Brentford

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

If you are going to end a long wait for an away win, then a 5-0 victory is the way to do it.

Brentford finally finished the long fruitless run on the road with the thrashing of Southampton on Saturday. The Saints' weaknesses should not detract from a superb Bees performance, except for a quiet period either side of half-time.

However, all the talk about Brentford's wonderful home record and lousy away record is actually a red herring.

What people should really be focusing on is our performances against the top and bottom teams, not where they have happened.

That provides a truer picture of our season so far and reflects our 11th place accurately.

Of our seven home wins, five came against teams currently in the bottom six in the table.

Of our seven away defeats, five have been against teams currently in the top half, with the other two at so-called big-six clubs Spurs and Manchester United.

Context is everything!

Our home and away form in the second half of the season could well be a mirror image of our results in the first half of the campaign.

The Southampton performance on Saturday was like some of the home wins, with 20 shots, 11 of them on target, and a high expected goals.

Once again the stats prove the club's philosophy of only trying to score from high-quality chances.

It is rare to see a Brentford player try to score from 25 yards – the thinking being that you rarely find the net from there. We will always try to get as close as possible to goal before shooting. As a result, our on-target percentage of shots in a game is often around the 50% mark as a result.

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Brentford have triggered a contract extension to keep midfielder Myles Peart-Harris with the club until the end of the 2025-26 campaign.

The 22-year-old, who is on loan at Swansea City, was initially out of contract at the end of the season. The club have now exercised the option to extend this contract for a further year.

Peart-Harris has featured 23 times for the Championship side this season, scoring three times and providing a further three assists.

He joined Brentford in 2021 after over a decade with Chelsea, and made his Premier League debut in December 2023.

Image source, Getty Images

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

Here are some of your comments:

Jeff: Brentford were in total control all game. We could have scored more after hitting woodwork and having an excellent goal controversially ruled out by VAR.

George: A wonderful three points. Last season, both Sheffield United and Burnley beat us when we faced them away, so it's nice to see just how much our forward play has improved. Mikkel Damsgaard, Mads Roerslev and our midfield kept the ball constantly cycling up the pitch. While we were a little wasteful with chances in the first half, the Bees were relentlessly swarming around the box throughout the second half.

Sandra: Everything clicked into place for the Bees. Excellent to watch. I really enjoyed the game and the contrast between us and them was worlds' apart. Keep playing the attacking football Thomas Frank - that's the Bees' way to play.

Ian: An all-round top team performance from the Bees. In the Premier League you need to win away! Damsgaard again conducted the performance with nice cameos from Vitaly Janelt, Paris Maghoma, and Yehor Yarmolyuk in the second half.

Mel: My heart goes out to the Saints, but the Bees deserved this emphatic win. It encapsulates everything about this squad, who are still with 10+plus injuries, the support, the management and of course Thomas Frank. To use his own words on the BBC: "Wow!" Who knows how long we can keep Thomas and our front men? But, for the moment, let's continue to be excited and look forward, especially to our January fixture list. I can't wait!

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

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

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea

• Brighton 1-1 Arsenal

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

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Brentford had picked up just two points away from home all season but a trip to St Mary's changed that.

The Bees scored after six minutes against Southampton and dominated throughout the match in a five-star performance.

Two goals in stoppage time really stuck the boot in on a Saints side who looked down and out after conceding the first goal.

Bryan Mbeumo was in inspired form, scoring twice and providing the assist for Keane Lewis-Potter's first Premier League goal of the season.

The Cameron international has scored 13 league goals this term, behind only Mohamed Salah (17) and Erling Haaland (16).

All of Brentford's attacking players looked like they could score at any minute as they ran rings around the Saints.

This was the Bees' biggest winning margin in the competition, and their biggest league win since April 2021 vs Preston North End (5-0).

It's no wonder manager Thomas Frank said the victory was "very, very close to perfection."

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford won their first Premier League away game of the season, ending their nine-game run without a win on the road (D2 L7).

This was the Bees' biggest winning margin in the competition and their biggest league win since April 2021 against Preston North End (5-0).

