Brentford v Crystal Palace. A Premier League fixture that is starting to feel like one of those FA Cup ties from the 1980s. Games that would be replayed time and again if the scores were level at full time until one team eventually won or the other just collapsed through exhaustion.

More simply put, “Death, taxes, and drawing with Palace”.

Not my words but those of Brentford official on Twitter at full time. A line that appeared on the social media platform so close after the final whistle that even our own comms team must have been anticipating a fifth successive draw. Sure enough, a scoreline of 1-1 on Saturday afternoon means we are now entering Tony Hart and Neil Buchanan territory. Draw specialists.

The game was every bit as hard fought as it was always going to be. Palace were strong and physical. Not so much in the sense of a team trying to foul their way through but more in their own ability to hold position. To stand firm. To make it nigh on impossible for Brentford to penetrate.

A wonderfully organised side that, with our own options limited (Thomas Frank only electing / able to make two substitutions rather than his customary five) meant this was always going to be a tough nut to crack. Moreso given the ability of Eze on the ball when the opposition broke forward. As such, it was always going to take something special and my word, Kevin Schade delivered that by the bucketload eighteen minutes in to the game.

Christian Norgaard was the architect, playing a laser guided crossfield switch high to the left flank. The German burst on to the ball and drove towards the box at speed. Something we’ve seen him do so many times before yet this would end up differently. Would end up stylishly. Would end up with the Match of The Day team later resorting to the obligatory Smooth Operator pun being crowbarred in (not to mention a few more of Sade’s greatest hits). Come on Gary, that’s so last season.

With three defenders around him, it looked like Schade had run into a dead end but then he cut back in, ghosted alongside Joel Ward to open the gap and then curled it across the face of goal into the far side of the net. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone only able to watch it glide past him. The home support leaping to their feet as one.

The atmosphere cranked only further by his celebration. Arms aloft, channelling the spirit of Lloyd Owusu – something the Bees’ legend would later acknowledge.

It was a goal to light up any game and the with Brentford suddenly top of the Premier League in the ‘as it stands table’, surely this time the result would would be different? Brentford would kick on from here to three points rather than the obligatory one?

Alas not. The ominous rumble of thunder a few minutes later ushered in a rainstorm of biblical proportions. Lightning flashing all around the Gtech. This was less a case of the infamous leaky New Road guttering and more one of the first few rows having to flee for cover, such was the deluge that descended on TW8.

By the time it passed, half-time was upon us and although The Bees opened the second period at speed, we soon ran out of puff. Momentum gone and Thomas missing his usual trio of substitutes in Josh Dasilva (hamstring), Shandon Baptiste (dislocated shoulder and Mikkel Damsgaard (no word). Instead, the visitors took control and the equaliser that eventually came in the 76th minute had a feeling of inevitability about it.

Mark Flekken – who had single handedly kept us in the lead prior – and Nathan Collins perhaps getting in each other’s way, allowing Joachim Andersen’s softest looking of equalisers to somehow dribble through them and over the line. They all count though. The scoreline reading 1-1 and that’s how things stayed. Chances at an absolute premium and, in the end, as much a case of Brentford having to be content with an unbeaten start to the campaign.

Indeed, looking at the table on Sunday morning, The Bees are one of only six teams not to lose a game so far. Given we’ve not even completed game week three, that’s no mean feat and suggests it could be a very open season. Every point crucial for those teams looking to make progress.

For now, though, our regular post-match review of the top five performers as well as the ongoing quest to declare The Bees’ overall top performer. Five points being awarded for every ‘Star Player’ award, four for second place, three for third etc and then the totals counted up over the course of the season.

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 3 (vs Crystal Palace)

1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Kevin Schade
On a day that saw Diluvian levels of rain falling, could this be the moment that the floodgates open for Kevin? We’ve all seen the pace and skill on the ball from the German international so it was only a matter of time before he opened his account for The Bees.

Yet to do it in this style and with this level of confidence was next level. Few could deny we have an early contender for goal of the season and, on an afternoon of huge graft for The Bees with little tangible reward, this was the outstanding moment. It really was that special.

The goal aside, he didn’t stop running all game. Chances were like hen’s teeth but with Bryan shackled by a virtually impermeable defence, Kevin looked the most likely source of any further goals.

Sadly, it wasn’t to be but now he has his first then I have no doubt many more will follow. A trickle will become a flood. This, of all seasons, has to be the one where we rely on the collective attacking trio of Schade, Mbeumo and Wissa. So far, so good.

2nd (4 points) – Ethan Pinnock
Ethan missed out on our top five last week (the 3-0 defeat of Fulham) but, on reflection, he can consider himself very hard done by. Against Crystal Palace, he scoops a place on nothing more than merit.

Early challenges on Lerma and, in particular, Édouard set out a stall from which there was no looking back. He was everywhere in the middle and was blameless for the one goal we did concede (more on that to follow).

In a game where every inch of space was being closed down, the ability to play it out of defence was just as important as stopping the goals. Ethan’s pass rate was the highest of anybody on the pitch as Brentford looked to build from the back against dogged opposition.

3rd (3 points) – Mark Flekken
We’ve seen before how hard it can be in replacing David Raya – just look at what happened when Álvaro Fernández and Jonas Lössl had the unenviable task of acting as stand in.

Mark has already shown how solid he is as a one-on-one shot stopper but on Saturday we saw further strings to his bow. A trio of world class saves in the second half undoubtedly kept Brentford ahead.

First, a tip over from a blistering Édouard free kick. This was followed moments later by a stunning double to deny Lerma by the post and then Ayew from the rebound. Another of those huge blocks from point-blank range.

In the end, he was beaten by the most gentle of all Palace’s efforts but we’ve covered that one off already. Instead, let’s look at our own unbeaten start and the role Mark has had in getting there.

4th (2 points) – Christian Norgaard
Dominant in the midfield with the most tackles made of any Brentford player. Yes, we’ve come to expect this from Christian but in a game that felt as though it was played out in that central third, his role was essential.

Of course, we have to pay homage to his setting up the goal. It was a pass that travelled a good thirty yards on the diagonal to fall perfectly for the onrushing Schade to meet it at pace. If only Fantasy Football points could be scored for artistry as well as assists.

It was his showcase moment but the passes kept coming all game. Sitting in front of the defence it’s no surprise in a match of this nature but, equally, get them wrong and it would have been game over.

5th (1 point) – Nathan Collins
I thought about Aaron Hickey but, frankly, Nathan was magnificent. Again. Picking up where he left off against Fulham, his partnership with Ethan is fast becoming the bedrock of this Brentford team. The distribution node for much of our build up play and the shield of steel to protect Mark Flekken.

Which made the goal we did concede something of an ironic anomaly. Despite Nathan putting himself in harm’s way time and again, let’s politely call this one a communication issue as each player seemed to back off to allow the other to intercept Andersen.

It was a frustrating team moment but Nathan still did more than enough to justify a top five performance in a game that saw him once again lay early claim to Ben Mee’s crown.

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 3)

Which means that three games into 2023-24, our top five is as follows. Now bring on Bournemouth.

1st – Ethan Pinnock (8 points)
2nd – Bryan Mbeumo (7 points)
T3rd – Nathan Collins, Rico Henry (6 points)
T5th – Mathias Jensen, Kevin Schade (5 points)

Follow Nick on Twitter @NickBruzon