Magnificent Brentford have done it again. Nine points out of nine and a fifth successive top-flight defeat of West Ham.

Eight goals scored in the last three games. If this is deemed ‘tedious’ then sign me up for more monotony.

This time, a 3-2 triumph played out in front of a passionate crowd and under stormy skies. The thunderclouds across David Moyes face at full time very telling after his team spurned a glorious chance to put this one out of sight but, instead, paid the ultimate price.

Anybody solely reliant on the Match Of The Day highlights wouldn’t even have scratched the surface of a game that had it all. Moreso, given the paltry analysis that followed the action.

Brentford were spectacular from start to finish. The injury crisis that continues to grip the squad seeming to be nothing more than an inconvenience these days. Any prolonged mention of it an insult to those coming in.

This time around, Vitaly Janelt was once again pressed in to the left back berth he’d occupied against Burnley. Aaron Hickey absent and not even on the bench. The brave Mark Flekken, having to be swapped out for Thomas Strakosha during the interval after suffering a painful looking blow during a first-half coming together.

It made no difference to the desire and attacking intent of a Bees side lining up with two centre backs (Collins and Pinnock) along with the front three who did so well the last time we were all together at the Gtech. The tactic worked a treat.

Despite the scare of having to kick ‘the wrong way’ (and an early slip from Flekken on the heavily watered pitch that almost gifted the visitors an opener before his wonderful recovery) it took little more than ten minutes for Brentford to find the back of the net.

Who else but Neal Maupay to open his second Brentford account? A succession of cleared crosses into the box eventually saw Frank Onyeka shoot down rather than forwards, with the ball rising perfectly to reach Neal Maupay on its upward trajectory. The striker’s deft header sufficient to guide it past Alphonse Areola in nets for the opener.

The celebration – from player, fans and team alike – telling us all just what this one meant. As if we didn’t know.

1-0 up and game on. The Bees in the ascendency then caught not once but twice to find themselves trailing with less than a half-hour played.

First up, Mohammed Kudus with bicycle kick that seemed to defy gravity. His most sumptuous of connections leaving Flekken no hope and a finish that will rival Saman Ghoddos against Burnley (one presumes) when the goal of the season votes are tallied up in May. Credit to that man – and equal amounts to us for avoiding the obvious wordplay.

Minutes later they had the lead. This time, Jared Bowen finding the back of the net to end a move that had seen Kudus’ initial effort hit the post.

Urghh. Hearts sank but anybody fearing the worst, thinking ‘It’s Brentford, innit?’ clearly hasn’t been watching this team. Clearly hasn’t felt the motivation and confidence which is surging through them. Moreso, when we were offered the reprieve to end them all.

With the Bees carved open, Said Benrahma was presented the clearest of chances to give the Hammers a 3-1 lead. As the ball was played over beyond Flekken, all he had to do was tap it in to the unguarded goal from yards out. It was that clear cut an opportunity the inevitable had already been declared.

That is until Michail Antonio intervened. Instead of finding the back of the net himself, he only succeeded in stealing it off his teammate’s toes and steering it wide.

From game over to game on. Bryan Mbeumo leading the charge down the right and although it finished 2-1 to the visitors at half-time, their lead was short lived.

Just ten minutes had elapsed when Konstantinos Mavropanos, under pressure from Nathan Collins, steered a swirling cross past Areola. Mbeumo the creator and Collins, who would have been in pole position to finish it had the West Ham player not got their first, the instigator.

2-2 and still Brentford pushed. The scent of blood in the air and eventually it came. This time Nathan Collins did connect with a header. Did power it past the hapless Hammers ‘keeper. Did give us the lead and, at the same time, got his own first goal for the Bees.

It was a majestic finish but also one which came about as a result of a millimetre perfect cross from Mathias Jensen. It really was that masterful a ball in to the box.

From that point on it was all ours. Any late threat nullified by a late cameo from Ben Mee. The centre back coming off the bench to a rousing reception and equally vociferous cries of ‘Meeeeee’ every time he got in the way to snuff out the danger.

The celebrations at, and after, full time showing how complete a team performance this had been. How much it meant to everyone in red and white – on and off the pitch. Brentford up to ninth in the table and just a few points off the European places.

All of which presents us with what is quite probably the hardest star player and ‘top five’ to pick from the 11 games played so far. A head scratching challenge in the quest to find our overall player of the season. 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 38 games.

