Brentford rounded off 2025 with a 4-1 defeat of Bournemouth that saw them move to eighth in the Premier League table.
Despite once again choosing to leave Mikkel Damsgaard and Jordan Henderson on the bench, Keith Andrews must have been purring like the cat who’d got the cream after seeing his team win the game in such style. A hat-trick for Kevin Schade the obvious highlight but for me it was as much about the ruthlessness of the Bees. About enjoying the domination and control exerted against opponents who had gone into this one with just two points from their last eight games. You could see why. Keith could see why. His team could see why.
With the scent of blood in the water, they didn’t let up from start to finish.
Whereas Bournemouth were disjointed, disorganised and chaotic, the Bees were in cruise control. Slipping effortlessly through the gears as they cranked up the pressure. Finally remembering that wings aren’t just for the Gtech pigeons and so opting to use the full width of the pitch as well as both the fast ball through the middle and the long one over the top that we have become so familiar with. It was a combination of styles that produced devastating results.
Ten minutes in and it was 1-0 Brentford. Thiago playing the ball fast through the middle, giving Schade the chance to spring the trap and run at goal. It was Keith 101 but when it works, boy does it work.
A lung-busting run from the German saw him shrug off the lone challenger on the way through before finishing from a tight angle into the far corner. Brentford already ahead with a goal that the early exchanges had suggested was coming.
On pushed the Bees. Thiago next to try, but his finish was weak. Ajer perhaps could have done better from Vitaly’s delightful free kick, played deep into the heart of goalkeeping doubt.
Jensen lining up Schade where the German had two bites at the, err, Cherries but wasn’t quite able to get through. It would come, but not before the lead had been doubled from an unlikely source with half-time approaching.
Again, it was Thiago down the flank. He seemed sure to square it with Schade lurking, but instead kept going. Cutting in, his eventual ball was definitely more on the goalbound side of the proverbial cross-cum-shot. Đorđe Petrović in nets only able to parry it away to Bafodé Diakité. The centre back returning it straight back in the direction from which it had come. The ‘keeper then guiding it into the net for the most unfortunate/comedic (delete as applicable depending on who you support) of own goals.
Good to see that the money we paid Bournemouth for Dango has been invested so well. The fee paid to Chelsea for Petrović a reported £25m. Matthew Benham surprising perhaps even himself with the way that investment has produced unexpected benefit.
It was a moment of such farce that even Peter Gilham was, for once, left clutching for an update. “I don’t know who scored, but it’s 2-0” being the eventual words from our man-with-the mic. Never change, Peter. Never change.
It would be fair to say that the performance had warranted an extended lead and so as much as anything else, it was great to see both teams getting what they deserved. That, something never guaranteed by the fickle mistress that is footballing justice. Yet had there been any doubt about who was on top, it was dispelled within minutes of the restart.
The three changes made by Cherries’ boss Andoni Iraola proving as futile as expecting any semblance of decent performance from referee Peter Bankes. Thankfully, the Bees had enough about them to do things regardless of what obstacles were thrown in their path and on 50 minutes, Schade had his second. One has to say it was an utterly breathtaking goal.
Thiago releasing Schade on edge of Bees’ box. The German running full tilt down the length of the pitch. Thiago keeping pace with him before receiving the ball back. The pass played out wide as Schade continued his run to meet Yarmoliuk’s ball back into the box. The finish blistering. Petrovic only able to raise a hand as the ball flew past him for 3-0.
Boom. What a move. What a goal. It was box-to-box football that put one in mind of Mbeumo making it 4-0 against Manchester United. That, still up there in the all-time favourite Brentford goals.
The Bees three up. The Cherries now operating at Wolverhampton Wanderers levels of unadulterated woefulness. Battered and bruised. Out-run and outmuscled. The clock moving past the hour mark and the opposition unable to even think about finding a way through, such was the solidity of the Bees’ backline when threatened. Caoimhín Kelleher the safest of safe hands whenever the ball came near him.
Eventually, though, something went their way. Kelleher’s fine stop from Evanilson had suggested there was always the chance of something happening, no matter how remote it had felt for huge swathes of the game. Then, with the match entering the final quarter it came.
Semenyo’s back heel from close range given, despite a wait for VAR to see if it would heap further misery on the rotten Cherries. Kayode and Kelleher, for once powerless. The score moving to 3-1 and whilst seemingly too little, too late we were only a deflection away from squeaky bum time.
Changes came. Damsgaard and Hickey entering the field of play. Additional centre-backs left rooted firmly to the bench. The Bees weathering the briefest of squalls and then pushing on again. The passing around the pitch as much a delight to watch as it had been all game. The confidence surging through the team as everything they touched seemed to find feet.
Schade with another chance as the ‘keeper came rushing out. He reached Thiago’s hooked ball but the defender on the line just able to divert it. Vitaly then hitting the post but the ball falling beyond kindly for a perhaps exhausted KLP just yards out with the goal open. 4-1 here we come.
