Back to back home defeats of Liverpool and then Newcastle United, along with wins at West Ham aswell as Grimsby Town in the league cup have seen The Bees (cliché alert) very much buzzing. Here’s our preview for the weekend’s trip to Brighton.
The only outlier over that period was the reverse at Crystal Palace. Let’s just put that one down to the proverbial bad day at the office. Besides, the reaction in the following game against The Magpies more than hammering home the point that when Keith Andrews’ team fires, they are more than a match for anybody.
Indeed, much as the steamrolling of both Manchester United and Liverpool has been beyond satisfying, for me, the defeat of Eddie Howe’s side was perhaps the performance of the season. As much down to the relentless spirit of Brentford despite going 0-1 down against the run of play as the fact that Stuart Attwell was having one of ‘those’ afternoons that he seems to specialise in.
The man in the middle seeming to fly in the face of the Premier League’s 2025/26 edict that referees, “Will also maintain stronger measures to reduce time-wasting and disruption tactics ”. Their words, not mine, yet nothing more than a work of willful fantasy when handing Mr. Attwell the keys to the car. Perhaps more laughable was the fact that Newcastle, who had previously taken the game to Bryce Samba levels of disruption, flicked the fitness switch from sack of spuds to Olympian athletes when they were forced to chase the game.
I pity the refs at times, and do see what the VAR teams are trying to do. Yet no amount of repeated viewing will make me think that the penalty that wasn’t given should have been, while the one that was probably shouldn’t. When you get a game that only felt like 11 v 11 once the ref was left with literally no choice but to show Dan Burn a second yellow, it made the eventual victory even sweeter.
The big question now is whether Brentford can pick up at Brighton on Saturday afternoon where they left off a fortnight ago? All being well, there have been no injuries reported in the aftermath of what was, thankfully, the last international break for a while. Certainly, all our players seemed to make it off the pitch in one piece, whilst morale will be through the roof – especially for the likes of Aaron Hickey, Nathan Collins, and Caoimhín Kelleher. There were what can politely be called ‘scenes’ following those incredible victories for Scotland and Ireland, which earned automatic qualification for the World Cup and a play-off spot respectively.
The not-so-good news being Thursday evening’s announcement in regard to Fabio Carvalho, who the club confirmed will miss the rest of the season after suffering an ACL injury. This is desperate news for a player who has been part of the matchday squad all campaign and somebody we usually saw make an appearance at some point during a game.
Being honest, it is unlikely to impact Keith Andrews’ team selection. The head coach has, seemingly, consigned the back five set-up to the dustbin of history. It didn’t work, and we’ll hopefully never see this again.
The faster-paced, pressure game afforded by the extra attacking outlet definitely one which has worked in Brentford’s favour this season. The ability to release Ouattara, Schade, or Thiago, a tactic which has worked as effectively as our much-touted long throws. The goal against Manchester United was a quintessential example, although, if we are talking VAR and referees, definitely one where the Premier League’s approach worked in our favour that day.
Whether the alleged foul by Kayode in the build-up or the quite wonderful mugging off of Harry Maguire by Thiago. The Brazilian timing his run to perfection, breaking forward as Maguire stepped up the other way. It all happened so fast it seemed a mile offside in the ground, but the review system working in Brentford’s favour and, indeed, forensic frame-by-frame analysis afterwards showing just how well everybody had called that one. The officials included.
We digress. It is a goal mentioned as much because I’m still purring inwardly about it. Thiago’s run and finish an absolute blockbuster. It is one which has propelled him to second in the Premier League goal-scorers chart. Only Erling Haaland above him. Presumably, it is a run that Keith will look to see continue when he names a team of:
Kelleher, Hickey, Kayode, Collins, Van den Berg, Henderson, Damsgaard, Yarmoliuk, Schade, Ouattara, Thiago.
That’s my best guess. It doesn’t take Einstein to see what is working, though. Instead, we’ll be as reliant on the full 16 with the use of subs equally pivotal – just look at Mathias Jensen. Talk about somebody who has become an impact player. He’ll be as keen as any of the subs to retain his place in the starting XI, but, much like Vitaly Janelt, I can’t see either dislodging anybody at present. Imagine saying that a season or two ago?
For Brighton, there are some injury concerns, albeit mostly long-term. Yasin Ayari (ankle) picking up a knock for Sweden to join a list that already contains James Milner, Brajan Gruda, Kaoru Mitoma, Solly March, Adam Webster, and Jack Hinshelwood.
There’s still plenty of threat. Danny Wellbeck sits just behind Thiago in that aforementioned goal-scoring chart. The calls for him to be picked for England’s World Cup squad despite not being selected since 2018 growing. Perhaps the secret to stopping him will be to stop the supply.
Yankuba Minteh has got the ball into the opposition box more times than any other player in the Premier League. He’s done this 35 times in their 11 games played, and so shutting him out will be as important as anything else Keith instructs his team to do, I’m sure.
The Amex is always a cracking place to go for a game. Great design and always boisterous. As much from the visitors as the home side. The Bees have, unsurprisingly, sold out their travelling allocation, so they will be doing their best to lift the roof and silence the home support.
Ultimately, it’s the players on the pitch that hold the power to do that. It is a game where victory will offer another chance to close in on the leaders. Fourth-placed Sunderland are currently just three points ahead of both sides.
Brighton started the campaign at pace but have fallen away slightly. Brentford, catapulting away from a brief flirtation with the bottom quarter of the table and now shooting upwards.
Will the Seagulls be the bus parked in front of the Brentford express? Does this have high-scoring draw written all over it? Could The Bees bring their home form to an away game?
This one really has the potential to be a cracking game of football. Bring it on, and here’s to 3pm on Saturday afternoon.
