Brentford v Aston Villa: Did you know?published at 16:07 6 March
16:07 6 March
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Following their 3-1 win at Villa Park in December, Aston Villa are looking to complete their first league double over Brentford since the 1946-47 campaign.
Having won 10 points from their first 12 available away from home in the Premier League this season, Aston Villa have since won just four from a possible 27 on the road.
Has Schade 'stepped up'?published at 14:04 6 March
14:04 6 March
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We asked for your views on one thing going under the radar at Brentford currently.
Here are some of your comments:
Tom: Kevin Schade. He was a bit unconvincing when he first joined the club, especially in comparison to the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa. This year, he's really stepped up and seems to fit like a glove into the front four, to the point where if one of our attackers was to leave this summer, I wouldn't be completely worried because we've got three other amazing forwards.
Jonna: Brentford's squad this season is really next season's team in development. The squad value of £400m shows Brentford are quietly putting together a hugely talented and relatively young team. We might sell a player or two in the summer but we now have depth and youth, gaining experience. Prepare for a "surprising" 25-26 season that those in the know can see coming.
Lucas: We are sometimes too respectful to teams because of who they are. One thing definitely flying under the radar though is how good Mikkel Damsgaard is.
AC: That we've played most of the season with about half of our starting XI, if not less. Most crucially, Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey have really been out since the 2022-23 season. And it's only this season the club has really started to build the bench and transition in earnest from the Football League to the Premier League.
What's one thing no-one is talking about?published at 16:52 5 March
16:52 5 March
After a sixth home game without a win last time out against Everton, Brentford are six points off the top six in the race for European football next season.
So what's your verdict on how things are going? Is there a reason behind the inconsistency - or is that just the Premier League?
You know the Bees best so tell us, what's the one thing - good or bad - going under the radar at Gtech Community Stadium right now.
Why I'm OK with Brentford not qualifying for Europepublished at 12:28 4 March
12:28 4 March
Ian Westbrook Fan writer
Image source, PA Media
After back-to-back away wins at West Ham and Leicester last month, there was talk of Brentford mounting a late push to get into Europe, although the home draw with Everton was a bit of a reality check.
Although I have already seen the Bees play in Europe, having twice travelled to Italy to see us in the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1992, I think a repeat next season is not going to happen - and here's why.
As I have said in previous pieces, this season Brentford have largely been very good against teams below us and pretty poor against those above us.
Of our 11 Premier League wins so far, nine have come when we faced teams in the bottom half, with the only exceptions the home defeats of Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Given that our next seven games are all against top-half teams, including trips to Bournemouth, Newcastle, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest, the chances of such a dramatic switch in form at this stage of the season seem remote.
But that's fine!
I will take a nice comfortable mid-table Premier League finish any time after years of watching us in the lower divisions. While that might not sound ambitious, it is still only four years into our Premier League life.
I would have preferred safety in the league to go hand-in-hand with a nice cup run, but in the FA Cup that would have been unlikely this season, given that our conquerors Plymouth were then drawn against Liverpool and Manchester City.
The remaining games might be the perfect opportunity to give more time to one or two of our youngsters in preparation for any possible big-name departures in the summer.
Hickey scores in first game since injury returnpublished at 17:53 28 February
17:53 28 February
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Aaron Hickey played the first 45 minutes for Brentford Under-21s as they won 2-0 against Birmingham City Under-21s in the Professional Development League.
The full-back made his first Brentford appearance since October 2023 and combined with Isaac Holland before curling an effort into the top corner.
The Scotland international will hope to build on his positive return as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Hickey joined Brentford from Bologna in July 2022 and signed a new contract with the Bees last month, committing his future to the club until 2028.
Before his injury, he had been a key part of Brentford's defence, making 37 appearances for Thomas Frank's side.
Brentford announce change to ownership structurepublished at 13:00 28 February
13:00 28 February
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Brentford have announced a change in ownership structure subject to approval from the Premier League.
