Monday night’s defeat for Brentford at the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, as frustrating a result in practice as it was on paper.

A day that began leapfrogged by Everton after their ten-point deduction for cheating was reduced to six, ended with West Ham picking up their first ever Premier League points against us. At the sixth time of asking.

The 4-2 reverse coming in a game where the Bees’ defence didn’t so much park the bus as leave it behind at the depot. What price Ethan Pinnock’s value? The player who has been leading our regular ‘star man’ and overall player of the season polls for so long this campaign remained conspicuous by his absence.

The current prognosis being that he’ll be out for another three games at least (Chelsea H, Arsenal A, Burnley A) with the visit of Manchester United at the end of March his likely return. With the current incumbents parting like the proverbial Red Sea to allow our hosts a 2-0 lead within the opening 7 (seven) minutes, it can’t come soon enough.

That’s not to say the trio of centre-backs Thomas did pick aren’t up to the task – they are. Yet for reasons unknown, the calm confidence exuded by a Pinnock led backline went awol. West Ham with a high pressing, high tempo start and it only took Jim Bowen five minutes to break the deadlock. Zanka possibly shoved over in the build-up but there was still enough time to break down the move that led to him firing home via the post despite three players in close proximity.

The second saw nobody even getting close to a challenge over the course of a three-man over-lap through the middle and down the right. The Hammers like a hot knife through butter and Bowen offered the freedom of the penalty box to fire home his second in as many minutes.

Yet a crazy game then took a swing back in Brentford’s favour. Captain Christian Norgaard pulling the troops together to reset. To sort things out. To ‘go again’. We did, in style. Less than a quarter hour gone and the deficit halved. A wonderful move involving Ivan Toney and then KLP saw the ball fed through to Neal Maupay in the box. Leaning back, he fired high into the roof of the goal despite the pressure of encroaching defenders. Areola in nets left no chance and the game was alive once more.

Things much more even now. The Hammers’ early surge well and truly burned out and Brentford in the ascendency. Bowen left thinking he’d get nothing in this game for two in a bed as Kudus, whose only other role in the game seemed to be shooting as waywardly as possible, pulled off a blatant body check on Reguilón in the box. It seemed as nailed on as they come and Ivan Toney must have been salivating at the prospect of the referee pointing to the spot.

Ah, the referee. It was our old ‘friend’ Simon Hooper.

Move along. Nothing to see here. The moment passed and despite whatever injustice may have been felt about as stonewall as pot kick as we’ve ever seen awarded, this time around the chance for 2-2 wasn’t even deemed worthy of a subsequent review. How DOES that work?

Ah, the VAR panel. It was our old ‘friend’ Michael Oliver.

Perhaps he was recovering from another trip to the UAE? Who knows? Instead, the Bees went in still 2-1 down but feeling the game was theirs for the taking. Thomas resisting the urge to make any substitutions until Ben Mee was forced from the pitch just after the hour. Attempts to run off an injury proving unsuccessful and one can only hope it was nothing more than precautionary. The immediate impact being the game swinging back in The Hammers’ favour just two minutes later with the Brentford defence readjusting.

The hat-trick goal came just after the hour mark. Kudus finally proving useful and dropping the ball on to Bowen’s head. Completely unmarked and left the simplest of opportunities from mere yards out, it was one of those that seemed impossible to miss. He didn’t. Flekken left zero chance.

The fourth coming little more than five minutes later. Brentford, yet again this season, guilty of conceding goals in patches on the road (see also: Manchester United, Spurs and the first half against West Ham). Emerson returning Zanka’s clearance with interest from outside the box. Credit where it was due – a wonderfully hit first time effort but with our 18-yard area flooded, nobody was even near to closing him down.

With the vibe amongst the fans that Thomas should have been making changes much earlier (and that was just the blue shirt which we are yet to win in since it was introduced last season), the substitutions finally came. Roerslev, Janelt and Wissa on. Shortly followed by Damsgaard.

A nothing to lose throwing of the kitchen sink saw a barnstorming final quarter hour (along with an additional seven added on). Damsgaard releasing Wissa with a sublime ball through the middle and there was no mistake this time. A finish hard and low into the bottom corner. 4-2 and Brentford alive to the opportunity. 82 on the clock. The Bees pushing, probing, threatening.

