Brentford

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

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!

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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."

Catch up with Monday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester and Brentford.

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• Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

• Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea

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We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Leicester and Brentford, which the Bees won 4-0.

Here are some of your comments:

Leicester fans

Keith: An absolutely disgraceful performance. Van Nistelrooy has surely managed his last game. A reluctance to change out of form players and no motivation from the manager are sealing Leicester's fate, and six home losses with not one goal for the fans to cheer. Good riddance.

Chris: Awful. Definitely the most unlikeable and possibly the worst Leicester side I have seen in 30 years. I wish people outside Leicester fans would understand we're not expecting more this season - we're angry because obvious, unchecked mismanagement for the past four years has got us to this point. It is terribly sad and made worse because we all saw it coming.

Ed: Such a shame - a decade of proving we were a really well-run club is finally over. That was the worst first 45 mins I have seen at the King Power.

Jim: Absolute dross! I have always believed in the positive but there are no positives to hold on to. The manager needs help or dismissing. I would ask Nigel Pearson to lend a hand if he fancied it. It was his team that won the Premier League. Also, clear out the rubbish as soon as possible!

Brentford fans

George: Four well-taken, well-produced goals. Other than Flekken's gloves getting a bit of a try out in the first 15 or so minutes, Leicester never looked like they wanted to be there. But for Brentford, the spirit and determination within this side is undeniable. Is it time to renew our passports for a European holiday?

Ian: Wow! Brentford fully deserved this win. Damsgaard again being the architect. The Wissa-Mbeumo combination continues to cause defences havoc. Schade's pace is an added attacking ingredient. In fact, the whole team and replacements used put in a solid shift. Brentford are placed nicely for the run-in. Europe next season? Who knows, but keep going Bees!

Simon: At times we played like a top-six club. Damsgaard was excellent; Wissa and Mbeumo too. To think we don't even have a fit centre-forward…

Mitch: Brentford made easy work of a Leicester defence which couldn't handle the relentless pressure applied by Mbeumo, Wissa and Schade, and with Damsgaard in the form of his life, we looked ultra sharp. How Schade did not win a penalty for an obvious foul is beyond me, but another great day for the Bees.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have won four successive away games in the top-flight for the very first time in their history – and the Bees' are currently on the longest away winning run by any current Premier League side.

Brentford scored three or more goals in the first half of a Premier League away game for the very first time, in their 70th match on the road in the competition.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford boss Thomas Frank speaking to MOTD: "Very good performance in many ways. It is not easy to win away from home in the Premier League. Coming here and winning 4-0 against a team that has to put everything into avoiding relegation, I am very happy with our performance and with the way we went forward and the chances we created. A clean sheet is very important. Overall a happy man."

On back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since April: "That's crazy. We have had a good season overall. Not through the roof, but good. We haven't had back-to-back wins so that is quite strange. To get over the line and get the win is important."

On impressive away form: "We haven't changed that much. We tried to be consistent with our messaging to players."

On substituting Christian Norgaard at half-time after he took a knock: "He didn't feel that well at half-time. It was the right decision."

On aiming for European places: "That is a big, big aim. We have dreams, we want to aim as high as possible no doubt about that and we want to push. It is the first time we had back-to-back wins, we need more further down the line before we can really dream. We are in a good place and can keep pushing."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Leicester's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back to this page on Saturday to find a selection of your replies

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Earlier, we asked how well you remembered Brentford's opening Premier League game of the season.

The match against Crystal Palace ended in a 2-1 win, with Yoane Wissa scoring the Bees' winner after an Ethan Pinnock own goal cancelled out Bryan Mbeumo's opener.

Leicester have not won at home in the Premier League since 3 December, when they beat West Ham in Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game in charge, and they have lost their past five league games at King Power Stadium.

So, it would be massive for the Foxes if they can get anything at all here to help in their relegation fight, but I just don't see them keeping Brentford out.

Van Nistelrooy had just been appointed but was watching in the stands when the Bees hammered Leicester 4-1 earlier in the season and I am expecting their creativity and attacking energy to be too much this time, too.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Brentford played Crystal Palace in their opening Premier League game of this season - what was the final score and who found the net?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

Newcastle are prepared to pay Brentford £50m for forward Bryan Mbeumo. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Friday's Premier League game against Leicester (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Sepp van den Berg has picked up a "minor knee injury", however, it is "as positive as it can be" as they are expecting him to be out for "weeks instead of months".

• Having waited nine Premier League away games for their first win on the road, the Bees boss discussed the chance to win four in succession: "In general, our away performances have been quite good. It has been about consistently trying to put those together. We were getting closer and closer [to the first away win] - a draw against Everton and a draw against Brighton - and then we got three very good wins in a row. Especially Crystal Palace and West Ham, where we were winning by one goal, which is just one bad decision away from losing that lead."

• He added: "The team is growing even more this season. For the past however many games, we have been able to name the same team, maybe changing one player - Ethan [Pinnock] will come in for Sepp [van den Berg] on Friday, for example - but that consistency has really helped. We are also always looking to see how we can add layers and become even better."

• On the possibility of European qualification: "We want to push and if we can achieve that it would be a fantastic dream and amazing. It's about focusing on Leicester to do what we can can and win under the floodlights in a game they have to win. Let's get three points and maybe down the line we can dream. A big target for us is we haven't won two games in a row, so if we want to dream about Euro places, we need more consistency."

• Frank said he "can't look too far ahead" as one injury could derail their progress, but he is "excited about the way we look going forwards" and for the rest of the season he wants the side to "dominate as much as possible and win more matches".

• On Leicester: "It's going to be tricky and a very difficult game because they will come flying out. It will mean a lot for them if they can win and get out of the relegation zone, even just for one day."

