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'The work rate is impressive'published at 09:56 GMT 27 January
09:56 GMT 27 January
Image source, Getty Images
Former Premier League midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger is impressed with how Brentford have adapted to losing Ivan Toney this season.
Speaking to Match of the Day 2, he said: "Credit to Thomas Frank. Once Ivan Toney left, many people thought that it's going to be tricky to replace him. Now we see [Yoanne] Wissa and [Bryan] Mbeumo doing really well and scoring the goals.
"[Mikkel] Damsgaard in behind them is the link up player, he knits it all together. In midfield [Christian] Norgaard is the same, he covers a lot of ground.
"That's the mentality of the entire club; the work ethic. They don't talk so much and when they do speak it's in a quiet tone, but the work rate is impressive."
Gossip: Strasbourg keen to sign Carvalho on loanpublished at 07:51 GMT 27 January
07:51 GMT 27 January
Strasbourg will make another move for Brentford's 22-year-old Portuguese forward Fabio Carvalho, having had an initial offer to take him on loan rejected by the Bees. (Footmercato - in French), external
Brentford right-back Mads Roerslev, 25, will fly to Wolfsburg on Monday to complete a medical after the two clubs reached an agreement on a six-month loan deal for the Denmark defender, with an option to buy. (Sky Sports Germany), external
'We defended very well' - Frankpublished at 16:42 GMT 26 January
16:42 GMT 26 January
Image source, Getty Images
Brentford boss Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Tough game against a very good Palace team. I knew it would be very difficult. The second half started that way, very difficult circumstances to play in. I think we edged it. In the end, Palace were on top in important moments. We defended very well. A solid, solid, good away performance."
On Mbeumo's penalty retake: "I would want him to take it again. He's our best penalty taker. It's all about trusting your process and he did.
"We tried to create the best meal that we got out of the freezer and it was actually still quite tasty and we got the three points."
Sutton's predictions: Crystal Palace v Brentfordpublished at 12:28 GMT 26 January
12:28 GMT 26 January
Crystal Palace are on a bit of a roll after three wins and two draws in their past five league games.
Form-wise they are on a better run than Brentford, but I was impressed by Thomas Frank's side when I watched them against Liverpool last week - even though they lost.
I am a big fan of Bees striker Bryan Mbeumo, who looked really dangerous in that game. I feel like they will score again here, but I don't think they will win this week either.
Palace were unlucky to lose at Brentford on the opening weekend of the season after Eberechi Eze scored with a free-kick but it was ruled out because the referee had already blown his whistle.
This time, the Eagles are definitely getting something from the game, and this has got a draw written all over it.
Frank on Kayode, Wissa being 'not for sale' and Palacepublished at 14:30 GMT 24 January
14:30 GMT 24 January
Tasnim Chowdhury BBC Sport journalist
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game at Crystal Palace (kick-off 14:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Defender Kristoffer Ajer is available: "[He] trained the whole week and will be involved with the squad on Sunday, so it's very positive."
On transfer news, Frank insisted Yoanne Wissa is "not for sale", after an approach from Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest, adding: "He's been our leading number nine. He's been fantastic. I cannot see why we should sell him."
On new signing Michael Kayode: "Really like him. Very happy that we managed to sign him to give us more depth in the full-back positions. He's very talented - a fantastic physical package. Good abilities to keep going forward. Very good defensively. Of course, he's young and needs to be developed. He hasn't played much this season, but last season he more or less played a full season at Fiorentina. A very good signing, I think. He will not be able to get that [international clearance] before Sunday."
Frank is "very happy" Mikkel Damsgaard has signed a new contract. "He's been very good for us - one of our best players. He adds something to the game that is very difficult to train."
On confidence after a draw with Manchester City and a late defeat by Liverpool: "It was two very good games. The Manchester City game got the most praise. It was more even but the more I look back at our game against Liverpool, in some ways that was equally as good. I thought we defended brilliantly and I think we had dangerous attacks. The right pass could have made it a big chance and goal. Now we just need to do it again."
On not having won away at Palace: "I didn't know that - it's about time then. I think before the opening day, we hadn't beaten Palace - I think it was five draws and one lost in the first six games in the Premier League."
More on Sunday's opponents: "It's a very good team. I think they're back to the level that they had in the back end of last year - they had that long run of very good games, good level. Glasner is doing a very good job. You know exactly what to expect from them when you face them. That doesn't make it easy. It's really difficult - difficult to break down. We need to play our A game, no doubt about that."
Efficient or ineffective?published at 08:05 GMT 24 January
08:05 GMT 24 January
This Premier League pursuit becomes a lot easier if you take your chances.
BBC Sport has checked in on some data comparing goals versus expected goals this season.
You can see from the bar graph some teams aren't finding the goals (yellow) to outstrip the expected goals they should score (black).
Tottenham, Manchester City, Arsenal, Brentford, Newcastle, Brighton, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Leicester have all scored more than expected.