The stress levels from the remaining home support cranking up as chance followed chance. Save followed save. The feeling that if one more goal came another would surely follow. Ivan..ooh. Mads Roerslev..so close. Wissa..threatening.

Not tonight, Josephine. It ended 4-2. West Ham thoroughly deserving of their win. Thomas Frank with work to do at Jersey Road this week. Perhaps starting by binning the third kit – much as I love the Castle badge almost as much as the brown and orange – the jinx factor alone demands we say farewell to the baby blue.

On the positive side, we’ll box it off. We have a Saturday 3pm kick off at home next up. The visit of Chelsea one that always gets the crowd going and sets the blood pumping. Surely a reaction coming and Poch’s disjointed team are surely going to feel the reaction? Surely…?

Until then, this week’s star player and top five. As always, we give five points for first, four for second place, three for third etc with the totals added up game by game to find an overall winner after game 38.

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 26 (vs West Ham)

1st (Star player: 5 points) – Keane Lewis-Potter
Hands down, the simplest of decisions we’ll have to make all season. Once gain pressed in to that right-wing back position, his play on the front foot really drove Brentford forwards.

The ball through to Neal that opened up the Hammers for our first was as delicious as they come. It was as much his control and touch, something that was consistent throughout the 97 minutes he was on pitch, that made the goal.

His pace down the flank terrified West Ham. The consistent chasing of seeming lost causes creating opportunity from nothing. On a night where so many of the team seemed out of sorts compared to usual, KLP very much brought his A game to the show.

Whatever else you take away from this game, embrace the joy that Keane brought. If nothing else, he’s nailed on to start against Chelsea. Play like this and he’s got the potential to rip them apart.

2nd (4 points) – Yoane Wissa
Late heroics at West Ham and Wissa go hand in hand. Despite only coming in with the final quarter hour (plus stoppage time) remaining, his arrival brought much needed fire.

All of a sudden, the Bees were alive to the challenge. The finish for his goal the most serene of calmness under pressure. The timing of his run on to Damsgaard’s pass making the VAR review nothing more than a tedious delay. Not even Michael Oliver could get this one wrong, although I bet he gave it thought.

As it stands, Wissa will need to remain content with a place on the bench. Neal and Ivan are too strong together up top. However, play like this again and he’ll have to be knocking on Thomas Frank’s door.

3rd (3 points) – Neal Maupay
Oh Neal. The love for this man amongst the Bees’ faithful rewarded with interest by the goal. As critical a finish as ever has been needed, make no mistake about the pressure he was under – form both a psychological perspective with the Bees two down so early – and a tactical one.

His confidence and stock continue to rise and are so high that he made a really tough opportunity look as simple as they come. Not only his play but to then manage winding up the West Ham coaching staff at half-time.

His performance and spirit deserved more. That reward will come.

4th (2 points) – Christian Norgaard
Once again, our captain doing his level best to hold the team together. When they were on the ropes, he was the man to pull them back together. To galvanise the troops and tell them, like a scratch XI put together as the lambs to the slaughter in a propaganda match, ‘we can win this’.

Alas there was to be no escape from 2-0 down to victory but a phenomenal 71 passes as tackle followed tackle had him leading the stats chart by a country mile.

5th (1 point) – Mathias Jensen
It could have been Mikkel Damsgaard or Mads Roerslev but in the end, Mathias Jensen edges the final slot for me.

Whilst the subs all brought the impetus and last gasp energy, Mads at least looked like he was giving it all to win for the entire 90 minutes. Matching KLP cross for cross (each player delivering seven in to the box) he was also there trying to build the play through the middle. Trying to half the claret and blue tide as it pushed forward in waves.

On a hard night for so many, Mathias put his level best in to the game. Like all our top five, he warranted more reward. On another night he might have got it.

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 26)

All of which means Christian Norgaard inches a little further ahead of Ethan Pinnock in the table whilst Neal Maupay and KLP edge ever closer to our top five.

1st – Christian Norgaard (40 points)
2nd – Ethan Pinnock (37 points)
3rd – Bryan Mbeumo (31 points)
4th – Mathias Jensen (28 points)
5th – Mark Flekken (26 points)

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