A frustrating afternoon at Molineux saw Brentford’s European aspirations dealt a heavy blow by a Wolves team moving further away from the relegation zone.

We were outplayed and out thought. The post-Pontus era has started with a bump for Brentford. Barring some sort of medical miracle, last week’s injury-interrupted appearance against Newcastle will be his final game for the Bees following the announcement he’s joining Malmo next season.

Since then, emotions have been running high and the tributes gushing. Understandably so. There aren’t really the words to describe the excitement and sheer incredulity felt when he signed. This wasn’t the model of picking up raw but mysterious talent from around Europe. Of players who had a Danish connection.

We’d heard of Pontus. He’s was blinkin’ good. Writing a fans’ questionnaire for ‘442’ magazine as the Brentford ‘supporter’ back in June 2017, I’d answered the question:

The opposition player in our division that I secretly admire is…

With the answer: Pontus Jansson at Leeds United. What commitment from the man-mountain.

Oh, the genuine awe when he went on to join us. The man who had scored the late equaliser – in the Neal Maupay penalty celebration game – against us at Elland Road. Then promptly had his knuckles rapped for telling Sky Sports that it felt shit in his post-match interview. A man who inadvertently, at the time, opened the door for his move by refusing to participate in the faux-consolation of handing a goal to Aston Villa. His lung busting attempt to stop them being given the ‘sporting’ equaliser worked to our advantage in a way that only now can be truly, truly appreciated.

His arrival at Griffin Park is a moment that still feels like it was just five minutes ago. There he was at the training ground, pictured not only with Neal Maupay but also ‘that’ biro. Use it, fast, before anybody realises we’re commiting the transfer crime of the century. Metaphorically speaking. Yet it was done. And then some.

What he went on to achieve with Brentford is legend. Picking us up after the ‘behind closed doors’ play-off final defeat. Inspiring us the following season when, with some fans present, the Wembley hoodoo was finally broken. The jinx, lifted. The captain, inspirational.

From there, it got better. Much better. The Premier League story has been well told but that late, late winner at Watford was Pontus in a nutshell. From our hosts missing the most unmissable of chances down one end, The Bees breaking from the restart and Christian Eriksen dropping it directly on to the skipper’s head. There was no mistake made. Pontus powering over, above and through the defence to find the back of the net. Then run into the Bees support directly behind the goal. Not for the first time, our Harry’s love affair with the Bees matched only by the ever broader smile on his face. Pontus did that.

His will to win and experience was imperative in our dressing room. That ice-cold facade slowly melting away as there he was in a Christmas jumper. Making a mascot’s day (our Harry) by doing what felt at the time as though he was breaking his own rule of focus and walking out holding hands with the wide-eyed youngster. The Loftus Road mob subsequently blown away in one of the last games played out at GP before Covid robbed us of an official farewell.

Perhaps injury has done the same this time around. One thing’s for sure, when we walk out against Manchester City in May he’ll be there. Taking the applause one last time. Whilst playing seems as though it is beyond optimistic, at least we have the honour of saying goodbye together. Of saying thank you together.

What better way to do it than rediscovering our form and hitting those European places because wasn’t Pontus needed on Saturday?

Thomas Frank selected a back four, the skipper being replaced by Bryan Mbeumo. It was about as positive a formation as could have been picked yet then saw Brentford spending huge swathes of the game on the back foot. Wolves, picking up where they left off against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea, very much invited to press forward. Our midfield playing a game of after you, Claude.

For a moment it looked so good. Brentford picking up the ball from the off and releasing Norgaard down the right. Yet instead of drifting goalwards his cross went past everyone and into dead space. Talk about an omen.

Further warning signs were there. Raya tipping one over two minutes in. Jensen booked on 12 for tugging at Nunes on his charge through. The resulting free kick, thankfully headed straight into the arms of Raya.

The ‘keeper then getting down at the near post to smother one from Cunha. This, after Wolves had carved open the midfield and defence with a series of lightning quick one touch passes. Doing to us what we’ve done to so many before this season. The Bees unable to match our technique from previous games of shutting down the opposition and turning defence into attack.

The Bees with a smattering of half chances before succumbing to the inevitable. Diego Costa getting the opener. Unmarked in the middle. As was full back Toti who played it back across after receiving it from the eventual goal scorer. There was, perhaps, an element of fortune as it took a touch from Norgaard just prior to being struck but, in truth, the goal had been coming. If not here then surely only a matter of time.

