A 0-0 draw at Brighton was sufficient to earn Brentford a second away point of the season but it was one of those where the scoreline alone doesn’t come close to telling the story of another game dominated by injury and VAR.
The already paper-thin Bees ending this with Ben Mee and Mark Flekken having to go off injured – replaced by Kim Ji-Soo and Hakon Valdimarsson respectively. Both players making their first appearances in the Premier League for Brentford in the trickiest of circumstances yet ending the game with confidence high.
With the fog swirling and Brighton pushing, this really could have been another of those where the Bees’ miserable away-form continued. Instead, but for the machinations of VAR, Thomas Frank could well have ended the night with all three points rather than having to discuss the much maligned video replay system.
Wissa’s early goal, coming against the run of play, had felt tight when seen live. The subsequent replays showing he had been marginally ahead of his man when being released by Mads Roerslev. It was a beautiful move and a clinical finish but, alas, worst fears were eventually confirmed as the 14th minute strike was chalked off.
The second big call coming in the second half with an incident that could, at best, be described as bizarre and at worst, nothing beyond sheer incompetence. Yehor Yarmoliuk seeing yellow just moments after coming on following his coming together with João Pedro.
The booking seemed tough but that’s Andy Madley for you. Yet it was the blatant attempt at serious foul play from the Brighton man that had everybody from supporters to pundits and up to Thomas Frank questioning how a red card was not shown. Either immediately or with the benefit of analysis.
It looked dodgy as when it played out. The slow motion replay then showing three distinct phases of play. The look towards the Yarmoliuk. The raising of the arm into the striking position. The deliberate and clear swing of the pointed elbow towards Yarmoliuk’s face.
Once can only imagine the injury that would have been caused by such an immediate and aggressive swing at such close range. Fortunately, it was just another example of Brighton’s inability to hit the target from close range and he missed. Brutal aggression which then escaped any censure, even after the VAR review – apparently due to the fact that he failed to connect.
That’s not how football works. It was, and should have been, an immediate sending off offence. Yet as with Everton a red card decision went against the Bees and the game ended 0-0.
We could rant about VAR for hours. It was certainly being debated long after full-time and understandably so. Yet the larger concern should really be about player fitness for the visit of Arsenal. No matter how well Brentford did in this fixture, the bench was already looking threadbare before it started, The players held their own but must be exhausted. Thomas Frank will be desperately hoping for good news from the medical room in the coming days.
So instead, let’s cut straight to the top five player ratings. As always, five points being awarded for star player, four for second place, three for third etc with the totals added up game-by-game to find an overall winner for the season.
2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 18 (vs Brighton)
1st (Star Player: 5 points) – Mikkel Damsgaard
That’s two five pointers in a row for Mikkel as he moves even further clear at the top of our star player chart.
Yet again, he was everywhere. Driving through the middle with those ‘ball tied to his foot on a piece of string’ runs. Getting into position. Shooting at goal. Picking out team mates with those raking passes direct to feet. Simply imperious.
To be this good this consistently is no small feat. Thomas Frank needs as much credit as anybody for allowing Mikkel to reach the heights we all knew he was capable of. For showing such faith in a player who took his time to settle in (as is so often the Brentford way) but has then exploded in to life in the most glorious way possible.
Keep it up, Mikkel.
2nd (4 points) – Mads Roerslev
Glorious down the right from Mads.
As much in keeping the dangerous Mitoma quiet as in his own building play. The link up work with Bryan superb and the pass for Wissa’s ‘goal’ exquisite. But for a matter of millimetres and set squares, The Bees would have been ahead. Who knows where they’d have gone from there?
The Bees had no choice but to play two central defenders and full backs on (thinks) Friday evening but it worked to Mads’ advantage. Allowing him the chance to express himself going forwards with that additional midfielder to feed.
3rd (3 points) – Mark Flekken
Only lasted 36 minutes but kept Brentford in the game during that time.
Let’s be honest, his early clearance that ultimately presented Julio Enciso a glaring opportunity may have had some of us fearing it was going to be ‘one of those’. Instead, the opposite was true as Mark threw himself every which way but goal in order to keep the rampaging Seagulls away from his net.
Sadly, this was to prove his ultimate undoing. Twisting sharply to block out a cross from Mitoma, he over stretched and pulled something in his groin. A brief hiatus to see if he could ‘run it off’ (the medical term) proving fruitless and instead, the touchline beckoned.
However, did enough in that opening half hour or so to keep Brentford well in the game despite the hosts’ best endeavours.
4th (2 points) – Hakon Valdimarsson
Where one story ended, another began.
We’ve all read the script and know this can only go one of two ways. Triumph or disaster. Thankfully, it was very much the former with Hakon looking cool as you like on his first Bees’ game in the top flight.
Confident. Strong. Bossing his box. Good decision making when the ball was played over – the old catch/punch dilemma proving to be nothing of the sort for Iceland’s number one.
Even with fleet-footery to leave those who didn’t know better i.e. pretty much all of us, with hearts in mouth as he passed it around opposition players and out of the box.
It was the most awkward circumstance in which to make a league debut but, in retrospect, coming through this sternest of tests will only work to Hakon’s advantage.
5th (1 point) – Bryan Mbeumo
No goals. No assists. Yet tireless running and, along with our star player, looked the player most likely to create something on what was a tricky night for Brentford. Moreso, given things were quieter than normal down the other flank.
Worked particularly well with Mads and Mikkel. Was able to release Wissa a few times yet the Bees weren’t able to pick the Brighton lock.
It was a tough game for everybody but he never stopped trying and put in one heck of a shift.
2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Overall (after Matchweek 18)
All of which means that with Arsenal next up, the top three and in particular Mikkel Damsgaard, move further clear at the top of our chart.
Can anybody catch the spring-heled Dane? Will Mark Flekken be fit to face The Gunners? See you on New Years’ Day when we find out.
1st – Mikkel Damsgaard (52 points)
2nd – Mark Flekken (41 points)
3rd – Bryan Mbeumo (34 points)
4th – Keane Lewis-Potter (29 points)
5th – Christian Norgaard (27 points)
