If anything, they’ve scored too soon.
Brentford shared a 1-1 draw with West Ham after once more opening the scoring with less than a minute of the game played. In doing so, following the same at Manchester City then Spurs, The Bees set a new Premier League record in being the first team ever to achieve such a feat in three successive games. Alas, once again, they were unable to capitalise on such an electric start.
As at Spurs, it was Bryan Mbeumo who did the early damage. His hooked shot into the top corner from Carvalho’s clever ball in to the box an almost carbon copy of last week’s strike. It really was an exquisite finish, worthy of the celebrations that followed, even if it did take almost 39 seconds to break the deadlock. Glacial, relatively speaking, compared to the 22 and 24 seconds that had seen us take the lead in those previous fixtures.
A painful pause for VAR over and Bryan’s goal confirmed (his fifth in the top flight already this campaign), the expectation was that Thomas Frank’s team would kick on from here. The visitors, still shell-shocked following their midweek hammering at Liverpool, on the ropes once more and surely there for the taking?
Except, they weren’t. Rather than dictate the play Brentford seemed content to sit on the lead. With Christian Norgaard again missing in midfield and the defence rejigged once more (four centre backs selected – with Kris Ajer and Sepp van den Berg on the flanks) – West Ham were allowed back in to the game. Not that they were able to overly penetrate but with the foot off the gas, it felt as though the Bees were trying to coast home rather than put pedal to the metal. It was to prove fatal.
Half time came and went. The ever-popular game of centre-circle challenge which played out during the interval more entertaining than much of what had gone before. Or was to follow, for West Ham were allowed a route back in to the game. Tomas Souček doing the damage less than ten minutes into the second period as the visitors were allowed to pull off a succession of short, sharp passes that culminated in the ball being stabbed past Mark Flekken.
Credit to them for the move and execution. Frustration for Brentford that nobody was able to get a foot in at any point. As with the game Spurs, that fast moving football proving powerless to resist. The one positive being that at least it was to prove an isolated incident this time around.
Instead, Brentford woke up. Forced into a position where they’d have to score again to try and win the game, the penny dropped. On they pushed. Damsgaard and Mbeumo, supported by Yarmoliuk off the bench, looking to penetrate. The Hammers resorting to industrial challenges that referee Simon Hooper seemed content to overlook – his cards apparently left behind in the dressing room. A good half-dozen (minimum) shouts for penalty kicks were waved away as Bees players were chopped, ploughed through or just saw the ball handled in the penalty box.
When Yarmoliuk was booked for the most innocuous of challenges shortly after coming on, it begged the question of just how Hooper had been allowed to ‘take charge’ (note: your definition may vary) of a top flight game. Or any? Not the first time we’ve had to ask this question. Moreso, given the lack of consistency that then followed as way worse from the visitors was allowed to go unpunished. The crowd were incensed. The ref, oblivious.
With West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui setting his team up to ‘not lose’ it was an effective approach. Brentford unable to penetrate and, when they could, the man in the middle conspiring to thwart their ambitions. It gave the game a real stop-start feel as attempts to build momentum were stopped time and again. The Bees just unable to get going and when they did, finding the Hammer’s back line too well packed to really break through. Players attempting to run it all the way, deprived of a target man to aim for.
A point is still a point. The Bees looked tasty in patches and yet another lightning start shows what they can do when the mood takes them but being honest, they lacked guile at times too. With only Wissa and Mbeumo finding the net so far in the Premier League (and the former now missing) chances do need to be created from elsewhere.
For all that the Bees dominated possession, I can’t remember Areola in nets for the visitors having much else to do beyond fish it out in that opening minute. Hopefully Thomas Frank will figure out that headscratcher. If he can’t, could it even mean a third coming for the currently unattached Saman Ghoddos? The ever popular Iranian Messi had played just about everywhere so why not?
That’s a challenge to consider on the training ground. Another home game follows this Saturday with the visit of Wolves to the Gtech. All being well, Christian Norgaard will be fully fit by then after missing a second fixture with his ‘minor’ injury and the team will continue to adjust to playing without a striker.
