Suspension hit Brentford returned from Hull City with another point following Sunday’s 1-1 draw.
Despite the windy conditions and The Bees falling behind for the first time all season, it was a game where the more positive of the two sides eventually made the pressure count.
Dango Ouattara’s sixty third minute effort from close in negating Ollie McBurnie’s penalty kick to open proceedings for the home side midway through the opening period.
Oh, that penalty. There’s no legislating for a moment like that.
Ajer’s ball to Kelleher was risky as it was. Passing it across the face of the six-yard box with McBurnie lurking was a foolish decision.
The ‘keeper’s soft pass to Aaron Hickey then getting lost under pressure from Tim Iroegbunam and the player subsequently adjudged to have committed the ultimate transgression in trying to gain possession. McBurnie making no mistake from the spot and The Bees were behind.
Brentford not for the first time in the recent era guilty of, errr, messing about at the back. That’s the polite term, anyway.
Whether you choose a word starting with a T, a D or any other letter of the alphabet, it is a strategy which is bound to catch up eventually.
Sometimes, row Z will do. With opposition players closing in, there’s no shame in employing what we will politely describe as ‘vertical directness’ to find safety rather than take needless risk.
Heat of the moment, perhaps. The Bees back line play it around with such aplomb normally, that no matter how stressful it feels to watch, there’s generally no significant consequence. Not this time.
The hosts a goal up and playing like Arsenal. In as much as they had all eleven at the back and then hoovering the scraps. The closest Brentford coming when Thiago found himself in the way of Scahde’s effort from close in.
Albeit, one could argue the German’s shot was as much ‘hit it towards goal and hope’ rather than anything of genuine substance.
In many ways, half-time a relief. The Bees with a chance to regroup, knowing they were only 15 minutes away from the hour mark when the mandatory first changeover would be due to happen.
Sure enough, with the clock reading sixty, Keith consulted the tactics post-it note. Jaidon Anthony (why he wasn’t starting after last week I have no idea) and Mikel Damsgaard coming on for Hickey and Schade. Within a minute, the Bees were level.
Dango the poacher, making no mistake from close in. Anthony heavily involved in the build up with Igor Thiago eventually serving it up on a plate. Brentford all square and game on.
The game opening up a bit more with half-chances for both sides. Anthony coming closest for The Bees, flashing a drive from distance just wide.
Mohamed Belloumi and Mohamed-Ali Cho with good chances for Hull. Joe Gelhardt also putting the scare into the Brentford backline as we entered time added on.
The Bees, despite dominating possession and the shot count (57.6% and 14 respectively) rarely causing Tzolakis in nets significant consternation.
When they did, he was equal to it – Dango’s effort aside. To be fair, Gordon Banks would have been doing well to deny him from that position.
1-1 it finished. On the one hand, we’re now one-fifth of the season played with Brentford still unbeaten on the road and sixth in the Premier league. On the other it’s a twelfth draw out of the last eighteen games and a mere three victories over that period.
Perhaps I’m being overly critical given the league placing but it’s hard to see where the step up from here is. Where a couple of wins in close proximity, even one, will come from.
If Keoth continues in this vein then, eventually, the other teams will catch up and overtake. We’re only ahead of the three behind us by virtue of goal difference and a single point separates us from the next three.
Brentford aren’t losing but they aren’t winning. Leads are being thrown away. The head-coach’s relative inexperience at this level seeming more apparent with every passing game.
It takes more than simply saying ‘really’ a lot and banging on about character and personality to be a ‘next level’ coach.
Nobody can deny his passion or desire but turning those into something tangible is a step I’m sure he’s relishing.
This was another game where the stats showed that Brentford dominated but the net result ended up being something completely different. This, as much due to the selection, the set up and the lack of any consistent ball in to Thiago up top.
We’re talking problems of the nicest sort. The challenge here are as much in recognising the potential Brentford have and the fact that the team aren’t quite hitting it as yet.
Yes, sixth is impressive but they could so easily be in the bottom half of the table given that cluster of half a dozen teams snapping at Keith’s heels
.
We all know the Leicester City story. This time around, it is Brighton who are showing us that big money signings are not the be all and end all.
Shrewd acquisition, a well set up team and their great togetherness propelling the Seagulls to third in the table . Brentford are so close to being that team, too. Can Keith grasp the mettle?
Next up is a visit from those masters of the dark arts, Nottingham Forest, to see if we can push on. It’s a game I can’t wait for but until then, our usual top five player ratings.
Five points awarded for star player, four for second, three for third etc 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) Dango Ouattara Brentford’s best player by a country mile.
Obvious highlight was the fact he scored – it’s incredible what happens when we overload the box and play a decent ball in. Yet it was as much his work as the primary outlet that we need to recognise.
A constant threat down the wing , looking to then beat that deep (and plentiful) Hull City defence. For me, he was our best outlet and our best chance of doing something extra in this game.
I thought he had a slow start to the campaign but he’s definitely finding his feet once more. Second (4 points) Jaidon Anthony Why, oh why, didn’t Jaidon start?
He’s been in such impressive form the last few games and has slotted in to the Brentford set up serenely. Places need to be earned, I get it, but tough decisions also need to be made when picking a team.
His arrival in to the field of play was the spark that provided the equaliser. Kept on going, giving the Bees extra space on that side, but alas was unable to turn that one point in to three.
Third (3 points) Kris Ajer Yes, he was involved in the penalty incident but there was still plenty of chance for Brentford to go for the win if they’d wanted to.
Instead, we need to recognise that had one of those games of calm assuredness that he specialises in. Mopped up anything and everything whilst, as seems to be his ‘thing’ these days, perfected his own Forest Gump routine. Getting the ball in the deep and running.
It’s true, Brentford’s midfield deficit was of their own making after those two stupid suspensions but at least we had Kris to try and do his thing.
Fourth (2 points) Keane Lewis-Potter Again with KLP.
The man is everywhere and anywhere. Defending at the back or surging through the middle. Overlapping on the left or getting in the box to try and add to the carnage.
On an afternoon of, being honest, slimmer than usual pickings he was one of the players who stood out for me
Fifth (1 point) Mamadou Sangaré Michael Kayode came close whilst Mathias Jensen was frustratingly consistent in his inconsistency. So I’m going for Mamadou:
The player getting back to that early promise, first signposted in the Eintracht Frankfurt friendly (although, in retrospect, how truly out of sorts were they that day? Even. Ie, they are 14th out of 18 in the Bundesliga.
Sangaré was the pick of the midfield pack on what was a hard afternoon. Moreso in the absence of Vitaly and Yarmo.
All of which means the race for top of the Brentford pack is about as tight as it comes. Eight games down, thirty more to go and the chance for somebody to make a mark against Forest:
1st Kevin Schade 15 points
2nd= Caoimhín Kelleher 14 points
2nd= Keane Lewis-Potter 14 points
2nd= Kris Ajer 14 points
5th= Jannik Schuster 13 points
5th=Vitaly Janelt 13 points
Mamadou Sangare 8
Jaidon 3
Dango 0
Dango
Anthony
Ajer
KLP
Sangaré
Ouattara heads down the right, three Hull players go to him, Brentford players all run away expecting a cross. It’s 1 v 3! This is the basics of team sport coaching, you work as a team.
Seven players. One didn’t start and two are suspended for stupidit
