Well wasn’t that just a magnificent way to end a West London derby? Brentford levelling deep into stoppage time, having lead against Chelsea at the interval, to see the game finish 2-2. Nick Bruzon shares his five standout players.
Fabio Carvalho had only been on pitch a matter of moments but it was all he needed. The right man in the right place to guide home Ajer’s flick on from Schade’s long throw. The Gtech exploding in noise as the 12 men of Chelsea finally got their comeuppance.
Referee (sorry ‘referee’) Stuart Attwell, who had done everything within his power to help the visitors for 90 minutes, unable to find a reason that this should be chalked off. VAR doing nothing to come to his, or Blues’, assistance.
Then again, silence from Stockley Park had been the story of the night for Brentford with a couple of highly dubious-looking challenges in the box drawing not even a flicker of interest. No suggestion made to Mr Atwell of maybe reviewing those second-half off-the-ball incidents that drew the wrath of the North stand. No suggestion from the man himself that he was going to do anything to arrest behaviour from the visitors that was akin to a meeting of the Steve Cooper fan club.
Sh*thousery all-round from start to finish with the man in the middle not only overlooking this but, more frustratingly, then giving so many decisions to the visitors.
You won’t see any of this on Match Of The Day. Having got home after the final whistle just as we were being served up first, the airbrushed highlights failing to draw any attention to what had once again been a prime-time Emmy Award-winning episode of The Attwell Show.
Plus ca change. Whether it would have made any difference to the final score line is academic. All we can say is that the flow of the game was nowhere near as smooth as it should have been. That the Bees had momentum and opportunity snatched away as they looked to penetrate resolute and well set up opponents. That it all culminated to make Carvalho’s 94th-minute equal all the sweeter.
A goal served up with a more than generous serving of Schade-nfredue towards visitors whose tactics had, at least, contributed to the 5 minutes of time added on.
Yet prior to this Brentford had been well deserving of at least a point. We all know ‘deserved’ counts for naff all but this time around chances were being created from all around the pitch. Second half especially. A rejigged line up with Ethan Pinnock added to a trio of centre backs still able to cope with the absence of the unwell Mikkel Damsgaard.
Henderson in the middle, imperious. Yehor Yarmoliuk having the game of his life. Kevin Schade looking the man most likely to break the deadlock as he ran at the Chelsea back line.
It took a while to get his radar in but once he and the team worked out the space, it was game on. His running for the game’s opening goal, electric. The pass served up by Jordan Henderson to release him, about as perfect as you can get.
Distance, trajectory, timing and delivery all off the chart in terms of quality. Schade giving the pass the reception it deserved as he burst clear and fired home past Robert Sánchez in nets.
1-0 Brentford and the Gtech erupting. A brief flurry from the visitors but no serious danger as half-time came.
Matthew Benham’s choice of Hard-fi’s ’Cash Machine’ for the walk off music about as subtle as slap to the face. Then again, with Franz Ferdinand and Maxïmo Park also gracing the interval play list, perhaps he was just declaring his love of 2005 Indie bangers. We were only The Bluetones ‘In The Cut’ missing for a full house.
A triple substitution for the visitors suggested words may have been exchanged at the break. Ten minutes later it was four, as Cole Palmer also entered the field of play. A serious reaction from a team who had probably expected to walk this one prior to kick-off.
Alas, it worked. Palmer himself finding space in the box to level just after the hour. The Bees kicking back almost immediately with Schade forcing a fine finger-tip save from Sanchez at the foot of the post. Mr. Attwell doing his own thing regardless of everything else. Ouattara (a surprise omission) coming on and looking dangerous. Palmer going down as though he’d been hit by a steamroller but rising from the dead when the medics were eventually allowed to amble towards him. Then, heartbreak.
It was Chelsea who got the noses in front. Caicedo leathering one past Kelleher. The ‘keeper no chance as the ball rocketed in to the top corner. More time eaten up by the post-goal celebration. Attwell content to let it drag out until we were ready for the restart and that last throw of the dice as Carvalho entered, stage left.
There was no irony lost in Chelsea ultimately ending up victims of their own sh*thousery. Those five minutes of time added on seeing the pressure crank until the Bees did their thing. A draw treated like a win by the fans, such was the manner in which it had arisen. Keith Andrews’ squad remaining unbeaten at home so far this season and now with Tuesday night’s League Cup visit from Aston Villa to look forward to.
Until then, our it’s time for our game-by-game search for the top five players of the season. 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 see who ends up the eventual winner after game 38.
1st (5 points) Jordan Henderson
A standout performance from the England captain. His post-match stats told a tale in their own right. 78% Pass Completion. Three tackles. Four clearances. Seven passes into the final third. One Assist. 90+6 minutes played.
Anyone thinking that at 35 years of age, he no longer has the ability to play an entire game can think again. He was everywhere. Getting involved in everything. Passing with aplomb. Getting stuck in with the best of them.
As for that assist. My word! It was a ball on par with Jensen to Toney for our fourth against Manchester United a few seasons back. Same minute. Same quality. Same outcome.
Lovely stuff.
2nd (4 points) Yehor Yarmoliuk
For me, one of his best games in a Brentford shirt. I thought he was utterly magnificent. All the moreso given the absence of Damsgaard from the heart of the midfield, meaning he had even more ground to cover. More yards to run.
He didn’t stop. Despite the booking. Despite being asked to stay out there for the whole game. Made it all look so comfortable despite the quality of the opposition.
No goals. No assists. Yet still utterly brilliant.
3rd (3 points) Kevin Schade
Boom. Back to his very best in some style.
Scored the one. Might have got a second. Had a huge hand (quite literally) in creating Fabio’s equaliser. Like Jordan and Yehor, gave it his all for close to 100 minutes.
It looked for a moment like he may have dallied for a touch too long on that finish but that’s why he’s the professional footballer and we’re, err, not. Had Sanchez not kept the earlier-mentioned effort out I think the roof would have come off the Gtech – such was the build-up and the precision.
Yet, like Yehor, it comes down to how much commitment and passion he put in to that performance. The pair of them must have been absolutely knackered this morning. It was worth it
4th (2 points) Michael Kayode
He’s done it again. Another game, another top five entry from the leather-lunged right back. My word, he’s a machine. Strength and skill in equal measure. Running out of the back for fun. Calmness of passing across the face of goal.
How good must Serie A be that Fiorentina were happy to let go a player who is only just 21 yet plays like he’s been around forever? To think, Brentford paid about a quarter of what Wissa (now out injured 4-5 weeks) cost Newcastle United.
The talent machine has done it again.
5th (1 point) Caoimhín Kelleher
Yes! This is what we were hoping for.
We all know the experience this (relatively) young ‘keeper has but we also all know how hard it is for a number one to adjust to a new team. Moreso, when that team is also going through a transition.
I thought this was by far his most convincing performance for Brentford. He looked part of the furniture and has now opted for catch over punch. Several smart stops including a worldie from Cole Palmer not long after Chelsea had equalised. Had that one gone in, it may well have been game over.
All of which means that after Round 4 of fixtures, the current top five is:
- 1st Michael Kayode – 11 points
- 2nd= Kevin Schade – 8 points
- 2nd= Jordan Henderson – 8 points
- 4th Nathan Collins – 7 points
- 5th= Mikkel Damsgaard 6 points
- 5th= Yehor Yarmoliuk 6 points
Now, does anybody fancy a cup run….?