Until then, time to look at the top five from this one. 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 6 (vs West Ham)
1st (Star player: 5 points) – Bryan Mbeumo
If only we could clone him. The £5.8 million paid for him back in 2019 proving an absolute steal as he has only improved with age. Then again, it’s hard to think he is only just 25 – he seems to have been part of the Bees’ set up forever.
The word on the street is that Bryan will be the January transfer window’s hot property. With 5 goals from 7 this season and an overall assist/scoring ratio that beggars belief, one can see why. Moreso on a showing like this where, in my opinion, he always looked the player most likely to cause damage. To create the chance or to put it away.
A final total of 74% pass accuracy backs up that assertion whilst he wasn’t afraid to get involved at the back, either.
Sadly, he just couldn’t be in two places at once
2nd (4 points) – Mikkel Damsgaard
I’ve since seen another poll that has Mikkel streets ahead as star player. That’s fair enough but for me he still slots in a very creditable second place, again. It is becoming as familiar an occurrence as it is the Bees scoring in less than a minute.
In a Norgaard-Jensen free midfield, his creativity was key. Moreso given the nature of the opposition and the referee. No goals. No assists. An absolute disaster for anybody looking to pick him in their Fantasy football team.
Yet… he was everywhere. He absolutely bossed the tackle count in an attempt to regain possession and take the Bees forward. Nobody came close to him. Only the central defenders made more passes – something which speaks volumes about the repetitive passing sideways along the 18 yard box that we seemed bizzarely dependent on in this one – as Mikkel looked to develop play through the middle.
If Norgaard and/or Jensen are alongside him for Wolves, we could be telling a very different story this time next week. Keep it up, Mikkel, and well played
3rd (3 points) – Fabio Carvalho
If the goals are to come from elsewhere, Fabio seems the next most likely option. Having scored against Orient last week in the Cup, he got the assist this time around with a sublime set up for Bryan.
Yet it was as much his touch in and around the box, on those occasions play wasn’t held up by The Hammers or the ref, that inspired confidence. Players take time to settle in but there was real cause for long-term optimism and excitement with some of his play
Fabio wasn’t afraid to get stuck in to win the ball. Only Mikkel Damsgaard ahead of him in the tackle count on an afternoon where the real winner was turgid football. Fine margins differentiate who finishes where in the top five, as much as personal perspective does. From where I was sitting in the North Stand, Fabio looked tasty
4th (2 points) – Keane Lewis-Potter
Allowed a higher starting position than recently, his positivity continued to show. KLP really is becoming an exciting player to watch when allowed to go on the front foot and this was yet another of those games.
Brentford have the makings of a wonderful team when the squad is fully fit / fitter. On this sort of showing, and those he has given so far, KLP will still be nailed on even when his colleagues return.
On an awkward afternoon, he very much stood out as one of those who looked like dragging The Bees out a quagmire created by the combination of poor refereeing and horrible spoiling tactics.
5th (1 point) – Kris Ajer
Is he a centreback or a wing back these days? Who knows? Let’s just call Kris a defensive utility player comfortable slotting in just about anywhere across the back line. Should we ever see that situation where the goalkeeper has to leave the field of play with all subs used, I’d imagine he’d be the one to don the sweaty jersey and gloves.
With the back four passing it sideways time and again in a bid to find the perfect opening, at least Kris was able to put his head down and run. Granted, mostly in a straight line (have you ever seen a juggernaut try a hand brake turn change of direction) but it was certainly effective.
No doubting his energy, commitment or tracking back as he chased down he visitors. Not to mention the odd bit of balling skill, with a few flicks to draw pleasant surprise from the home faithful.
2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Overall (after Matchweek 6)
Overall, an afternoon much like the curate’s egg. Excellent in places, not so good in others. A point not to be sniffed at despite the bright start. Next up the visit from Wolves. Fingers crossed for another three points and a clean bill of health heading into the subsequent international break
All of which means that for now, Mikkel Damsgaard goes clear at the top of our table, with Bryan Mbeumo leap-frogging the now third-placed Nathan Collins. Mark Flekken remains fourth whilst KLP breaks clear of the injured Christian Norgaard to claims fifth spot in his own right
1st – Mikkel Damsgaard (17 points)
2nd – Bryan Mbeumo (15 points)
3rd – Nathan Collins (13 points)
4th – Mark Flekken (12 points)
5th – Keane Lewis-Potter (9 points)
