards the West Stand. The eventual arrival of half-time greeted as much with relief as anything else. The game all square and Keith now with a chance to get in front of his team.

Wow, What a difference a chat makes. ‘Its good to talk’ has never been truer. A catch-up and a triple change making an immediate impression with Igor Thiago and then Jaidon Anthony having chances before Vitaly Janelt did it again.

Lurking on the edge of the box he returned Nordi Mukiele’s headed clearance straight back with interest. His first-time shot bending high into the roof of the net . 1-0 Brentford and whatever had gone before now irrelevant. It was the Bees with the lead and just a half-hour to go.

Both teams pushed goalwards and Mr Brobbey denied by Mr Kelleher. Vitaly earning another yellow after being deemed to have impeded Ballard in the danger zone. Then it was Brentford’s turn once more. KLP might have done better with a ball played to him in the middle before The Bees doubled their lead on the 70th minute. Thiago’s ball in only half cleared and there was Jaidon Anthony to bundle home as Robin Roefs attempted to smother.

Yes!!! 2-0 Brentford. Noooooo , 1-0 Brentford. VAR intervening to deny a goal for the second time. Roefs deemed to have two hands on the ball as Anthony fired home and, as such, a foul committed. It all happened so fast that my gut feel was it should have stood but subsequent replays suggesting he may have been technically ‘in control’, even if it was milliseconds before the Brentford winger had made the crucial contact.

A gut-wrenching call and one made worse by what happened next. Kelleher’s magnificent save from Isidor’s free-kick ultimately proved nothing more than the calm before the penalty storm. Moments later, Le Fée was given his chance from the spot and made no mistake this season.

1-1 and there it ended. A non-stop see-saw game with both sides probably feeling they could have won it but ultimately, cliché alert, the draw probably a fair result.

Next up, a trip to Bournemouth, but for now, the regular look at our top five player ratings from this one. Five points awarded for star player, four for second, three for third etc. The overall winner of our player-of-the season then determined after game 38, when the final tallies are confirmed.

Star player (5 points) Jannik Schuster

Welcome to the Premier League, Jannik. What a way to make an entrance with the Bees under the cosh, only level thanks to VAR and the skipper having just gone off injured. One hopes that’s a short-term thing given the recent sale of Ethan Pinnock and current absence of Sepp van den Berg.

Yet this was an afternoon which served to remind Bees’ fans that we’ve just increased our options in this position. Jannik really was superb. He looked confident, assured and made a defensive situation that could have turned into a nightmare anything but. He and Kris bossing the backline in a pair up that we are likely to see again in the coming weeks.

Being honest, one could make a case for any of this week’s top four to be star player. It was the first time this season that a few players have struggled to get into a game and whilst Keith made the right calls at half-time to redress that situation, Jannik’s introduction was enforced. There was no 15-minute build-up or tactical reassessment. No regrouping as a unit.

Instead, he was chucked into the deep end but very much swum when others might have sunk.

Second (4 points) Vitaly Janelt 

Another goal , another yellow card and another appearance in our top five. Vitaly set out his credentials early on when Sunderland were in the ascendancy. The stand-in captain leading by example and throwing himself into everything. It was a crucial period in the game – more so given Sangaré’s yellow on the half-hour. As the game progressed, his influence grew. Statistically, he made more tackles than anyone else in red and white. Passes, likewise, barring Kris Ajer.

His goal was a cracker. Exploiting space on the edge of the box offered up by a deep-lying defence (just as Spurs had done to allow the Bees to score the previous home game), the finish left Roefs no chance.

Sure, he was booked. It was another iffy decision from the ref but, equally, let’s just say that Vitaly is fully committed to the cause. Even just from his reaction!

Third (3 points) Caoimhín Kelleher

Another game where his presence has been game-changing. That the Bees are still unbeaten in all competitions is as much down to him as anybody else. Having a safe and reliable pair of hands something that is as calming to watch as it must be encouraging to play with. No more does the roulette wheel of decision-making spin as a ball is played over or a shot fired in.

His save from Brobbey straight after the Bees had finally taken the lead denying the visitors an immediate, morale-sapping way back into the game. The stop from FK from Isidor’s free kick, just after Brentford had been denied that second, a cracking save through a crowd with the ball moving at speed.

Once Le Fee decided to actually kick the ball this time, there was no chance with the penalty but he still kept his wits to the very end, ensuring another point on the board for Brentford.

Fourth (2 points) Aaron Hickey

Whatever was happening on the Brentford right, Aaron’s arrival at half-time reaped immediate reward.

From Sunderland feeling as if they could attack at will down that flank, now the boot was on the other foot. Brentford pushing up, to coin a phrase. The Black Cats being stopped dead in their tracks when attempting to repeat what they had done in that opening period.

Kept his attention to the very last when Brobbey looked clear to advance on goal at the death. The Brentford man holding his position, refusing to dive in with anything reckless and forcing his opponent out of contention as he drifted wide

Fifth (1 point) Keane Lewis-Potter

A potentially debatable choice. After all, KLP was responsible for the penalty call after letting his attention wander from the ball to his opponent. I still think Isidor made the most of it – that’s football – but what can you say?

Yet his other defensive work was super solid. His breaking down the left equally so. Perhaps what stood out as much as anything else was his again forcing himself into the middle of the attacking zone to become as much a poacher as a provider.

On another day, one of the chances he took would have gone in, but with the Bees looking to shoot from all areas, his growth as a player is only something they’ll benefit from

All of which means that after match-week three, our star-player table closes up further with Sangaré and Schade failing to chart for the first time this season. Vitaly Janelt moves into the lead, although he’s going to need to keep a careful eye on those yellow cards.

Next up, the trip to Bournemouth. With the league table currently seeing some unexpected teams at the business end, long may the unbeaten run continue…

Positions after match-week 3

• 1st Vitaly Janelt 10 points
• 2nd Mamadou Sangaré 8 points
• 3rd = Kevin Schade 6 points
• 3rd = Keane Lewis-Potter 6 points
• 5th = Caoimhín Kelleher 5 points
• 5th = Jannick Schuster 5 points