Nick picks out the cream of the crop from Brentford’s Gameweek 36 win over Southampton and updates his Top 5 players over the season to date.
Brentford got back to winning ways after Monday’s blip at Old Trafford with as comfortable a win as one could ever hope to see.
A 3-0 defeat of Southampton ensured revenge was a dish very much served cold following our reverse on the road earlier in the season. That, one of the most abject performances we’d seen all campaign.
This time around, there was no messing around. Thomas Frank reverting to the formation that had served him so well in recent weeks. A four-man defence with Kris Ajer and Rico Henry as full backs and Mads Bech sitting alongside Pontus Jansson in the middle. The two personnel changes seeing Yoanne Wissa and Mathias Jensen selected in lieu of Vitaly Janelt and Mads Roerslev. It would be fair to say the Brentford head coach got it spot on, again.
Brentford 2-0 up before we’d even reached the quarter hour mark.
First up, Pontus Jansson. That man just can’t stop scoring. The Bees’ captain quickest to react as Ivan Toney played it in to a crowded box, a foot was stuck out and with one touch it was in the back of the net. The roar from the crowd and the smile from the skipper said it all.
Little more than a minute later the lead was then doubled. Despite a foul on Christian Eriksen in the build-up, he was still able to slide the ball through to Wissa and with the referee allowing advantage to play out, the ball was fired home from the edge of the box. A trademark celebration in front of the West Stand and Brentford were as good as home before some fans had even taken their seats. The score remaining the same until half time although to be honest with you the gap could, perhaps should, have been even broader.
Prior to the opener, Mathias Jensen had got away down the right to stretch the Southampton defence. Bryan set up Rico down the opposite flank and a delicious ball across the face of the goal was played towards the Danish International waiting at the back stick. With the Saints defence stretched tighter than a pair of teenager’s jeans, the fans were already cheering a certain goal. Alas, the midfielder couldn’t quite guide it home. Any body part would have done but with the ball dropping slightly behind instead it was bundled wide.
Wissa, likewise, could have added to the total. Again, it was a case of seemingly all the hard work done in the preparation before the move culminated with the ball fired over rather than in.
To criticise would be churlish. Make no mistake this felt every bit as in control as the West Ham game. Brentford back to their free-flowing best. Jensen with another chance before Kris Ajer eventually made it three with little over ten minutes remaining. His wriggle, shimmy and run in the box culminating in a ball being slid through the legs of Fraser Forster and in to the back of the net. A wonderful move and a sweet finish. The game never in doubt with Southampton rarely threatening and now put to bed.
A bed made with clean sheets as David Raya displayed all the confidence he exudes in those rare moments of penetration from the visitors.
Brentford 12th. 43 points amassed after Gameweek 36. Premier League football all but assured for another season barring a freak combination of results and goal difference swings. Tenth place still a very real possibility and the prize we’ll be playing for.
That, and of course, the Gameweek 36 star man prize although who to pick for an afternoon that saw about as complete a team performance as they come? The players may aswell chuck their car keys into a bowl to try and pick out a top five, although we’ll try to apply a little more logic. No matter how harsh it may be on the six (plus substitutes) who miss out.
Brentford Player Ratings from Gameweek 36 (vs Southampton)
1st (Star Man) – Kris Ajer
His goal was worth the admission money alone.
For a big man, he can certainly look light on his feet and that dance through the box was met with the most confident of finishes. That he found himself so high up the pitch was symptomatic of an afternoon where Brentford took the game to their opponents from the off.
When called upon at the back he was as comfortable as they come but in truth, it was the dynamic approach that really sealed his and our victory.
2nd – Yoane Wissa
Come for the goals. Stay for ‘that’ celebration. We only saw it once but the calmness of the finish and the speed of the run on to the ball were exquisite. The run to the fans rather than his teammates as the ball nestled in the back of the goal speaking volumes about his relationship with the Bees faithful. About the joy felt in that moment of seeing the net ripple.
Scored one. Could have been two but an afternoon where he never stopped running sees him in second place
3rd – Pontus Jansson
Like Ajer, colossal at the back when needed. Like Ajer, found himself in the opposition box as much as ours.
Pontus has always come across as an emotional chap and the smile on his face through this game spoke volumes about how things were going. A deft touch to steer the ball home for the opening goal and a performance where it seemed he was going for more than one. The skipper showing this sort of form, confidence and strength must be a manager’s dream.
4th – Christian Norgaard
And again. Copy-paste Christian in to the top five. He has been one of our standout players all season and has only thrived alongside his international colleagues.
Locking it up in front of the defence. Playing it forward with that eye-of-a-needle precision and breaking forward with the confidence of a galloping thoroughbred.
He may not get the goals of Ivan Toney or pull off the athletic saves of David Raya (who can count himself unlucky to miss out) but it is that all encompassing presence that makes him so key to Brentford’s fortunes.
5th – Mathias Jensen
It’s easy to point towards missed chances. Everybody’s an expert from the safety of the stands or playing FIFA.
Like the home game with Man Utd, it was Mathias the one even creating the opportunities in the first instance. Working the position and losing his man to get there. Might feel he could have opened proceedings but it was as much his wriggling through the midfield all afternoon that earns the recognition.
Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Gameweek 36)
All of which means Ivan retains a one-point advantage over Rico after Gameweek 36, with Christian Norgaard and Bryan slugging it out just behind them. Vitaly Janelt remains in fifth but Kris Ajer and Pontus Jansson are hot on his tail.
1st – Ivan Toney
2nd – Rico Henry
T3rd – Christian Norgaard, Bryan Mbuemo
5th – Vitaly Janelt
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Brentford Player Ratings – Gameweek 36
