Brentford’s dramatic comeback victory over Watford in Gameweek 16 took their Premier League points tally to 20 points. Nick Bruzon runs us through the best 5 players from the game and provides an update to his Top 5 Bees over the course of the season to date.
If ever there was a reminder needed that football is a 90-minute game then here it was. Not that one was necessarily required after Brentford were pegged back at the death last weekend in Leeds.
This time however, the boot was on the other foot and despite dominating the game, Thomas Frank’s injury hit Bees found themselves a goal down going into the final ten minutes of Friday night’s home game with Watford.
Then, it all went bonkers.
Pontus Jansson with his first Brentford goal levelling it up despite an interminable wait for a VAR check. Inspired by the skipper, Brentford continued to push until deep into stoppage time, what we all wondered might happen actually happened….. The Bees were awarded a penalty with Ivan Toney off the pitch.
With our talismanic spot kick specialist still missing after the Covid Test that forced him to sit out the game at Elland Road. Who would be handed the ball?
The answer, Bryan Mbeumo. The finish, well he Toney’d it. The seemingly hesitant approach to force goalkeeper Bachmann into a dive and then calmly stroked it into the bottom of the net. Scenes. Limbs. Noise. An eruption of joy. Three points confirmed moments later for a Brentford team who were also missing Sergi Canos (suspended) and Ethan Pinnock (covid).
Patched up and rejigged, it was a hard fought but thoroughly deserved win from a game where Brentford had total control and all the possession but, until late on, had been unable to offer any reply to the early goal (of only two notable efforts) from Watford.
So, up to 9th in the Premier League and twenty points scored. For context, that’s ten clear of the relegations spots and just 7 (seven) short of the Champions League places prior to the Saturday fixtures unfolding.
Next up, the visit from a rejuvenated Manchester United side on Tuesday. An evening sure to have Lionel Road rocking beyond even the levels which greeted full time.
That’s to come. For now, we need to look back at Watford. Who played their socks off? Who were the star men? Can anybody make inroads into the season long top five or even overtake Ivan Toney at the top?
Brentford Player Ratings from Gameweek 16 (vs Watford)
1st (Star Player) – Vitaly Janelt
He comes from Germ-any. And now he is a Bee. As the song goes.
Well, to that list you can also add central defender. The midfielder pressed into emergency action on the left side of our back three after Ethan was ruled out. If lacking the experience, he made up for it in confidence and speed. Rock solid at the back and confident going forward, it was his cross that was flicked on by Marcus Forss to Pontus and start the other of all revivals.
A top, top performance all round from Vitaly.
2nd – Christian Norgaard
Very much our Mr. Consistent and another quality performance in the centre of the park.
His ability to break up the opposition attack and then drive the Bees forward in evidence yet again. He makes it all look so effortless yet I can’t remember him putting a foot wrong despite stroking it around with timely challenges and deft touches for 90 minutes. Wasn’t afraid to get forward and had a key role in freeing up Ghoddos for the eventual penalty late on. Kept his head and his cool to deliver another slide rule pass that saw the Iranian chopped down as he was about to square it.
3rd – Bryan Mbeumo
At one point it seemed as though Bryan was going to walk it single handed. One surging run and shot in the first half deserving of much more than Bachmann turning it wide with our man in full overdrive. Drifted out of things a bit until that final, frenetic kitchen sink flurry that culminated in Mbeumo channeling his inner Ivan.
What nerves. What cool. What a moment. What a way to send us all happy.
4th – Pontus Jansson
Colossal at the back but magnificent at the other end. Might even have scored early doors although, in the end, it was well worth the wait.
The reaction for his equaliser was nuts. The moment we’ve all been waiting for finally arrived and what a time for it to happen. As much as anything else, Pontus’ blood pumping exhortations to his team mates and the fans to give it one final push was as critical as anything he did on pitch. You could see what it meant. You could see the reaction. Captain Fantastic leading by example. Oh, to be able to bottle that passion.
5th – Mads Roerslev
On a night of consistent all round performance from the Bees this could just as easily have gone to Charlie Goode or Shandon Baptiste.
However, in a season where our thin squad has been hit by a variety of absences, Mads’ emergence into the right wing back role traditionally occupied by Sergi has given a much needed extra option.
Found plenty of space and wasn’t afraid to push up or commit. With the Spaniard available for the Manchester United game, this performance may well have given Thomas Frank the nicest of selection decisions. Especially if Ivan is back amongst us…
Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Gameweek 16)
All of which means Ivan Toney remains out in front but by the narrowest of margins. Christian joins Rico Henry in joint second position with Bryan just behind in fourth and then Vitaly joining Sergi in overtaking the unfortunate David Raya. Tuesday night could be huge for more than one reason.
1st – Ivan Toney
2nd – Christian Norgaard
3rd – Rico Henry
4th – Bryan Mbuemo
T5th – Vitaly Janelt, Sergi Canos
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