Wolves in particular have found the net 32 times from an expected 23.56 - a significant overperformance.
League leaders Liverpool are pretty much bang on in returning what they should, while Arsenal have outperformed, with 43 goals from an expected 37.78.
Bournemouth - 36 goals from an expected 43 - are leaving opportunities on the table.
Who 'loves to defend'?published at 17:18 GMT 23 January
17:18 GMT 23 January
Every so often, a player is described by a pundit as someone who "loves to defend".
Most fans would naturally welcome such a sort in their team, that player who stands tall, lets stuff bounce off him and somehow masters the ability to become a magnet to the ball when it enters the penalty area.
BBC Sport took a look at three metrics this season - headed clearances, blocks and tackles - to see which players seem to relish this kind of thing.
Everton's James Tarkowski leads the way, amassing a total of 131 across the three areas, with Brentford's Nathan Collins second. The two men have made 73 headed clearances each, a stat that proves their value when it comes to defending dead balls.
Murillo - fresh from his contract extension at Nottingham Forest - was highlighted in recent weeks for a no-nonsense display against Liverpool, when he frequently launched clearances into the night. He makes the top three across these metrics and while Brazilian players are so often lauded for their flair, he can proudly carry the 'loves-to-defend' tag.
Motherwell sign Brentford goalkeeper Balcombe on loanpublished at 15:37 GMT 23 January
15:37 GMT 23 January
Image source, SNS
Motherwell have signed goalkeeper Ellery Balcombe on loan from Brentford until the end of the season.
The 25-year-old spent the first half of the campaign on loan at fellow Scottish Premiership side St Mirren where he made 26 appearances.
"I'm delighted to make the move to Motherwell," Balcombe said.
"One thing I noticed when I was playing for St Mirren was the competitiveness of the league and the atmosphere at most stadiums. This is a great opportunity for me to come back and do it again."
Manager Stuart Kettlewell added: "I'm really pleased to welcome Ellery to the club.
"We've not had our issues to seek with regards to injuries within the goalkeeping department. Ellery has played plenty of football this season in this league, so he won't need a settling-in period."
Who's been Brentford's underrated player this season?published at 11:26 GMT 23 January
11:26 GMT 23 January
Phil Parry BBC Radio London reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The fact that there was disappointment at securing just one point against Manchester City and Liverpool last week is a clear indication of the level of performance in both matches from Brentford.
Thomas Frank insisted the draw with City was the first time his side had gone "toe to toe with a top-three side for 90 minutes" since being promoted to the top flight. He certainly was not wrong about a match they could have justifiably won.
Naturally, positive performances and outcomes help focus attention on the players, as well as the coaches, who are making a difference. The likes of Yoan Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo will attract attention due to their attacking prowess but there are others who deserve credit from the wider footballing world.
One such player is Keane Lewis-Potter, now in his third season with the club after arriving from Hull City in July 2022. Injury in his first campaign hampered his opportunities, while last season he admitted it was hard to deal with the mental challenges and frustration of starting just 15 games in the top flight.
Patience has paid off and this season he has become an invaluable part of the starting XI, displaying incredible adaptability. A winger who has played at wing-back, in 2024-25 Lewis-Potter has been deployed as a left back in a four-man defence - a position he admits he has had to learn.
He has done it extremely well, dealing on Saturday with the dual threat of Mohammed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold for example. He has shown great defensive acumen but also the capability to spring forward into a more natural attacking mode.
Fans will be keen to see Lewis-Potter used in a more offensive way from now on, but what he has shown covering for Rico Henry is that he is can play a variety of positions at a very high level.
That only bodes well for more starts and banishing that frustration.
Crystal Palace v Brentford: Did you know?published at 10:57 GMT 23 January
10:57 GMT 23 January
Image source, Getty Images
Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken has made 101 saves in 22 Premier League appearances this season, the most of any goalkeeper.
It is the most saves per game (4.6) by a goalkeeper to play 20 or more games in a Premier League season since Jordan Pickford for Sunderland in 2016-17 (4.7).
'It was a no-brainer for me to extend' - Damsgaardpublished at 17:57 GMT 22 January
17:57 GMT 22 January
Image source, Getty Images
Brentford's Mikkel Damsgaard says it was an "easy decision" to sign a new long-term deal with the club.
The 24-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract to keep him with the Bees until the summer of 2030, with the club having a option to extend the deal by a further 12 months.
"I've enjoyed my years here so it was a no-brainer for me to extend - I'm very happy," Damsgaard said.
"This season has been a lot better for me personally with a lot more playing time, but I've always enjoyed the atmosphere at the club, time with my team-mates and the way things have been set up.
"With the playing time now coming, it was a pretty easy decision to extend."
Brentford boss Thomas Frank said: "This season, he is starting to show what we believed we'd get from him.
"He has been one of our best players this season; we are very dangerous when he is playing.
"But there is more to come from Mikkel. It has been half a season, now he needs to perform for a full season."
Image source, Getty Images
