A 2-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest at the Gtech on Saturday afternoon saw Brentford return to winning ways and end the day sixth in the Premier League table.
It wasn’t the greatest game of football – one North Stand observer opining that even last on Match of the Day would be one position too high – but a win is still a win. A second goal for Igor Thiago, following his late consolation at Sunderland in the cup, utterly priceless. Could the floodgates be opening once more after what has been, by last season’s diluvian standards, somewhat of a drought?
Let’s hope, Moreso, given the Bees are now entering a really tough-looking five-game run of fixtures – Brighton (a), Everton (h), Manchester United (a), Arsenal (h), Manchester City (h) – of which the trip to Old Trafford could arguably be described as, if not the easiest, certainly the least difficult. What price would Keith Andrews pay to have his main target man once again sporting a pair of Billy’s Boots (IFYKYK)?
It is a sequence that the team should be starting in high spirits after another clean sheet and another win. Whilst perhaps not the most exhilarating of games – Igor’s goal was one of only two shots on target from either side (Forest’s James McAtee with the other, late on) the Bees were professional throughout. A solid team performance in which they looked the more dangerous.
That difference in class eventually told, despite Forest bossing the ‘shot’ count (15 to our 7) and the possession, with a whopping 58.5%. Whatever that’s worth. If I had a pound for every time we’ve mentioned on these pages that those figures count for naff all compared to actual goals, I’d be looking at a good £8 in the bank. Minimum.
Thus, it was again Sangaré firing over early on. McAtee curling one just wide for the visitors and not much else happening. Two teams who gave the impression of trying not to lose, but Brentford looking the side more likely to do something when they had the ball. Forest resorting to their usual.
Eventually, it came. Kelleher opting to play one long out of his box rather than the backline tippy-tapping it around. Perhaps the opener at Hull City last weekend serving as a reminder against over-elaborating every single time. The ball finding Dango on the right and his low, fast cross was turned in off the toes of Nikola Milenković.
The Forest defender getting himself in a tangle, leaving Matz Sels in nets with no chance. 1-0 Brentford and the home support erupting. As much with the elation of the goal as Peter Gilham’s announcement:
“Ok, a goal for Brentford. I don’t know who scored. Who cares!!”
On pushed the Bees, Kevin Schade chopped down in full flow by the clumsy Milenković. A free kick awarded just outside the box and up stepped the captain, Mathias Jensen. His curled effort beating Sels but cannoning to safety off the crossbar. The Tricky Trees saved by the woodwork. That solitary goal separating the teams as they made their way in for half-time.
Forest using the interval to shake things up. Still pushing but lacking any meaningful penetration. Kelleher had already made the game’s solitary save in the first half and so was left with not much actual work to do. Keith waiting until the customary hour mark to make his own changes. Sangaré making way for Aaron Hickey; Mikkel Damsgaard for Jensen.
Yet it was that man, Jaidon Anthony, who was once more to provide the real spark. His arrival from the bench with the clock reading 72 adding a level of oomph to the Bees that culminated in Igor’s finish.
You see what happens when you have the target man in the danger and the wide men doing the business out wide, then whipping it in hard and low? If I had a pound for every…
It was all the more pleasing if for no other reason than the early exchanges had seen Igor paid close attention by the visiting defenders. Optimistic high balls just not sticking. Use him properly and look what happens.
It helped that by this stage the Forest defence were hopelessly out of shape. Any one of three Bees’ players with only Sels in front of them might have hoped for the ball. Their problem, not ours.
It was Thiago who got himself in the right place at the right time. The outcome, inevitable, even if it was helped by a deflection from the hapless Milenković.
“IT on Halloween. Inevitable”. This, the update on Twitter for those keeping tabs that way. Presumably they meant Igor Thiago rather than Ivan Toney or a fright wigged-clown (RIP Tim Curry).
2-0 Brentford and that’s how it stayed. Another win for the Bees. The Gtech as boisterous as the old Ealing Road (left, middle and right) with the only spirits on Halloween being the high ones our support left with.
The importance of that forthcoming sequence not lost on anybody. Third-placed Brighton are five points ahead and whilst they’re enjoying their own success at present (including that terrifyingly competent-looking win at The Etihad on Saturday evening) Keith has a squad to match if he can get the balance and tactics right.