With apologies to all that missed out, and much deliberation, here they go…

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 11 (vs West Ham)

1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Bryan Mbeumo
That Bryan was so blatantly targeted all game long tells you everything you need to know about the threat he presented.

Thankfully for Brentford, he not only eluded his assailants but gave the perfect demonstration of why he was so feared. Of how he has stepped up his game even more this season.

So, he didn’t score but it wasn’t for lack of involvement or effort. Two strikes in the later end of the first half came dangerously close to finding the back of the net. He was a constant threat down the right wing, carving them open time and again.

It was his ball across that started the move for our opener. It was his cross that produced the equaliser. It was his interplay with Mathias that eventually saw the ball dropped on to Nathan’s head for the third.

Bryan was involved in everything from start to finish and whilst his name may not have been on the scoresheet, he absolutely dominated the game.

2nd (4 points) – Mathias Jensen
There aren’t, truly, the words to describe what a delectable ball-player Mathias has become. The moment he mugged off Soucek brought gasps of admiration form the crowd but it was as much the almost constant perfection of his passing that once again showed just what a talent Thomas has at his disposal.

The cross to Nathan Collins was the other, obvious, highlight but it was more the fact that feeling everytime he got the ball it felt as though something was going to happen. That an exquisite pass was played forward, through or across the visitors. Put those opta stats on the backburner and judge purely on the beauty unfolding before you.

Performances like this are as much testament to the Brentford model. To the bringing of players in to our group and watching them evolve over time. To that wonderful moment when the scales fall from the eyes and the realisation hits that we have the most incredible talent at the heart of the team.

We’ve seen it with Mathias for a few seasons now and said it, too. Yet sometimes it needs repeating – moreso given the stick he got from certain quarters early on in his time at Brentford. The decision of Christian Eriksen to head to the North West rather than continue what had become a symbiotic partnership was the one which has propelled Mathias even higher than before.

On current form I know who I’d rather have. Saturday’s display against The Hammers was yet another demonstration.

3rd (3 points) – Frank Onyeka
We mentioned at the top end that to overly labour the injury crisis would be to insult those taking their chance. Frank Onyeka is probably the clearest example of a player who needs recognition for stepping in and stepping up.

With Vitaly going in to the defence, Frank was once again called upon to fill that third midfield berth. He answered the cry in some style. He was here. He was there. He was every franking where.

The tank acting as midfield agitator and as much as anything else, freeing up both Mathias and even Christian to take their turns. He got the assist points for Neal’s opener and, indeed, it was his initial ball to free up Bryan that began the entire move. His dropping off and then ghosting in at the perfect moment to tee it up for Maupay perhaps un-noticed.

Frank never stopped going and should Aaron Hickey be declared fit, will now present Thomas with a real selection dilemma for the trip to Liverpool on Sunday. What a lovely problem to have.

4th (2 points) – Nathan Collins
How can he only be in fourth place? He scored our third. He would have scored our second too, but for Mavropanos‘ timely intervention. He kept it tight at the back when the ball was down our end as that Pinnock partnership went from strength to strength.

Put simply, the others were just that good. Nathan didn’t put a foot wrong that I saw and did everything so well. The look on his face when celebrating the goal is one we’ll all remember.

5th (1 point) – Neal Maupay
No Norgaard. No Janelt. No anybody else. Sometimes life is unfair, in the nicest sense.

Neal has to take our fifth spot. Perhaps emotion is the determining factor in picking him over the others but it was his goal that started things going. His sweet finish that produced that wonderful celebration and lifted an already frenzied crowd to even greater heights. His running and creativity that typified the almost ‘total’ football approach that Thomas is building.

Yes, on paper Neal is the one deemed the goal threat but he is also the creator. His technique of hold up, turn and then play the ball though in evidence on several occasions.

He might have had a second to put the game out of sight late on but couldn’t quite find the finish. However, it is a moot point after another glorious performance from a man who is as in love with this club as we are with him.

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 11)

All of which means we have a clear top five breaking away in the player of the season chase, not to mention a tie at the top after a rare absence from the points for Ethan Pinnock.

T1st – Ethan Pinnock, Bryan Mbuemo (26 points)
3rd – Mathias Jensen (21 points)
4th – Nathan Collins (15 points)
5th – Christian Norgaard (14 points)

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