Brentford made it four points from six on the road over the last few days after coming away from Bournemouth with a 0-0 draw. Here are nick Bruzon's player ratings.
In truth, the 4-3 goalfest at Burnley was always going to be a tough act to follow. Moreso with the hosts only four points behind the Bees going into this one, and on an impressive run of unbeaten form.
The only similarity between the two games being VAR coming to Brentford’s rescue once more. The Cherries, particularly manager Andoni Iraola, labouring under the belief they should have been awarded a penalty after Marcus Tavernier appeared to stumble in the box under pressure from Michael Kayode.
It was one of those where VAR gets it right, depending on who you support. Any contact that I saw seemed minimal, but judging by the subsequent theatrics from the Bournemouth boss, you’d think Kayode had donned a top hat, cape, given his waxed moustache a twirl, and uttered a hearty guffaw before taking out a tripwire to bring Tavernier down. Equal chagrin being reserved for Darren England on VAR, who gave it very careful scrutiny before deciding that no foul had taken place.
Perhaps Brentford did dodge a bullet. Perhaps we are finally getting the rub of the VAR green. Have the last two games proven the old maxim about how these things even out over the course of a season?
That’s not how VAR is supposed to work, and I don’t buy that it should, either. It was simply another moment on a night of them where Keith Andrews showed the proverbial luck of the Irish as the hosts did everything but score a goal.
Tavernier hit the frame of the goal twice (including the alleged penalty incident). Kroupi saw his goal-bound effort deflected wide by one of his own players during time added on to roll just past the post. Evanilson jinked his way through the Brentford backline to find the back of the net, but was offside, whilst Kelleher’s positioning was magnificent all game. The ‘keeper able to either thwart or put off the home side. He did so well to force Ryan Christie wide in the opening period whilst also denying Tavernier with a fine stop when bearing down on goal.
The Bees, by contrast, seemed strangely subdued in the business end of the pitch. A smattering of efforts, but the balance felt lopsided and heavily reliant on bringing the ball up the right. Kevin Schade was very quiet on the left, and the cause there not helped by Rico Henry going off after just twenty minutes with what looked like a hamstring injury. Fingers crossed that doesn’t prove to be significant and was nothing more than a precautionary move. Moreso with Aaron Hickey ruled out until after the March international break.
For me, it was crying out for KLP, but instead, Keith brought on Kris Ajer. It seemed an over-cautious move that early into the game, but it’s all very easy being a manager when you aren’t the one in the hotseat. Besides, we have the advantage of both hindsight and the fact that our opinions have no actual outcome on the game. Even if they do make for good fun in the pub afterwards and on the journey home. The decision ultimately justified by the clean sheet, but the flip side being we lost the overlap potential that Rico had been bringing, and which we know Keane has also done so well during his own stints in that position.
Coulda. Woulda. Shoulda. If the Bees are chewing over a tactical call that helped see them take a point, it’ll be nothing compared to Iraola’s regret. We said in the preview that Keith had played his ‘get out of jail, free’ card. Perhaps he had another one tucked up his sleeve. How the home side didn’t get the win, I’ll never know, but kudos to Brentford’s midfield and defence.
As we’ve said so many times before, opportunity counts for naff all if you can’t find the back of the net and, quite bluntly, Bournemouth threw it away. The way they were going, Iraola could have fallen into a barrel of lollipops, and he’d have still come out sucking his thumb.
That’s their problem, not ours. The night getting even better following Liverpool’s late, late capitulation at Wolves, which meant the Bees closed the gap on the Anfield outfit by another point. Should Aston Villa manage to do their thing at home to Chelsea tonight, it could make the race for the top five even more interesting than it already is.
That’s out of our hands, for now. Brentford have an FA Cup fifth round match at West Ham on Monday, followed by the visit from Championship-bound Wolves a week later. The Molineux side finally waking from their slumbers in the league but surely leaving themselves too much to do with too little time remaining?
All that’s to come, but for now our regular look to who might be Brentford’s player of the season and the top five player ratings from this game. Five points awarded for our star player, four for second, three for third, etc., etc. The overall winner determined after game 38, when the final tallies are confirmed.
Star player (5 points) Michael Kayode
Whatever misfortune Michael suffered at Burnley, it clearly had zero impact on his own mindset and approach to this game.
I thought he was brilliant. Moreso on a night where the Bees found themselves often on the back foot, away from home against a team who have their own European aspirations. He didn’t put a foot wrong but, instead, provided that muscular presence at the back to either block, tackle, or head clear. More importantly, to then look at bringing the ball out of defence with a cultured run rather than an agricultural hoof.
With so much of Brentford’s play emanating from that side, it’s no surprise he was heavily involved, but we also had the pleasure of seeing him set off on those diagonal runs from back right to top left through the middle. He’s got the momentum of a runaway freight train and is equally hard to stop.
Second (4 points) Mathias Jensen
The captain’s armband may have been handed back to the returning Nathan Collins, but that didn’t stop Mathias leading by example.
Did his very best to try and open up a resolute Bournemouth side with his passing, pivots, and almost ballerina-like turning with the ball at his feet. Mathias was equally adept at winning the ball with nobody, from either team, outtackling him all night.
With Vitaly missing through injury, his own steel was even more important than ever, but safe to say he delivered in all areas – even mixing it up with Kayode for throw-in duty. Did somebody mention we take them long?
Third (3 points) Mikkel Damsgaard
Mikkel was magnificent at Burnley, and he carried it on here.
Safe to say that it was a much tougher ask this time around, but that didn’t mean any less effort in supporting a front three who struggled to get through that last line of defence. Passing, moving, and running still of the highest order on what turned out to be a real battle for the Bees. This week’s top five hanging on fine margins and so well done in even being selected.
The aforementioned international break could prove an interesting one. He (and Mathias) may well end up being pitted against Nathan and Caoimhín in a ‘winner takes all’ shootout for World Cup qualification. On this form, that could be a very tough one to call.
Fourth (2 points) Caoimhín Kelleher
Moreso given how Caoimhín had gone this season.
I thought he played really well last night, further cementing his place in our top five. Funnily enough, there were only a couple of ‘actual’ saves, but it was as much his positioning that caused nightmares for a Bournemouth team who simply could not find a way through.
Equally, his confidence in what felt like a very crowded penalty box, where the ball had the potential to go anywhere off anyone.
Fifth (1 point) Jordan Henderson
How good to see him starting before playing the main role in Keith’s customary 60th-minute substitutions.
For the hour he was on pitch, I thought Jordan was solid. As important as anybody in the middle in breaking up the opposition attack. Perhaps moreso given where he plays. Still strong as an ox and with the speed of a gazelle when choosing to break forwards.
Whilst Jordan couldn’t quite pull off the win, he still did more than enough – in my opinion – to warrant top five inclusion.
All of which means that with just nine games left to play, Michael Kayode reclaims top spot whilst Mathias Jensen hauls himself back past the unfortunate Rico Henry into fifth. Here’s to the FA cup and then the visit of Wolves…
- 1st Michael Kayode. 51 points
- 2nd Igor Thiago. 47 points
- 3rd Mikkel Damsgaard. 38 points
- 4th Caoimhín Kelleher 37 points
- 5th Mathias Jensen 34 points