In a statement on the club website, external, Brentford say owner Matthew Benham will transfer his shares to a new holding company as part of a change to the governance framework at Gtech Community Stadium.
Official supporters' trust Bees United will have its existing special share in the club replaced by a legally binding deed that ensures its ability to veto any proposed sale of the stadium and appoint a fan to the club’s board.
According to Brentford, this is part of a plan to "modernise" the ownership model as it will "provide greater flexibility" and "better position the club for future growth".
Benham "remains fully committed to ensuring Brentford FC's future", with chair Cliff Crown describing it as a transition to a "more conventional ownership structure".
Brentford 1-1 Everton - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:46 27 February
George: A fair result. We always suffer against teams that sit back off the ball in the first half, when our attacking play is at its strongest and it is a habit that has cost us many an early exit from cups against lower-league opposition. Everton were disciplined in their defence, and while Mark Flekken put in a great shift, we always struggle without Christian Norgaard shoring up our midfield.
Nicholas: A very flat performance from the Bees and lucky to get a point in all honesty. Amazing how the home form is now deserting us at the same time the away form is excellent. Funny old game!
James: Pretty lacklustre game all round. Flekken bailed us out of a Beto hat-trick. An even first half but Everton came out second half with more energy and desire. We never got going after that really. Thomas Frank, again, waited too long to make changes and didn't make enough; a lot of players looked tired.
Everton fans
Greg: We stuck at it and could have won it if we had someone who could finish. Anyone who thinks Beto is the answer is badly mistaken. Top marks to James Garner who was pulling the strings all game. Great to have him back. Moyes is doing a fantastic job.
Dan: On another day we win that. Three great chances for Beto and he could have slid Carlos Alcaraz in late on. But on the other hand, we could have lost that and before the Moyesiah's return, we probably would have. Good fightback and effort from the lads.
Ian: Beto, Beto, Beto - he has to put at least one of those chances away. Well done to the team to keep on fighting. A tough fixture that we should have won but came away with a good point.
Brentford 1-1 Everton: Mark Flekken saves the blushes for the Beespublished at 23:31 26 February
The result meant Thomas Frank's side fell eight points behind fifth-placed Chelsea but it could have been worse for the Bees if not for their Dutch shot-stopper.
With the hosts failing to find a breakthrough at the other end, Everton had two gilt-edged chances to take the lead in the first half.
On both occasions, Beto went one-on-one with Flekken with the keeper emerging on top both times to keep the score level before Yoane Wissa pulled Frank's side ahead in the first-half stoppage time.
The 31-year-old keeper also showed good reflex to keep out Jack Harrison's inswinging corner at the start of the second period.
He also denied the Toffees a victory in the closing stages, once again advancing off his line to deny Beto in the 88th minute.
"We should give big credit to Mark because we still got the draw with three one-on-ones for Beto and he saved it," Wissa told TNT Sports after the game.
"We could have lost today but we didn't."
'Probably a fair result'published at 23:01 26 February
23:01 26 February
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Brentford manager Thomas Frank, speaking to TNT Sports: "I think it's probably a fair result. We played a fairly good game but we lacked that cutting edge to make it 2-0. We controlled Everton really well.
"I don't think they had anything - except for the three one-on-ones. I know this might sound a bit crazy. But the first one was a Ethan [Pinnock] slip and the other one was a big mistake from us. So with that in mind, it was a fair result."
On goalkeeper Mark Flekken's performance: "He has been fantastic in many, many ways this season and that was three big saves."
On their home form: "Premier League is so even and so tight. It's very difficult."
Bees coach Cochrane joins England staffpublished at 11:18 26 February
11:18 26 February
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Brentford's assistant coach Justin Cochrane is to join Thomas Tuchel's England senior men's coaching team and will undertake the role in dual capacity with his responsibilities at the Bees.
The 43-year-old has been working for Brentford since June 2022.