• Frank added: "We respect them massively. They have a lot of good players and a good coach, but, on the flip side, we need to focus on us. What we have done well, trust our own processes and structure, and make sure we come with the right mentality and attitude."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Having failed to win any of their first nine Premier League away games this season (D2 L7), Brentford have now won each of their last three.

The Bees last won four consecutive league games on the road in September 2011 in League One and have never done so in the top-flight.

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

Brentford's 1-0 win at West Ham on Saturday continued our remarkable record against them since we were promoted from the Championship four years ago.

We have now won six and drawn one of our eight Premier League matches with the Hammers, our best record against any of the 13 clubs who we have played in each of our four seasons in the league.

The game should have been over by half-time because as well as our goal, we had two other efforts disallowed, hit the post and missed other decent chances.

We resisted a West Ham rally inspired by their half-time substitutes early in the second half and, while you are always worried that something will go wrong when you only have a one-goal lead to defend, we ran out deserved winners.

It was also our first 1-0 Premier League victory since beating Manchester City by the same score on the final day of the 2022-23 season - 63 games ago.

And it was the first time any of our league matches have finished 1-0 since our defeat at Everton towards the end of last season.

On another note, a 15:00 Saturday game in London is always one to look forward to - but we do not officially know when our next similar kick-off anywhere will be.

Of our next five matches, three are evening games and the other two are 17:30 kick-offs on Saturdays.

We are scheduled to host Chelsea in a west London derby at 15:00 on Saturday, 5 April, but the TV selections have not been made yet so that - and our subsequent games that month - could still be moved.

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Tom Gayle
Match of the Day commentator at the London Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Most club record signings are expected to deliver from the get-go.

It was January 2023 when a 21-year-old Kevin Schade first arrived in the Premier League, initially on loan, before the move was made permanent in the summer at the cost of £21m.

At the time, Thomas Frank described the forward as "a young, promising talent that we see a big potential in". Director of football Phil Giles also made it clear they viewed the player as a long-term project, adding: "We look forward to working with him for the next five and a half years."

Brentford knew Schade would take time to settle, but to those outside the club, and in a world where attackers are often defined by their goal involvements, with just two goals and two assists across his first season and a half in the English top flight, their investment appeared to be questionable.

Context is always key to go alongside any data spreadsheet. What the numbers don't tell you is in the September of his first full season, Schade tore an adductor muscle while warming up for their game against Everton. The injury led to a seven-month, 30-match absence from the first team.

Yet, despite just 11 Premier League appearances, he still managed to better all of his team-mates when it came to the average amount of touches inside the opposition box per 90 minutes.

With a full pre-season behind him, the fully fit Schade we now see is one of the most transformed players in the Premier League when it comes to end product.

Seven goals and two assists speak volumes in terms of the turnaround. Yet it was clear to me watching at London Stadium, the 23-year-old's value isn't defined by those key metrics alone. He can play anywhere across the frontline and works tirelessly off the ball, which is essential for the Brentford high press.

Interestingly, Schade is yet to start more than three consecutive league games in his two years at the club. Managing his minutes appears key to maintaining a consistent level of performance.

Looking ahead to summer, Brian Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will be entering the final year of their contracts, and there will be interest from other clubs in the duo.

I can't see a situation where both players leave, especially given the injury problems which have beset Brentford's latest record signing Igor Thiago.

But if they do decide to accept an offer for one of Mbeumo or Wissa, based on his current trajectory, Schade appears on course to step up and deliver.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between West Ham and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans:

Hamed: No game strategy evident. No tactical adjustments evident. Disinterested players, most making not much effort. Graham Potter is clearly at a loss as to what to do. If we had lost 5-0, that scoreline would have flattered us. We are relegation fodder. Are those who whined to get rid of David Moyes happy with their handiwork? I am not.

Mark: The disappointment is the amount of time we have had to prepare for this game. Brentford could have been 4-0 up in the first half. That's not an exaggeration. Evan Ferguson came on in the second half and he andJames Ward-Prowse got us on the front foot. A draw was the minimum expected from this game.

Madge: Strange selection by Potter. Senseless to play Lucas Paqueta up front when Jarrod Bowen can do it better and we were overloaded on the right flank. That said, atrocious first half. As poor as it has ever been. Brentford could and should have been four up! The changes immediately helped but Mohammed Kudus' miss sums it all up. We could have played all year and not scored. Glad Ward-Prowse is back though. We almost had a midfield in the second half!

Simon: Two weeks of training to serve up the same old slow sideways nonsense first half. The high line against quick forwards was never going to end well. They could have been three up at the break.

Brentford fans:

Peter: Great first-half performance, but failed to put away a number of excellent chances, giving West Ham something to chase in the second half. A solid defensive display allowing us to keep a clean sheet and earn a third consecutive away win.

Philip: Brilliant to get three away wins in a row for the first time! Come on you Bees!

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Brighton and Chelsea.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 4-0 Newcastle

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have gained a reputation as fast starters this term and with Kevin Schade's effort at West Ham they have now scored seven goals in the opening 10 minutes of their top-flight games.

However, while manager Thomas Frank can justifiably criticise his side for not being clinical enough to ensure the contest was virtually over by the break, he will be delighted by the manner in which they secured their victory.

Aside from one gilt-edged opportunity for Mohammed Kudus, his side barely looked like conceding a chance let alone a goal and goalkeeper Mark Flekken enjoyed a relatively comfortable afternoon thanks to the defensive discipline of those in front of him.

Brentford's only slight concern will be around the extent of Sepp van den Berg's second-half injury, with the Dutch defender forced off after being involved in what appeared a relatively innocuous challenge with West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen.