Brentford pulled off the most dominant display of the Keith Andrews’ era to boss West Ham off the park and leave the Olympic Stadium as comfortable 2-0 winners as will ever be seen.
In truth, the score could have been double or triple that. The Bees with chance after chance to put the game to bed until Mathias Jensen finally wrapped things up in time added on, following Igor Thiago’s 43rd-minute opener. That goal was just one of many other opportunities for the striker, including one which found the net minutes later only to be denied by the most marginal of offside calls.
He wasn’t alone. Schade hit the crossbar with a header when unmarked in the middle with the net gaping. Damsgaard might have done better with his own when offered the freedom of the West Ham penalty box. Ouattara had one of those nights where he looked good in the build-up but couldn’t hit a barn door with a dango. The Bees ending the game with 22 shots, 15 of which came in the first half – a club record at this level.
In the end, it was our Great Dane who ensured all three points would be coming back to West London. As he did against Man United, Jensen coming off the bench late in the game to fire high into the roof of the net.
It really was about as one-sided a display as has ever been seen. The Bees, dominant. West Ham, utterly abject.
It wasn’t just the supporters who failed to turn up but their players too. The stadium a sea of white seats as the protest against the owners hardly helping lift the mood on what should have been a celebratory night for Nuno Espirito Santo’s first home game in charge. This, following the removal of Graham Potter.
New face, same issues. That’s their problem, of course. Zero sympathy or f*&^s given by the visiting support. The Bees (cliché alert) only able to play against who they were up against and seizing the moment.
Rather than parking the bus as so many had expected, once again discovering that pushing up delivers results and performance. Fair play to Keith Andrews for his unexpected positivity.
Equally unexpected was his team selection. Kris Ajer picked at right back with both KLP and Rico Henry on the bench raised more than a few eyebrows prior to kick-off. It made no difference. The hosts shut out with Kelleher making just the one save, low to his right from Jim Bowen, on an otherwise quiet night.
If we’re being overly critical, then perhaps the game should have been put to bed long before full-time. At 1-0 up and chance following chance, there was always the feeling that something could deflect in off a random backside to level things up. It’s Brentford, innit? Too many of us having been here too long that the team’s historic ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory still feels like an old friend knocking at the door.
Yet if we’re being equally critical, West Ham were a shadow of the side who lifted the 1966 World Cup. Trevor Brooking’s FA Cup winning header a ghost of season’s past. Like the spectre of Fergie hanging over Old Trafford, the constant reminders of former glories nothing more than an albatross around the neck of supporters who seem to think they’ve some sort of divine right to be any good.
Brentford could, probably should, have been further ahead. The crucial difference being how much more of the ball they had this time around. After the reverse to Manchester City it was a refreshing breath of fresh air.
Besides, we’d all have taken a 2- 0 win if offered this beforehand. On another day, the chances will go in. The most important thing being that so many were created in what was ultimately a very comfortable win. Keith Andrews’ team dominant and in total control throughout.
Next up, the visit of Liverpool on Saturday night. They’ve lost 4 in a row, including 3 in the Prem. There for the taking or will they be looking to give somebody payback….?
That’s a discussion for Friday but until then, our usual game-by-game search for the top five players of the season. As always, five points being awarded for the 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) Yehor Yarmoliuk
Here. There. Just about everywhere. Yehor was brilliant from start to finish last night. Dominating the midfield in a game where the ball barely even saw the Brentford final third. He and Jordan just magnificent together. Spraying the passes around and stopping any attempt to advance through the middle.
Keith would talk about the challenges facing what is a new team but Yehor feels as though he has been around forever. We’ve said it before but it’s just crazy how good he is for somebody so young.
An absolute workhorse of a performance in the middle and the foundation upon which this victory was built
2nd (4 points) Igor Thiago
Tough call where to place Igor. On the one hand, he’ll wake up thinking he should have the matchball on his mantlepiece this morning. On the other he scored one, was denied a second by the most marginal of boot-based infringements and made an absolute nuisance of himself in the middle.
Perhaps as important, he gives the impression of a player who is absolutely loving life at Brentford. That sort of enthusiasm can only radiate outwards and let’s not forget, either, that this latest effort sees him place third in the Premier League goal scorer’s table.
3rd (3 points) Jordan Henderson
The game was won from the middle and Jordan was crucial to that. We’ve, understandably, been quick to point out when the Bees have sat back and absorbed. This time around, they were stroking it around like champions, with Jordan pick of the bunch and making 76 of the team’s 451 passes (Yehor adding a further 61, for the record).
If Igor is loving football life, then similar could be said for Jordan who is very much enjoying a renaissance for both club and country following his post-Liverpool moves.
4th (2 points) Michael Kayode
Another top five, another appearance from Michael. It was copy/paste Kayode. Long throws. Lung-busting runs up the right wing. Killer balls into the box to pick out Thiago and Schade. Only Damsgaard made more crosses. Only Yehor, Nathan and Jordan out-passed him.
The man is a machine.
5th (1 point) Kris Ajer
Well done, Kris. I said on the BBC before the game that it was an interesting line-up choice to go with two right-backs in the starting XI and leave two left-backs on the bench. That Keith had a tactical masterclass up his sleeve.
I still stand by the fact that, at face value, the decision to pick such a right-footed player ahead of KLP and Rico seemed a surprising one.
Yet, at the same time, he had a great game, and you can’t deny that. Kudos to Kris as the Bees were able to build down both flanks. Likewise to Keith who said before kick-off he wanted Brentford to be unpredictable.
He got that right!
All of which means that after Round 8 of fixtures, the current top five is:
- 1st Michael Kayode – 22 points
- 2nd= Jordan Henderson – 17 points
- 2nd= Yehor Yarmoliuk – 17 points
- 4th Igor Thiago – 13 points
- 5th Mikkel Damsgaard – 11 points