That’s to come, but for now we have our usual top-five player ratings. Five points awarded for star player, four for second, three for third etc. The overall winner of our player-of-the season then determined after game 38 when the final tallies are confirmed.
Star player AND second place positions.
Star player (5 points) Sepp van den Berg
A tough call for star player but I’m giving it to Sepp.
I thought he and Kris made an outstanding partnership with Forest unable to make any headway and despite the advantage that the stats may have suggested, reduced to nothing more than pot-luck. An early hiccup aside, that came to nought, I don’t think he put a foot wrong. Reliable, rock-solid,
Kris has been on wonderful form these past few weeks and there’s a strong case to be made for him to hoover up another five-point haul. However, on yesterday’s showing Sepp looked like he’d been in this team all season. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Second (4 points) Kris Ajer
It could so easily have been a third star player award out of the last four league games for Kris.
Instead, he’ll have to be content with a ‘mere’ 17 points out of the last 20, zooming to the lead position in our top five and, on pitch, becoming as nailed on a first-choice centre back as is possible.
One has to wonder how Nathan Collins and Jannik Schuster will get back into the starting XI on current form although if Keith is reading (he isn’t) please, let’s not get any idea about going with 3. It really, really doesn’t suit the team.
The club would afterwards describe the central defensive pairing as “Monsters at the back”. I couldn’t agree more and, even now, am umm-ing and ah-ing over whether the right call was made for star player.
He was imperious, Sepp likewise. At the end of the day (Clive) I’m going to keep Kris second as much because he has been there and done it all season. This was his fifth successive top-five appearance with the sort of performance we are now expecting every game.
Sepp has come in to the side relatively late, given his own and then others’ injuries, but has slotted straight back in where he left off.
Third (3 points) Vitaly Janelt
He was everywhere. Except the referee’s notebook.
Vita’s performance was one which channelled all his drive and determination into chasing down the ball, felling the Forest and undertaking his own personal challenge to cover every blade of grass.
I was quite critical after the Liverpool game and his two bookings (as much of Keith, to be fair) but this time around it seemed clear that the two had decided on the proper way to approach this one. It worked wonders, with Captain Fantastic (Jensen) stepping in when a polite word with the ref was needed.
Instead of silly bookings, we got 90 minutes of full-on man-machine action. Joint top of the tackle count (with Sepp). Bossing the midfield pass count, too.
Fourth (2 points) Dango Ouattara
Although we’re down to fourth, like the top two, you could probably have made an argument for the remaining three to be in any order.
To be honest, even inclusion is a bonus on an afternoon where there were a few stand-out performances on the front foot but as a cohesive, TEAM unit, Brentford were superb.
Dango looked as threatening as anybody but has the added kudos of being creator-in-chief of that opening goal for the Bees.
His pace and tenacity on the flank second to none. His ball in leaving Milenković open the door on his journey into whatever personal Halloween horror show he felt obliged to take.
Fifth (1 point) Keane Lewis-Potter
It could have been Hickey – the pass alone after picking up the ball from Vita was as luscious as Ned Flanders in a ski suit. Oh, that turn and sweet caress of the ball to bisect the Forest midfield and pick out Jaidon perfectly.
It might have been Sangaré, who put an absolute shift in through the middle but was pulled off on the hour mark. Likewise, Jaidon Anthony, who was magnificent in his 20 minutes but, like Vita, it was those out there for the full 90 that we need to prioritise when it gets this tight.
KLP did just that. After the Sunderland game, it was probably more important than ever that we get a good performance in this position. Safe to say he didn’t disappoint
All of which means that after 9 games we have a new leader. Kris Ajer takes over the top spot from Kevin Schade, with Vitaly Janelt hot on his heels.
Next up, the trip to the South Coast on Sunday but for now, this is how we are looking in the race to discover the Bees’ player of the season
- 1st Kris Ajer 18 points
- 2nd Vitaly Janelt 16 points
- 3rd= Keane Lewis-Potter 15 points
- 3rd= Kevin Schade 15 points
- 5th Caoimhín Kelleher 14 points