Bryan Mbeumo has scored in 10 Premier League matches for Brentford this season, with only Mohamed Salah (14) and Alexander Isak (11) netting across more games in the competition this term.

Yoane Wissa netted his 36th Premier League goal for Brentford, becoming the joint-top scorer for the Bees in the competition alongside Ivan Toney.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day following the win at St Mary's: "That was very, very close to perfection. We gave nothing away throughout the 90 minutes, defended extremely well and then we created chance after chance after chance. It could have easily been more than five goals.

"I am extremely proud of this performance in many ways because Southampton are struggling a little bit.

"We haven't won away on the road, but the performance we put out there is fantastic and I think it speaks about the culture we have got in the changing room and among the players. The commitment, the focus, the attitude - wow."

On how his side creates chances: "We are always happy when the offensive players score goals because those are the ones who need to be reliable, and then other players need to chip in occasionally. But basically we played with five very offensive players.

"Keane Lewis-Potter, Kevin Schade and Yoane Wissa scored, Bryan Mbeumo scored two. Mikkel Damsgaard created a lot of chances and opportunities, at least one assist today.

"We are very dangerous and we had a very good day."

On Mbeumo and Wissa's chemistry: "Some players can click on the pitch, but they have a very good relationship on and off the pitch. You can see that in a lot of the goals.

"Our group of players really like each other, work hard for each other and they care about each other - I think that's extremely important."

On how he will enjoy the win: "I think I will get a very good glass of red wine."

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has been speaking to BBC Match of the Day about the win: "I think we, and the fans, have been waiting for a while for our first away win. We worked a lot for it and we are very happy."

"Today we have put in a good performance and we just worked really hard."

On trying to get his first Premier League hat-trick: "Of course. When you hit two goals, you always want to try and get a hat-trick - but I just keep working and it is going to come."

On how he is able to get the best out of himself: "It is mental. I just try to run hard and help my teammates and I think we are doing really well. I just want to help the team."

On his friendship with Yoane Wissa: "We have a really good relationship off the pitch and that's why maybe we perform well on the pitch."

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Saints fans - what did you make of the match?

Brentford supporters - let us know your thoughts

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

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30)

• Aston Villa v Leicester

• Bournemouth v Everton

• Crystal Palace v Chelsea - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Man City v West Ham

• Southampton v Brentford

• Brighton v Arsenal (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 20, he takes on The Zutons frontman Dave McCabe, who supports Liverpool.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

This is a tough one to call because while Southampton are adrift at the bottom and absolutely desperate for points, Brentford are not in great form either.

Saints' new boss Ivan Juric has been quite feisty since his appointment, and his side have only been narrowly beaten in both his games in charge.

It is noticeable how often Southampton like to lump it now under Juric, compared with their possession-based style of play under Russell Martin.

However, while it is also clear they will put up a fight I don't see much changing for them results-wise.

Brentford are a battle-hardened Premier League team, so a direct approach will not faze them, and they also have goals in their team.

The Bees are yet to win on the road this season and only picked up their first away point against Brighton last time out but, this time, I see them taking all three.

McCabe's prediction: 1-2

Brentford all day.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

As we enter a new calendar year and the halfway point of the season, the Opta Supercomputer has been busy making its predictions.

But who is looking most likely to be playing their football outside the top flight next season?

It is bad news for fans of the teams who made their return to the Premier League this campaign.

According to the Opta Supercomputer's simulations, Southampton - rooted to the bottom of the table on just six points - are all but guaranteed to be playing Championship football again next term with a 99.47% chance of being relegated.

The picture is also not a rosy one for Leicester City and Ipswich Town supporters, who occupy the other two relegation spots. The Supercomputer does not see too much change there - the Foxes and the Tractor Boys having a 74.61% and 70.81% chance of relegation respectively.

It is better news for Wolves under new head coach Vitor Pereira, with Wanderers now having only a 39.21% chance of a Championship return, while Everton fans will be pleased to see they have just a 12.52% chance as they hope to see Premier League football in their new stadium next season.

Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brentford can all breathe easier with Opta predicting just a 1.68%, 0.81% and 0.72% chance of relegation respectively.

And what about Manchester United after new boss Ruben Amorim declared them to be facing a relegation battle? Well, it is good news for Red Devils fans as the chance of them actually playing Championship football next campaign is just 0.11%.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford scored 62 Premier League goals in 2024 but none of their first 10 goals were scored or assisted by Bryan Mbeumo or Yoane Wissa.

However, 33 of the other 52 goals in the calendar year featured either Mbeumo or Wissa involved in the goal (63%).

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Southampton (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Mathias Jensen, Sepp van den Berg and Mark Flekken "came through well" in their returns from injury in Wednesday's loss to Arsenal and will all be available again for selection on Saturday.

• However, Fabio Carvalho "has a minor groin injury" and will likely miss the visit to St Mary's. Frank had nothing extra to add on Brentford's longer-term absentees.

• The Bees boss wants to take his side's first half performance against the Gunners into upcoming games: "Except for one moment where they equalised, we played the perfect half which I'm very pleased with. We pressed aggressively high [and] we defended very compact. We were very good on the ball [and] scored a fantastic goal. That was top."

• On the challenge posed by the Saints: "I watched the two games under the new manager. They have changed a bit - they don't take so many risks in build up. There's a few tactical tweaks we need to be aware of. We need to bring our A-game and be unbelievably focused."

• Frank believes more wins will come soon after just one in seven games: "We are halfway through the season and have 24 points which is a good foundation to stand on. The aim is to get more away from home but we need to look into performances. In the 19 games we have played, we had one bad 90 minutes. There have been spells but overall we have been good. If we keep those performances up, we will win games."

• He believes the Bees will have their "eyes wide open" in the transfer window: "I expect us to be proactive as we always are, to be out there in the market. The injury situation is what it is - the medical staff are working very hard. It's not like we need some but let's see what is happening in the next three or four weeks if players are not turned around to be able to play."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Brentford fans

Kev: Outplayed by a superior team. Compared to them we were weak at the back and created too few chances. Second half in particular completely impotent.

Ian: A game of fine margins. Some poor referee decisions and four goals. This game had it all. Brentford's season will not fall into obscurity as posted by a reporter after the game. Like all teams, Brentford have had their fair share of injuries but they get on with it. We will go again at St Mary's this Saturday.

AC: We have the most injuries in the league, and have had for about three months. So where we are in the table is fine. The defence needs strengthening so the collective level can be more easily maintained. The increase in quality provided by the summer signings is why we are not suffering like last season.

Peter: The first two goals we conceded were down to poor goalkeeping by Mark Flekken. When will Thomas Frank own up to the fact that he just isn't good enough for the Premier League? How many more games do we have to give away till the penny drops?

Arsenal fans

Tim: Comfortable victory and did not need to get out of first gear. Good to have Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli among the goals. Big performance from Thomas Partey and the ability to rotate is an added bonus.

Kevin: We showed pure grit. After the Brentford goal, everyone kept their nerve. They are one of the hardest teams to beat at home, so if we keep this level up, the title is in our reach.

Savs: Excellent result and decent performance considering Brentford's home record and them going one up. Thought we were a bit open in the first half but the second half reminded me of last season when we were relentless. Well played Martinelli and Partey (again).

Guy: Ethan Nwaneri is a very exciting prospect. He could be exactly what we need while Bukayo Saka is out injured. I don't think we will have enough to catch Liverpool but hopefully we can cement second again. I still think we need to buy a proper striker in January.

Image source, PA Media

Since the start of last season, Brentford have lost 47 points from winning positions in the Premier League (30 last season, 17 this) - at least 10 more than any other side.

The Bees are the only side yet to keep a clean sheet at home in the Premier League this season. They have gone 11 successive home league matches without a shutout for the first time since October 2007 (13).

Brentford, West Ham and Fulham are monitoring the contract situation of 29-year-old English midfielder Will Hughes at Crystal Palace. (Football Insider), external

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