A 2-2 draw between Brentford and Bournemouth was, perhaps, the quintessential example of a game where the scoreline only tells the smallest part of the story.

It was one of those where The Bees must still be wondering how they didn’t come away with all three points.

Brentford were at times wonderful. At others, profligate.

The watching Neal Maupay must have been licking his lips at the opportunities being created. On another day they’d have gone in and the game been wrapped up not long after Mathias Jensen had opened the scoring just 7 (seven) minutes in to the game.

That’s football though. The Bees gave it their all and looked devastating at times. They remain unbeaten in the Premier League. Two mistakes were punished by opponents who not only levelled things up before half-time but then took the lead with just a quarter hour to go.

That David Brooks’ goal to give Bournemouth a 2-1 advantage came just moments after Keane Lewis-Potter had, somehow, spurned the opportunity to do the same for Brentford was even more frustrating. With the net beckoning and just yards out, he steered Frank Onyeka’s cross past goalkeeper Neto and on to the far post where it bounced to safety. From there, the visitors broke and went ahead.

Let’s not be too hard on KLP though. It was just one of many chances on an afternoon where things didn’t quite fall for Brentford. Kevin Schade must be wondering how Neto was able to get a touch to his first half effort. Clean through, he saw a slight deflection steering it away from the net and onto the post with the scores still at 1-0.

Likewise Bryan Mbeumo and Wissa who were both the beneficiaries of Rico Henry brilliance early in the second half. By this point, Dominic Solanke had ensured the visitors went in at the interval with the scores level but Brentford came out firing.

Within minutes of the restart Bryan had pushed it wide of the goal from inside the box when completely unmarked. Moments later, another ball from Rico on the left saw Wissa do all the trickery and then hit the post from a similar position.

It was the sort of afternoon where if one went in, they all would have. That’s not how football works, of course. There are no prizes for ‘deserving’ and in the end it took all Brentford’s resilience to haul this one out of the fire.

Nathan Collins, unlucky to be benched for the returning Ben Mee in the starting XI, with a crucial impact as a late entrant to the field of play. His ball over the top found Bryan who pulled off the sweetest combination of touch, turn and run.

Clean through on goal like Schade before him, this time there would be no reprieve from Neto’s fingers. The calmest of finishes under the most extreme of pressure and the crowd were lifted to new heights. That it came deep into 6 minutes of time added on – as much through the timewasting of Neto who was lucky not to be shown a second yellow for various misdemeanours – making the moment even sweeter.

Even then Brentford might still have won it. The noise in the Gtech, which had seen the roof lifted when Neal Maupay was introduced at half-time, as loud as it has ever been. Proper shivers up the spine stuff as all four stands urged the team on for that last push. A final three minutes of intensity and effort. A corner won but, alas, the opportunity couldn’t quite be worked.

There are no complaints. Bournemouth took their chances. Brentford denied by great goalkeeping, bad luck and perhaps, on this occasion, the need for what one would call a traditional target man. A goal poacher the likes of whom could only watch on, this time.

There was no subtlety in Matthew Benham’s choice of song as the teams walked off at half-time. Rightly so. The Bluetones 1996 hit single Slight Return (which reached number 2 in the hit parade) an epic choice. “I’m Coming Home” amongst any of the lyrics that could have pointed to our returning hero Maupay.

On another day we’d have had a hatful. Instead, Brentford find themselves with another point on the board, no last minute sales prior to the transfer window closing and still yet to lose this campaign. When the season began, I don’t think there’s many of us that wouldn’t have taken this heading into that first International break.

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.

Tempting though it was to include Maupay for his impact on the crowd at half-time, there were still enough out on pitch to make this one a tough call.

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 4 (vs Bournemouth)

1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Christian Norgaard
Only Ethan out-passed him. Nobody out-tackled him. Yet, like the scoreline, stats only tell part of the story. Christian was gigantic in the middle of the park. Everything seemed to flow through him. The second half especially.

There was his break-up of play when Bournemouth had the ball and the pushing forwards when we did. His first half pass to Schade, from well within our own half, was one of those laser guided balls over distance which he makes look so easy. Like chipping a golf ball from bunker to flag, it fell perfectly for the onrushing German only to see Neto deny us the chance to double the lead.

At a time when injury has limited our midfield options, his concentration and durability were key. Thankfully for Brentford, Christian gave it his all for a full 90 minutes.

2nd (4 points) – Bryan Mbeumo
What composure to level things up so late on. Moreso given what even Bryan himself described post-match as the moment I missed the open goal earlier.

Hey, let’s be positive and at least say that the positioning to lose his marker and work the space was wonderful. Any another day it would have ended differently.

On an afternoon when deep down we all know the game could have been closed out earlier, it really felt like we were drinking in the chance saloon as Nathan played it forwards late on. Like he’d been doing all game, Bryan didn’t let up.

It was the most exquisite of touches to work the space but to still find the turn of speed to outrun the defence 93 minutes into the game was nothing short of spectacular. As was the finish.

3rd (3 points) – Ethan Pinnock
Ethan makes the top five yet again. His first game this season alongside Ben Mee and whilst Nathan Collins may consider himself hard done by to have been dropped, there was never any question of Ethan giving up his spot.

A good thing, too. Pretty much any build-up of play went through him and Christian whilst his tackling was as vital as ever. The first half in particular after Bournemouth had pulled the dirty trick of ‘switching ends’ after the toss.

Nobody likes kicking the wrong way but it made no difference to Ethan. Another top draw performance from our defensive rock.

4th (2 points) – Kevin Schade
After scoring last week he was so close to another this time around. Such is his confidence he shot early rather than running through Neto. It seemed almost certain to hit the back of the net, but for that last gasp touch.

Prior to this, he’d won the early free kick from which Jensen scored our opener after bamboozling the Bournemouth ‘keeper and forcing him into a clumsy challenge outside the box that, being honest, should have seen an early yellow waved.

Another of those games where Kevin looks like he’s learning to marry his unadulterated pace with ball control. He’s going to be massive this year and Saturday afternoon was another example why.

5th (1 point) – Rico Henry
OK, so he had that unfortunate touch just prior to Bournemouth’s second goal but let’s not overlook the speed and determination to get back prior to this and win the ball in the first place.

Besides, he did more than enough to create the chances for Brentford to have wrapped the game up long before. Those almost identical run and crosses early in the second half were screaming out to be buried but, alas, it just wasn’t to be.

Again though, let’s focus on the positive. It was one of those where perhaps he’s just so good that we almost expect it now as a matter of course. Not just the ball in but the running down the wing and wrong footing the defence to deliver in perfection.

I’m not sure who’s picking the England team these days but whomever it is could do worse than take a look. Eh, readers?

2023-24 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 4)

Which means that four games into 2023-24, our top five is as follows. Now bring on that chance to catch our breath and then the small matter of a trip to Newcastle United.

T1st – Ethan Pinnock, Bryan Mbuemo (11 points)
T3rd – Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Christian Norgaard (7 points)

Follow Nick on Twitter @NickBruzon