I suppose we could say that at least it wasn’t a draw, this time, but the last thing anybody wanted for a first victory in six between Brentford and Crystal Palace was for it to go to The Eagles.

A 3-1 reverse at rain-swept Selhurst Park on Saturday afternoon made all the bitter a pill to swallow by Nottingham Forest’s subsequent defeat of Manchester United. It was a result that saw them overtake a Bees team who have now lost five league games in a row and sit 16th in the table.

That’s the painful news. The more positive being that we now have the best part of three weeks until our next top-flight fixture. That game, of course, the visit of Forest to the Gtech where Ivan Toney will once again be available to start. That’s been a long time coming but the wait is nearly over. No bad thing either as Thomas Frank is now crying out for a natural-born goal scorer.

Neal Maupay is experiencing such bad luck Kurt Zouma’s cat must have crossed his path. As with the game at Old Trafford a month or so back, he came off the bench to see a thunderbolt shot cannon to safety with ‘keeper Dean Henderson beaten all ends up. With Brentford 3-1 down at that point it would have set up a frenetic final fifteen minutes. Instead, Palace survived and no more so than moments later when Wissa conspired to scoop it over from close in with the ball begging to hit the back of the net from yards out.

That was the best chance gone, albeit Maupay saw Henderson somehow claw a goalbound header to safety in the dying moments. Being honest, had that one gone in it would likely have been too little too late. Nothing more than a frustrating case of ‘look at what you could have won’. Especially given the electric start from Brentford.

The Bees were a goal up within 90 seconds. Keane Lewis-Potter timing his run to perfection and fire Mads Roerslev’s perfect cross straight past Henderson. 1-0 Brentford – despite the near four-minute wait for VAR to decide what we could all see, that KLP was onside – and that was it. A sumptuous finish for a move that began with the most delightful backheel from Mathias Jensen.

His playing it forward with his back to goal allowed Roerslev that split-second edge to break ahead of his defender and the rest was history! Goal up and game on. At least, for ten minutes. With the visitors looking positive, Palace went down the other end where Michael Olise managed to lose Saman Ghoddos at the back stick.

Despite Mark Flekken covering the near post, the keeper was only able to watch it go past him into the far corner from the tightest of angles. It was a strong finish but the failure to cut it out, or even attempt to, was a source of frustration for many. At least, those near the front of the stand that could see more than the fans looking through the letter box view from the rear of the away end.

1-1 became 2-1 as the 40-minute mark approached. Despite several half-chances for the Bees, it was Palace who went ahead. Nathan Collins was beaten in the box, the ball fired ahead of Pinnock by Eze and then past Flekken into back of the net. 

The game-changing goal came just inside the hour. Despite another positive start from Brentford, it was that man Olise who scored his second to stretch the lead further. Cutting across the box he hit a strong finish low past Flekken into the back of the net. The goalkeeper diving but not able to get down quick enough and instead only able to watch it go low past him into the far corner.

Thomas Frank played all his cards for full-on attack. Unusually, the Bees had made all five subs before Roy Hodgson had shown his change hand and the plan almost worked with those aforementioned chances the pick of a bunch created. Despite the effort it all came to nothing and ended up being a case of Brentford ending the game empty-handed. Again.

Sure, it’s a frustrating run of back-to-back defeats. Nobody could deny otherwise. Yet with another 57 points to play for, that long break before our next league game (surely, it’ll be a case of the B team getting a run out in the Cup) and players returning imminently anything could happen in the coming weeks and months. Let’s not forget that just everybody else is running at full strength and had been for weeks.

Until then, let’s look at our top five performances. The ongoing quest to find Brentford’s overall player of the season with five points awarded for star player, four for second place, three for third etc with the totals added up game by game.

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 19 (vs Crystal Palace)

1st (Star Player five points): Keane Lewis-Potter

Back to back star player awards for KLP. He really has been the bright spark since returning from injury.

As with the game against Wolves, he got one and could easily have had another had the finishing been that little bit more clinical. Without a doubt looked the most likely to make a difference as he put everything into running at and through, the Palace hordes. As well as scoring he came close to turning second half provider where one mazy run through the middle deserved more than Norgaard’s soft strike.

If he can stay fit, the coming months will be bright for Brentford

2nd (four points): Mathias Jensen.

Oh, how nice to have him starting a game once more. That backheel to start the move for our goal will be the obvious ‘moment for the cameras’ but, like KLP, he was the man who looked as though he had the class to unlock the hosts.

Neither can be held responsible for the frustrating way the goals were conceded but we win and lose as a team. Not individuals. His replacement on the hour for Maupay was perhaps telegraphed given the return from injury but full marks for what he did in those sixty minutes.

3rd (three points): Mads Roerslev.

Set up the first goal with that wonderful run and cross. Almost set up a second with the scores level at 1-1 but KLP’s finish from a near identical ball in was lacking that extra touch of power needed to beat Henderson.

With Thomas picking three centre backs, Mads contribution down the flank was as critical as his defending. He gave it his all

4th (two points): Mikkel Damsgaard. His entrance into the field of play for the last 25 minutes coincided with Brentford upping the tempo. Like Mads, Mathias and KLP he was one of the few that looked as though he might be able to penetrate a resolute opposition searching for their own first win in eight games.

It didn’t work out on this occasion but more showings like this and who wouldn’t be averse to seeing him start next time out?

5th (one point) Neal Maupay.

We’ve talked about the chances Neal had but he never stopped working. Perhaps it was as much the needle with the home fans who booed his every touch but his effort was hope inspiring. We watched on, desperate for him to score. If for no other reason than the mayhem that would have ensued had one of his efforts found its way in.
Next time, Neal. Next time.

All of which means that there is no change in the top five although Mathias Jensen closes in and KLP joins Saman Ghoddos in the chasing pack.

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 19)

1st Ethan Pinnock 36 points
2nd Bryan Mbeumo 31 points
3rd Christian Norgaard 29 points
4th Mathias Jensen 27 points
5th Nathan Collins 18 points