Move along, nothing to see here. Presumably, he knew he was in the offside position indicated by the linesman. Besides, such was the mood (not to mention his own exquisite finishing last week) there was more than enough credit in the bank to overlook what didn’t happen next.
On went Brentford. Keith’s obligatory subs with 88 on the clock allowing Reiss Nelson and Jordan Henderson to get involved. The former coming close almost immediately. The latter involved in the build-up play to Schade’s hat-trick goal in the 96th. Damsgaard’s eventual delivery as sweet as the German’s subsequent header. Petrović left clutching at air. Schade left clutching the match ball.
4-1 Brentford and a thoroughly magnificent display from start to finish. The passing, movement width and non-stop running of The Bees like nothing we have seen this season. Certainly, for such sustained periods. The more familiar Keith Andrews’ techniques of looking to free the fast runner or playing the lofted balls upfield (His ‘the floor is lava’ approach to the area between halfway line and opposition box) also used and to good effect. It was a perfect fusion of styles.
The Bees were a joy to watch but much as we could lavish further praise on them, perhaps let’s do it through our regular 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 (five points) Kevin Schade
If last week’s selection of KLP was nailed on, this time around Kevin’s name had looked destined for the top slot long before his third goal hit the back of the net.
He had an absolute barnstormer of a performance. Three sublime finishes, the second of which is the sort that deserves a place in our list of greatest ever goals – should such a thing ever be created. It really was that good in terms of both finish but, perhaps moreso, having the presence of mind and ability to do this after carrying the ball so far, so fast.
Sometimes Kevin blows hot. At others, cold. On Saturday afternoon, he was absolutely sizzling. It was beyond wonderful to see him and Igor working off each other. Keep this up and Tottenham could be in for a tonking.
On another day he could probably have had another two. He won’t care. Three points for the team, three goals for himself and, of course, our own star-player award are what Kevin will take away from this. Possibly.
2nd (four points) Igor Thiago
My word, for a big man he can move. What an absolute unit but what breathtaking speed and precision of passing. Add in the sheer physicality and you’ve got one hell of a player. The Brentford stats computer has done it again.
We all know about Igor’s goals – as we approach the half-way point in the campaign he remains the Premier League’s second-highest scorer.
For me though, this game was one which really showed his other side. Specifically, how hard he works. How intelligent a footballer he is in picking those runs and those passes. In the quality of his delivery. In his stamina.
The final score will show him as having the one assist – that for Kevin’s opener on 7 (seven) minutes. Make no mistake about his key contributions for both the second and third goals, too. He was absolutely critical to both.
Might even have found the back of the net himself but alas it wasn’t to be. This time. There’s always Spurs on Thursday though…
3rd (three points) Mathias Jensen
This was peak Jensen. In a game where everything Brentford tried came off, he was probably the most impressive of our central trio.
The flicks, the turns the nutmegs and the magnificence of passing. Opening up the opposition as easily as he would a can of drink. Everything he touched came off. His running with the ball at his feet equally comfortable.
I do wonder if Keith has now painted himself into a corner for the next game. Mikkel Damsgaard must be chomping at the bit to start that one but how do you bench an individual or change a winning team that have played so well?
What a lovely problem to have.
4th (two points) Yehor Yarmoliuk
If Jensen was vintage, Yehor again showed the class that has made him one of the Premier League’s most highly rated young talents. Not a bad pairing to have.
If he wasn’t playing the enforcer down our end, he was building the play towards the other. For all that the Bees were dominant the game actually finished with the visitors having more of the ball and more shots (don’t @ me, I’ve checked the stats this morning).
That it didn’t feel that was as much down to how our midfield shut it out when the ball was in front of us, then built when we’d won it back. Yarmo in particular was strong as an ox whilst his role in ‘that’ third goal was clear for all to see.
Even that aside, he remained a constant threat on the edge of the Bournemouth box when the Bees were in that final third. Looking to work an opening for one of his teammates and whilst he only got the one assist, he at least gets two more point in our search for player of the season
5th (one point) Vitaly Janelt
I was thinking long and hard about giving this to Caoimhín. He was solid as but, to be fair, so were the rest of the backline when required.
Instead, Vitaly gets the last point. We’ve called him this so many times before but he has long been the unsung hero of this side. He may not get the glory but he gets his place on merit. On tenacity. On absolute solidity.
Only Yehor out-passed him whilst he even had that rarest of things, a crack at goal. It almost came off, too. In all seriousness, I thought his presence and creativity was vital to the overall shape of the team. Moreso given how Brentford were then able to break wide with so much more abandon than normal.
All of which means that going into our next game, a visit from Spurs, Michael Kayode remains top of our table with the chasing pack getting ever closer. Perhaps symptomatic of a more attack focussed Brentford team in recent games? Long may that continue.
- 1st Michael Kayode – 37 points
- 2nd Igor Thiago – 33 points
- 3rd Jordan Henderson – 28 points
- 4th Mikkel Damsgaard – 25 points
- 5th Caoimhín Kelleher – 24 points
