Rampant Brentford head in to the international break after inflicting as brutal a trashing on Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Gtech on Saturday as it is possible.

A 5-3 win for The Bees, a result which only Aït-Nouri’s 93rd minute consolation for the visitors gave the scoreline even the slightest veneer of respectability. Respectability in that there were ‘only’ two goals between the sides at full time.

Brentford utterly dominant. The vistors, less Wolves and more toothless kittens. Their only success of the afternoon achieved in stopping the Bees from scoring within the opening minute for the fourth successive top flight game. They had to take kick off to do that, too.

Yet moments after this smallest of positives, it all went south for them. An almost glacial start compared to recent games saw Nathan Collins open the scoring with 1 minute and 16 seconds on the clock. Damsgaard’s cross into the box found Collins in acres of space. No mistake as the former Wolves player made his header past Sam Johnstone in nets look as easy as possible.

The Bees missing out on the sub one minute record but still becoming the first side in the Premier League history to score in the opening 90 seconds of four consecutive games.

Being honest, the lead should have been doubled a minute or so later. Bryan dropped it on to KLP’s head as the home team again caused havoc pressing down the right. This time, the header was straight at Johnstone who pulled off the first of many, many, many fine saves on an afternoon where he was the only thing that spared Wolves the ultimate indignity. Namely, that of a 7 (seven) goal bracketing being inflicted.

As Celtic found out this week after winning their opening Champions League fixture, promising starts can easily turn to dust if the attention isn’t there. Apply the same to Brentford. Instead of 2-0 up it was 1-1 after just five minutes. Cunha doing the damage after poor defending from The Bees. Urrgh. Frustrating not the word but Brentford certainly didn’t show any despondency.

Instead, it was more of the same. The Bees pushing. Thomas Frank’s chaos-theory style of play in the absence of a recognised striker working wonders. Flood the box and see what happens.

Which was Nathan Collins again in the thick of it. Grappled to the ground as he tried to get on the end of Damsgaard’s corner and referee Andy Madley eventually pointing to the spot after guidance from Michael Oliver in the VAR hot seat. Well done. Well done everyone. Most especially Bryan Mbeumo with another of those Toney style penalty kicks we specialise in.

2-1 Brentford. The Bees rampant. There was to be no letting Wolves back in this time. Except, of course, there was. Another case of easy-come, easy-go. Collins losing it and Strand-Larsen getting in front of Pinnock to guide the ball into the corner at an oblique angle as it was played in to the box. It was a deft flick that left Flekken no chance.

Yet if Wolves thought they had got away with being level after suffering an absolute pummelling, those illusions were about to be shattered in the most devastating of styles.

2-2 became 3-2 within 30 or so seconds of The Bees restarting. Christian Norgaard, back in the team, finishing off a fine move involving Bryan and Vitaly. You see, we can score within a minute of our kick off, Just 28 minutes gone and five goals scored. Imagine being held up at work and missing the opening half hour to this one? Something I know happened to one unfortunate fan who shall remain nameless…

Yet if my brother thought he had missed all the action by turning up late, he was as wrong as Gary O’Neil in hoping that was an end to it. If anything, things got worse for Wolves. Schade probably should have scored after getting on the end of KLP’s cross. Ethan Pinnock did as half -time approached.

Damsgaard the man once more. His corner delivered with all the precision of Postman Pat. A first-class ball into the box finding the centre-back with enough room and time to have had 40 winks before getting on the end of it and powering past Johnstone. The ‘keeper powerless to resist a player who gobbled up the opportunity as hungrily as a new-born child feeding from his mother.

4-2 at half-time. Brentford brilliant. Wolves utterly abject. The defence with more holes than a tree full of woodpeckers. Very much caught with their trousers down in public and now suffering appropriate humiliation.

The second half repeating the first. Brentford on top. Brentford creating chances. Schade with the best of them after being released by Damsgaard. Clean though, only Johnstone denying him and mirroring an effort from the opening period when offside had been called. Ethan Pinnock and Nathan Collins both seeing chances to add to their own totals not being taken as Johnstone spared Wolves any further blushes.

Kris Ajer busting with passion. Determined there were to be no more defensive lapses that he celebrated one clearance with such gusto that the lino’s flag, accidentally caught by an exuberant fist pump, ended up on the floor.

Eventually, the pressure told. Damsgaard and KLP combining to set up Fabio Carvalho at the back stick. 5-2 Brentford. Superiority and quality confirmed.

