Brilliant Brentford moved up to fifth in the Premier League table after despatching Southampton with clinical precision at the Gtech on Saturday afternoon.
The only blot on the copy book, conceding a late, late goal that turned 3-0 into 3-1 following a second-half brace for Bryan Mbeumo before Wissa got the third. Mark Flekken left pounding the pitch in frustration after his own rock solid afternoon ended up with the visitors grabbing what was nothing more than a consolation.
Yet in truth it was completely academic. Flekken doing everything he needed to protect the Brentford backline all afternoon as the Bees continued to turn the screw.
The return of the Saints to the top flight has been typified by high possession football and little else. Struggling, so far, to turn ball control into anything more. Whilst they certainly had their moments on Saturday, it was Brentford who always looked more likely to score. Mikkel Damsgaard setting the tone for the game by opening the visitors up in the very first minute.
The Bees could, probably should, have buried that one. That it remained 0-0 for so long a bigger mystery even than why the subsequent catch up on ‘Match Of The Day’ saw their commentary team continue to talk about a ‘Boomo’. Somebody who, apparently, plays for Brentford.
Eventually, though, the opening goal came just prior to half-time. Schade picking it up from Damsgaard, breaking in to the box and firing past Aaron Ramsdale. Again, the cursed Gtech woodwork doing its best to frustrate (somebody, please call an exorcist) as the ‘keeper was beaten, only to see the ball come off the post and back into play.
Fortunately, it fell straight to Mbeumo (that’s Mbeumo) who made no mistake. Hanging back slightly in the build-up, he was completely unmarked when the ball fell to him 12 yards out. A first time strike was buried with all the effortless cool of Roger Moore in a tan safari suit. 1-0 Brentford and the half-time cups of tea tasting even sweeter.
The second half-saw Brentford pick up where they left off. The visitors having more of the ball but, the odd sortie aside, not really sure how to break in to the final third. The Bees looking infinitely more clinical when they had control and eventually the lead was doubled.
Damsgaard’s interception as Southampton struggled to pass their way out of the final third, crucial. Brentford then with a tap-tap-tap through Wissa, Jensen and that man Mbeumo in to the back of the net. The speed and precision of the passes leaving Southampton powerless to resist the inevitable.
2-0 Brentford became 3-0 just minutes later. Mads Roerslev (who had come on for Ajer just prior to the opening goal) seeing his flick on touched home by Yoanne Wissa from close in. The officials immediately indicating that the ball had crossed the line and Peter Gilham’s eventual clarification of the scorer coming with as much gusto from our longstanding man-with-the-mic as the support within the ground.
New Southampton goalkeeper Ramsdale, whom one could argue saw Yoane Wissa put the final nail in the coffin of his Emirates career last season, reached a new low point. Having been reminded all afternoon that he was an inferior version of David Raya (or words to that effect), then had to endure the massed ranks of the West stand remind the number 30 that “He’s got the score, on his back. He’s got the score, on his back.”
Fair play to him for refusing to resort to a Ronaldo/Maddison style hissy-fit and having the good grace to raise hands in acknowledgement to the home support at the end.
At least, by then, Southampton had seen the brief glimmer of hope for the campaign ahead with their first goal of the season. Flekken unable to do anything about Yukinari Sugawara’s well hit strike that left the visiting support with their own song, “We’ve scored a goal. We’ve scored a goal” etc.
Truly, it was too little too late. A game that might have finished 4 or 5 nil to The Bees ending 3-1. Still, a comfortable victory and one which sees us now head in to the international break rising high in the early standings. Next up comes the hardest game of the season – a trip to Manchester City – followed by that to Spurs. Get something out of those and who knows what The Bees can start dreaming of?
Until then, let’s look at our game by game review of Brentford’s ‘top five’ performers. Five points 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.
2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 3 (vs Southampton)
1st (Star player: 5 points) – Mikkel Damsgaard
Hands down, Mikkel wins this one by a country mile. With Vitaly Janelt moving in to the left back position this week, it left a gap in the centre. One which the Dane filled in the most impressive style.