"It's an honour to be asked to work for the senior men's national team," said Cochrane. "This is a really exciting opportunity for me and I'm extremely grateful to Brentford for allowing me to take on this role."
Cochrane, a young English coach with a well-regarded reputation for individual player development, is the final appointment to Tuchel's trusted team.
Brentford director of football Phil Giles said: "Justin has been doing a fantastic job for us over the last two-and-a-half years, and so this recognition of his coaching talent is very well merited.
"The exposure to different coaches, players and opponents will no doubt also be positive for Justin's ongoing development as a coach, as we envisage him being here with us for many more years to come."
Sutton's predictions: Brentford v Evertonpublished at 10:49 26 February
10:49 26 February
This is going to be close. Brentford have had back-to-back wins over West Ham and Leicester, while Everton's improvement under David Moyes has been dramatic.
Moyes has done an incredible job but the Blues have not suddenly become world-beaters. I do think they will lose some games, and this is one of them.
Brentford v Everton: Did you know?published at 08:56 26 February
08:56 26 February
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Having won their first two Premier League games against Everton in the 2021-22 campaign, Brentford are now winless in their past five against the Toffees.
Everton boss David Moyes has won one and lost five of his six Premier League meetings with Brentford, all with West Ham from 2021 to 2024. His 0.5 points-per-game against the Bees is his lowest average against any side in his managerial career in the competition.
'Brilliant forward planning' meets 'team spirit'published at 12:25 25 February
12:25 25 February
Ian Westbrook Fan writer
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Brentford were just one of the teams this weekend who showed the huge gap which now exists between the established and the promoted Premier League clubs.
Our 4-0 win at Leicester means we have now scored 20 goals this season against the Foxes, Southampton and Ipswich in only five games – made up of one five, three fours and a three. This follows on from our 5-1 win at Luton at the end of the last campaign.
Our recruitment seems to have been much better than theirs – buying players in the Championship who we knew could easily also play in the Premier League.
Friday's starting line-up contained four of our Championship players and two more would have been involved but for injury. That shows continuity and brilliant forward planning.
The length of service of so many key players has also produced a superb team spirit, which has been one of our strengths in the Premier League.
This is between both the older and the newer players, and another great example of this occurred late in the game at the King Power Stadium.
Summer signing Fabio Carvalho has had a stop-start time with the Bees so far, making only three starts in his 19 Premier League appearances.
There has been talk in some sections of the media about him being unsettled, but whenever it has been raised in press conferences, Thomas Frank has defended the player, saying he trains well and his chance will come.
So after Carvalho scored Brentford's fourth at Leicester and ran towards us in the away end, it was great to see his team-mates looking genuinely delighted for him that he had scored.
The perfect end to our fourth successive away win!
Frank on Norgaard, Damsgaard's influence and Evertonpublished at 17:29 24 February
17:29 24 February
Phil Cartwright BBC Sport journalist
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Everton (kick-off 19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Christian Norgaard will miss the Everton game with concussion, while Frank said none of the players who missed the win at Leicester will be fit enough to return on Wednesday.
The Bees have won four successive away games in the Premier League but have not won at home since 7 December, having previously been unbeaten on their own ground. Frank said: "If we can get the home form from the beginning of the season, it would be great."
He continued: "We have consistently performed well at home, I know we haven't won in the past games, but we have shown good performances. It was a good performance against Tottenham but we couldn't score. We are a team that looks quite in sync right now so hopefully we can keep producing."
On Mikkel Damsgaard's form: "He's changed our team this season. The 10 assists are extremely good, but there are so many dangerous passes through lines or getting out of situations - all the bits you don't see as not necessarily as a big chance. It's really nice to watch him play."
On Everton: "I think Sean Dyche did a very good job. Maybe in the end, there was a little bit of running out of energy, but I don't know from the inside. What happens sometimes is another good manager in David Moyes comes in with fresh eyes and a new energy. In terms of style, I don't think they have changed too much. The main reason, maybe, is the change of personnel."