The four minutes left of time added on for a possible sniff at brackets turning into Aït-Nouri’s romance killer as he fired low under Flekken. The goalkeeper should maybe have stopped it but with everyone mentally in the changing room already, it was nothing more than an inconvenience.

Five different scorers. Three more points. Brentford up to ninth and, as of Sunday morning, just three points off a Champions’ League spot. Next up a week off followed by the trip to Manchester United.

That’s to look forward to but until then, our top five from Wolves. 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 for the season.

2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 7 (vs Wolves)

1st (Star player: 5 points) – Mikkel Damsgaard
He almost won it last week but had to be content with ‘only’ finishing second. He definitely wins it this week.

What a performance from the man in the middle as he continues to make waves in our player of the season charts. He had a significant hand in at least four of the goals whilst some of the turns, moves and runs were just magnificent. I could watch the one to set Schade free in the second half time, where he spun a sixpence, time and again.

A full time stat credited him with 2 assists, 6 chances created, 53 touches and 5 duels won. Not to mention a fair bit of defensive work. Supporters naming him as man of the match in the official club poll. My vote had already been long cast in his favour.

What a season he’s had so for. Long may it continue.

2nd (4 points) – Christian Norgaard
Having missed the last two games, his absence had been sorely felt. Whilst The Bees are multi-talented and flexible, there does still feel a key-man dependency on that defensive midfield role.

Thankfully, Christian was back to fill it yet, in truth, it was more his attacking drive that was on show this time around. He timed his run and took the chance perfectly to restore the lead so quickly for 3-2. It was the turning point of a game that despite the dominant start had a see-saw feel to the pattern of scoring.

To deliver a sucker punch so quickly after Wolves had hauled themselves back in to the game for a second time was critical.

With woeful opponents offering him the freedom of the Gtech, he took it. Some of the drives forward a joy to behold and offering The Bees as many options through the middle as down the flanks. Not to mention a level head – his hanging on to the ball when the penalty was awarded an oft seen, but essential, technique in keeping Bryan clear from the maelstrom until the time to deliver justice was at hand.

Thomas Frank must be a very happy man to have his captain back

3rd (3 points) – Keane Lewis-Potter
Another stormer for KLP. The creator of chances again doing his thing as Brentford reaped the benefits of being able to have such a positive player against these most generous visitors.

Yet if Wolves were off the pace, KLP was very much on it. Making hay in the early autumn sunshine and probably wondering how he didn’t get his own name on the score sheet.

Hopefully he won’t be too upset. Chances will come and be taken in future (just look at how Bryan has moved on from last season’s woodwork king to this time term’s leading scorer). Until then, nobody will care if KLP keeps building the play like this.

4th (2 points) – . Bryan Mbeumo
And, with sledge-hammer like subtlety, our leading scorer.

It was a close run thing between him and KLP for these two positions and whilst on this instance Bryan needs to settle for 4th, let’s more take this as a positive about the overall team dynamic.

If Christian’s goal was the pivotal moment, Bryan’s penalty wasn’t far behind. Once more, that stone-cold composure. That minimum of back lift. That almost hypnotically slow approach to the ball before striking. The deadly precision as the bottom corner was found.

It’s not just about his goal though. He had a big hand in our third whilst had as much fun on the right as the three players ahead of him in our chart did in their own respective areas. It really was an afternoon where everybody enjoyed themselves and Bryan was no exception.

5th (1 point) – Nathan Collins
Ok. This was tight. I really feel for Vitaly Janelt who was also exceptional on Saturday. Likewise Ethan Pinnock scored and could have had another.

Ultimately though, the gut says Nathan. He got the opener. His presence was critical for the second. He created havoc every time he went in to the box and might have scored again.

Let’s be honest, defensively nobody was overly impressive this time around. However, on an afternoon where Thomas Frank’s team really did follow the oft-shouted plea to ‘Push Up, Brentford’ he was as key to anybody as to how the final result played out.

2024/25 Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Overall (after Matchweek 7)

All of which sees Mikkel Damsgaard extend his lead at the top after finishing in our top two for the fifth successive game. Bryan and Nathan are next up with KLP joining Mark Flekken in joint fourth.

Watch out though, Captain Christian is just a point outside the top five.

1st – Mikkel Damsgaard (22 points)
2nd – Bryan Mbeumo (17 points)
3rd – Nathan Collins (14 points)
T4th – Mark Flekken, Keane Lewis-Potter (12 points)