He was on it from the get go. Wining the ball. Breaking with speed. Leading the Brentford tackle count (not a typo). Whilst not, technically, credited with any form of assist his contributions to the opening two goals were absolutely key.
Both came in in similar fashion. Southampton trying to play it clear, Damsgaard intercepting with a crunching challenge and the ball fed through. The first, allowing Schade to break into the box. The second, kickstarting that series of short, sharp passes which culminated in another goal.
In truth, Mikkel has taken a bit of time to settle at the start of his Brentford career but now looks like he is stepping it up to the next level. With all transfer window focus on who may come or go, could a prize asset have been under Thomas Frank’s nose all along?
Our head coach knows what he can do. How fantastic to see this transitioning from training ground to the pitch
2nd (4 points) – Bryan Mbeumo
Two more goals. What else can you say? Each buried with calm and precision. Thoughts of the woodwork nothing more than a distant memory as post has been replaced by stringy-thing in Bryan’s targeting computer.
The watching Ivan Toney can only have been impressed by his former team-mate’s clinical finishing. The opener in particular where despite ample time to try and trap it, the ball was struck first time and almost passed back in to the net. It was all about technique. About not lashing at it when the chance fell. About timing the move in to the box so there was nobody around when the chance did present itself.
His second, the culmination of a wonderful team move we are seeing more of. The beauty of having such a settled squad unit meaning that the players read each other’s game better and better with every match played.
Bryan typifies this and as a result only has Erling Haaland above him in the Premier League goal scorer’s table.
3rd (3 points) – Christian Norgaard
Yes, Brentford looked the team ‘most likely to’ but that’s as much because of the way Southampton were snuffed out.
I thought Christian Norgaard put in a real ‘unsung hero’ role in the middle. There were no assists and no goals, albeit he wasn’t shy in trying when he did get upfield. Like Nathan Collins and Ethan Pinnock (who both miss out on the top five this time around) he was there with crucial blocks and tackles when needed.
Yet it was as much his defensive midfielder role that was key to victory. Especially in that first half where the visitors hung on to the ball and slowly tried to pick at The Bees. Alas, for them, there was no way through to even have a nibble at the back line.
The Captain locking it out. Again.
4th (2 points) – Mads Roerslev
Replaced on the right by Kris Ajer in the starting XI, Mads really picked up the gauntlet thrown down by Thomas Frank when called off the bench late in the opening period.
He was instrumental in the third goal – one which put the game out of sight (2-1 in the 93rd minute rather than 3-1 could have had a very different feel to it…) – and could well have argued that it was going in before Wissa applied the crucial finish. Better to be safe, though, and Mads won’t mind.
The important thing is closing out the game and where he really did this was in his contribution at right back. Putting in the challenges when needed, he looked as comfortable as at any time in his career. Snuffing out those potential threats and turning defence in to attack with his turn and run approach. Get the ball – break down the flank.
5th (1 point) – Yoane Wissa
He got the goal. He put the game out of sight. It would be trite to overlook the contribution of others on an afternoon where, once again, so many Brentford players stood out that it becomes much harder to single out ‘just’ five of them.
Matches are won and lost in moments. Wissa was there through out. Linking between Schade and Bryan on the flanks. Switching his positioning around in the second half, too.
Ultimately though, his was the effort that put the game to bed.
Thank you, Yoane. Help yourself to a top five point.
2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Overall (after Matchweek 3)
All of which means that after three games Nathan Collins still tops the pile with a score of 10. Bryan Mbeumo is clear in second place with 8 and Mikkel Damsgaard’s star player propels him to third position. Christian Norgaard and Mark Flekken sit tied in joint fourth.
Next up, a small break for international duty and then the trip to Manchester.
1st – Nathan Collins (10 points)
2nd – Bryan Mbeumo (8 points)
3rd – Mikkel Damsgaard (5 points)
T4th – Christian Norgaard, Mark Flekken (4 points)