The second half started with Bees pushing up. A fizzing cross into the box from Josh almost fell for Ivan and suggested more may be coming after an opening period in which we’d been very much on the back foot. Alas not.

Raya made another smart save from Diego Costa before being spared VAR blushes after clearing the ball from Toti. Yes, it was a definite fair challenge. Wolves all the more incensed given how just moments earlier they’d shouted for handball on Ethan. Both eventually deemed non-events. Brentford riding their luck – I’ve seen them given, Clive – and if anything handed the kick up the backside needed. Bullet dodged. Game on.

Except it wasn’t. Bees made the usual trio of second half subs. Wissa coming close after Craig Dawson had cleared a spillage from ‘keeper Sa. Yet with the pressure starting to build it was a Wolves substitution that saw the lead doubled. Nunes running down the right through Vitaly and Rico then steering them ball at and through both Mee and Norgaard to set up his team mate Hwang for the simplest of finishes via another harsh deflection before the ball was struck. This time, Ethan the man not quite able to steer it clear.

A late flourish saw a Norgaard header saved well by Sa, Ivan trying one of his trademark lobs (drifted wide) and then after that hitting the bar from a tight angle deep into stoppage time. It was too little, too late. Sadly.

So we move on. Three defeats on the bounce but a home fixture next. Thankfully. Even if it is with the Premier League form side, unstoppable Aston Villa.

Until then, let’s turn to the main reason for being here. Namely, the season long quest to find our overall top performer aswell as the game by game top five. Cripes, it’s tough today and if you saw this one live you’ll know there isn’t a huge amount to root over. So, with apologies for brevity, let’s cut to the chase.

Brentford Player Ratings from Matchweek 31 (vs Wolves)

1st (Star Player: 5 points) – David Raya
Took the honours at Brighton and does it again. Such was the way we ceded possession in the middle, and without the extra man at the back, without him it could have been 3 or 4 against.

He had no real chance with either of the two that got past – the aforementioned ‘nicks’ just before being struck not helping. Outside of these he looked unflappable with a number of regulation saves seeing him as solid as ever. How easy it would have been to spill these rather than smother.

It was a problem we suffered from in David’s absence last season. Thankfully, he’s played every minute this time around and it is performances like this – making the tricky seem simple – that really prove his worth.

2nd (4 points) – Bryan Mbeumo
Gave a damn. Gave his all. Tearing it up and down the pitch, he was the most likely to turn provider. Possibly even goal scorer although his first half shot on the angle, after seeing an initial cross to Kevin Schade returned by a defender, would have been better had he elected for a second cross rather than wayward strike.

Kept going until the end and it was his wonderfully delivered free kick late on that came oh so close to halving the deficit. Had Christian Norgaard’s header to meet it been a few inches either side we’d have had a barnstorming finish.

Alas, it wasn’t to be.

3rd (3 points) – Ivan Toney
Hit the bar late on but even prior to that, Ivan looked to be our only real threat. An attempted overhead kick in the first half with the scores still level had fans gasping whilst his shot from a Bryan through ball fell agonisingly close for Josh.

Ultimately though it was a smattering of half chances. On another day one might have gone in but not this time.

4th (2 points) – Ethan Pinnock
Solid. As ever. An early clearance under pressure set the tone for an afternoon where Wolves had 9 shots on target and were invited on to us tune and again. However, on an afternoon where standout performances were thin on the ground, Ethan did enough to take our fourth spot.

5th (1 point) – Ben Mee
Equally solid. Ethan took fourth for me but you could have made a case for either player. Like his defensive partner, stood out as one of the better performers on what will go down as a bad day at the office.

Brentford Player Ratings – Top 5 Players Overall (after Matchweek 31)

All of which means that with just 7 (seven) games to go, Ivan Toney has increased his lead over Ben Mee in the battle for overall star player. Ethan Pinnock closes the gap between second and third to a single point, Rico stays fourth whilst Mathias Jensen and David Raya are tied in fifth.

There’s all to play for when Villa come to town at the weekend.

1st – Ivan Toney (57 points)
2nd – Ben Mee (50 points)
3rd – Ethan Pinnock (49 points)
4th – Rico Henry (46 points)
t5th – Mathias Jensen, David Raya (44 points)

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2022-23 Brentford Player Ratings – Matchweek 31 vs Nick Bruzon