A 1-0 defeat for Brentford at home to Manchester City one which, just like last week’s drubbing handed out to Man U, never felt anywhere near as close as the final score. Here are Nick Bruzon’s player ratings.
Then, positivity from the off and a four-man midfield had been rewarded with a scintillating display of football. Goal followed chance followed chance followed goal as Brentford took the game by the scruff of the neck and never looked back. This time around, Keith Andrews opted for three at the back and one less in the middle against a team who came with a phenomenal reputation, but in truth, and as became apparent over the course of the game, weren’t actually ‘all that’. Certainly, compared to their illustrious standards.
From the opening minutes, the Bees made it clear to their opponents they were content to sit back and absorb. Something we’ve rarely done against them in the past. To suck up whatever came our way rather than dictate the pace. It was a tactic that worked for a mere nine minutes.
Reijnders should have done better after waltzing through the back line. Shortly after, Erling Haaland shrugged off Sepp van den Berg to fire past Kelleher for the first goal of the game. 1-0 City and no complaints – their 76.9% possession at that point had suggested the opening goal was only going to be coming from one side.
Frustrating, and as much because just about everybody had been calling for 4-4-2 rather than 5-3-2. That said, at least there was plenty of time to do something. In theory. Instead, the visitors were allowed to maintain total control. The Bees content to sit back and, but for some wasteful play from Reijnders, Bobb and Foden in particular, not to mention one fine stop from Kelleher, should have been dead and buried.
City with all the ball but perhaps Pep needing his players to spend time at the Institut Villa Pierrefeu (other Swiss finishing schools are available).
The Bees were completely anonymous in the opening period. It’s one thing showing the opposition respect but this was more the case of handing them the reins. It felt blatantly clear within minutes that extra presence was needed in midfield but, instead, nothing changed. It took almost half an hour for our first meaningful ball into the City box – a cross from Kayode that found nobody.
Indeed, hoisted efforts from Kelleher aside, that was it. Brentford managing the somewhat ignominious achievement of failing to have a player touch the ball in the opposition penalty area all half. The first time in the club’s Premier League history we’ve done this. Or, rather, not done this. Either way, a damming indictment of the tactical setup.
Let’s not overly lavish praise on the opposition for this, either. Yes, they’re good but, we’re no mugs. To not even touch the ball in their penalty area – to not manage one, single kick – takes the phrase ‘cautious approach’ to new extremes.
Yet, somehow, despite failing to make any effort to assert themselves on the game, the Bees went in just the one goal down. Like United last week, the team attacking the away end should have been out of sight. Instead, it remained ‘game on’.
The second half began with the Bees suddenly shaken from their lethargy. No change in formation, but at least the ball now crossing the halfway line. Whether through the long passes from deep or trying to muscle down the right.
Igor Thiago breaking clear early on – our now trademark move – but alas this time around perhaps a touch too many. Whilst the ball was taken back under control, the mighty Donnarumma in nets able to smother the ball as it was dinked up toward the goal. The crowd already on their feet in anticipation of the equaliser.
In the end, that was as close as it got although it did, at least, herald the start of a much more positive second period. Brentford putting more pressure on their opponents even if actual chances remained at a premium. That’s the price you pay for only playing 45 minutes of a 90-minute game. For setting up far too defensively but then not changing until the 92nd minute when Carvalho got his customary subs-by-numbers run out.
This isn’t the Warburton era. Sometimes Plan B can work rather than persisting with trying to do Plan A better.
Keith did similar against Chelsea and got away with it. We even led that one at half time before they decided to step it up.
Like Chelsea, there was another awful refereeing performance – you can bank on England (Darren, that is) and on Sunday, he delivered what we feared. That doesn’t take anything away from deserving opponents who seized the opportunity presented.
I can absolutely take losing all day long. Stepping back, we’re feeling upset about only going down to Manchester City by a single goal. Perspective is needed, of course.
Where the frustration lies is perhaps more that the set-up, the tactics, the approach and even the substitution points all feel utterly predictable. That everybody was crying out for front foot play, yet instead, the sitting back delivered exactly what was feared.
At least the international break is now here. Time to regroup and take stock. Recharge any tired legs and go again at West Ham.
Until then, our game-by-game search for the top five players of the season. As always, five points are awarded for the star player, four for second place, three for third, and so on, with the totals added up game by game to determine the eventual winner after game 38.
1st (5 points) Michael Kayode – In what has clearly been a season of adjustment following the summer changes, Michael has been the one consistent beacon of calm.
Not that there is anything calm about his style or his building down the right flank. Got away with one early ‘robust’ challenge (about the only thing Mr. England called our way) and went from there.
It’s a sad indictment of the first half that he and Caomhin (Brentford’s goalkeeper) were the only players able to even get the ball into the City box.
The second period saw him much more heavily involved on the front foot. One header went close and he has the most crosses into the box – outnumbering Damsgaard and Henderson on that tally. Was a perennial threat form the much anticipated ‘long throws.’
It was a long afternoon for the Bees, but Michael did well within the confines of our set up.
2nd (4 points) Caoimhin Kelleher – He’s certainly growing way stronger game on game.
It always takes time to settle but, I’d say this was his most solid performance yet. No flappy punches, just confident catches. That save from Reijnders keeping Brentford alive at 1-0 down. The way the Bees struggled to develop play at times, we were as reliant on Caomhin as anybody else to find an outlet
3rd (3 points) Jordan Henderson – The Keith Andrews model is now quite apparent in how it usually works. Typically three at the back. Create havoc through long throws and long passes. Sub Jordan off for Frank on 70 minutes.
Yet in those 70 minutes, he’s magnificent, and Sunday was no exception. The talking. The involvement. The passing – long or short. He was at the centre of everything.
One area where Keith does differ from Thomas Frank is the speed of trying to get the ball out, once we have it. The pass count between the centre backs and ‘keeper has dropped noticeably this season with play flowing through the England captain. This was another game where he topped the passing stats column – no surprise though when he does it so well.
4th (2 points) Aaron Hickey – I thought Aaron was really unlucky to miss out from our top five against Man U. He played really well there and continued where he left off on Sunday.
Another full 90 minutes from a man whom many wondered if we’d ever see again following the awful injury suffered. Thankfully, he’s back to his best and put in a solid show against City, not to mention the odd sortie forwards too.
5th (2 points) Kris Ajer – I thought three centre-backs was the wrong call and stand by that. As a manager, I’d set up to ‘win’ rather than ‘not lose’. Then again, that’s why I’m not a manager.
At least Kris was able to get more involved as the game progressed. Covering for Kayode on the right as he pushed up and not afraid to get involved when needed.
Played well and deserved more than this frustration
All of which means that after Round 7 of fixtures, the current top five is:
- 1st Michael Kayode – 20 points
- 2nd Jordan Henderson – 14 points
- 3rd Yehor Yarmoliuk -12 points
- 4th Mikkel Damsgaard – 11 points
- 5th Igor Thiago – 9 points
