Brentford

Saffie Yates
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Gtech Community Stadium (kick-off 12:30).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On Byran Mbeumo's return to the Gtech for the first time since leaving for United: "Bryan epitomises everything good about this football club. He was given time, patience and support, and I think the way it went last year was the culmination of that six-year journey where so many people in that building played a part in his development. I know for a fact he really appreciates that and he appreciates the fans. Bryan rightly should get a really good reception."

• Andrews sid his players should have a voice on Brentford's gameplan: "I'm big into players having an opinion. I think it needs to come from that place where they are really involved in the process."

• On facing United: "They're a very talented set of players and have a very defined way of playing the game that they know very well. They've added some quality players that will cause us a lot of problems if we don't do things correctly tomorrow."

• He said changes to Saturday's opponents at the top end of the pitch will affect Brentford's approach: "What they've added in the summer - Bryan, [Matheus] Cunha, [Benjamin] Sesko - makes things look different to the way it did when we played them last season. The system might be similar, but personnel makes a big difference to a system."

• When asked about Brentford appearing more confident at home than they do on the road, Andrews said: "I felt that the day before Fulham was probably the best training session I'd seen from the players in terms of confidence, the conviction and everything we did, the belief, the vibe and the energy around the training ground. So it's not something I've sensed. But I am looking forward to getting back on home soil tomorrow."

• On changes happening within Brentford: "We are forming a new team. There's been a lot of change at the football club, myself included. We're making steps, and sometimes those steps aren't in the direction we want. I think you have to accept that. You have to understand that."

• He wants to maintain a good environment for his team: "It's really important for me to maintain the type of environment that's been created here, where players can develop. We put internal pressure on ourselves. We don't particularly need the external pressure to fuel anything from within. I think there's that intrinsic motivation as an individual and all to be collectively, to be the best versions of ourselves. And that's not always going to be perfect."

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

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The fourth-round fixtures of the EFL Cup have been confirmed:

• Arsenal v Brighton

• Grimsby Town v Brentford

• Swansea City v Manchester City

• Newcastle United v Tottenham

• Wrexham v Cardiff City

• Liverpool v Crystal Palace

• Wolves v Chelsea

• Wycombe v Fulham

Ties to be played in the week of 27 October

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I have said all season that I will judge Keith Andrews' performance as Brentford manager after 10 Premier League games.

I will stick to that, but think that the display in Saturday's derby defeat and his game management let us down.

The Fulham fixtures are big for Bees fans and Andrews acknowledged that in the build-up.

However, we turned in another flat performance, created little - only scoring after a Cottagers mistake - and never looked like coming back into it.

When we went 3-1 down, our 5-3-2 formation was crying out for a change to a more attacking 4-3-3.

Why not at that stage, take off a centre-half, bring on record signing Dango Ouattara and in-form ex-Fulham attacker Fabio Carvalho and just go for it? I'd rather lose 4-1 than not try to rescue something.

Instead all the substitutions were like-for-like, which made no difference.

For the first time this season, there was some dissent from the stands, with chants of "Get Ouattara on" and "Andrews, Andrews sort it out" before any substitutions were made.

There was no booing from those of us who hung around until full-time - only applause - when Andrews and the players came over, but if displays and results like this continue, I fear that could change.

It has certainly not been all bad under Andrews. We beat Aston Villa and played well against Chelsea and against both Bournemouth and Villa in the Carabao Cup.

But having paid a reported £42m for Ouattara, surely he has to start games.

Three of our next four matches are at home... but they are against Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.

The only away fixture is at West Ham - but it would be just our luck that if they make a managerial change, it will happen just before our visit so it becomes the new guy's first game.

And we know what that often means.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

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

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

Marios: Fulham have become determined and hard to beat. They set the pace last night and Brentford were all over the place. What a squad Marco Silva has built - so much depth in every position.

John: Excellent all-round team effort. Josh King didn't let his error affect his performance - good to see his team-mates rally around him. Dealt well with all Brentford's long throws and set-pieces. Like watching Tony Pulis' Stoke - without the finesse. Harry Wilson did his usual Brentford thing with a lovely finish but the goal of the game should have been Rodrigo Muniz's. Even when we win, VAR has it in for us.

Luke: Two contrasting styles. Our emphasis seemed to be on playing out, getting on the ball and our offensive players making smart, penetrating runs. Brentford's was so focused on set-pieces but thankfully we dealt with them fairly well. Best team won.

David: I was very pleased and thought it a very dominant performance. Could have been even more convincing but for a goal being ruled offside by millimetres and one disallowed for an apparent foul, proving that in the eyes of today's officials, football is no longer a contact sport. Fulham will get much better.

Brentford fans

Les: Brentford have bought about their own destruction, by appointing a very inexperienced manager and not buying a replacement for Yoane Wissa as promised.

Brian: Hoofball didn't work. We needed four at the back in this game. The extra centre-half meant we played without wingers and Fulham pressed our wing-backs so that there was no footballing route towards our twin strikers, of which Kevin Schade would have been better employed in a front three. Record signing Dango Ouattara consigned to the bench? Really dire to watch, and if this continues I will start to get worried

David: The derby didn't quite deliver the quality football I was hoping for. Schade and Igor Thiago didn't seem to be on the same page, and we struggled to create opportunities from set-pieces. Keith Andrews needs to rethink his strategy, as the substitutions didn't effectively change the game or break down Fulham's defence.

Peter: Andrew flatters to deceive. We started with the wrong line-up and I think the board will have to bite the bullet sooner rather than later. In truth, in all our matches we have for the most part been outplayed.

Brentford boss Keith Andrews, speaking to BBC Sport: "We started the game well and played in areas of pitch. We wanted to cause them issues and we did that. The front two were a handful when we gave them the service.

"The timing of goals wasn't good and the manner of them was a bit disappointing."

On the first goal: "Two ways of looking at it - unlucky possibly but feel we could do more about it in terms of aggression and anticipation."

On the second goal: "Again the manner of where it comes from, the basics of the game are important for me. How we set up for set-pieces including throw-ins, to match players. The manner of the goals didn't sit particularly well.

"Clean sheets are important to us. We're very aware we need to address certain things and performance levels. We don't get too high when we win a game and tonight we're clearly not happy with conceding three goals.

"We need to address certain aspects of our game. The performance overall was disjointed. We lacked the quality at times, the final little bit of quality was lacking."

Did you know?

• Brentford have picked up just four points this season (W1 D1 L3) - their lowest ever tally after five Premier League matches to start a season. The Bees have also conceded 10 goals - their most at this stage of a campaign.

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Danny Murphy join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Brighton 2-2 Tottenham

• Wolves 1-3 Leeds

• Man Utd 2-1 Chelsea

Timothy Abraham
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

It's still early days in Keith Andrews' managerial reign at Brentford but the Irishman has plenty to ponder.

For starters, Brentford's haul of four points from five games is their lowest in five seasons in the Premier League.

They certainly would have hoped for more from a run of games against Sunderland, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea and Fulham.

Of greater concern is their ability to hold on to the lead when they get their noses in front.

The fortitude that existed under Andrews' predecessor Thomas Frank appears to have been diluted a little and this was quite a disjointed display.

Indeed, Brentford have now lost eight points from winning positions in the Premier League this season - more than any other team in the English top flight.

When Fulham got back on level terms at Craven Cottage the confidence and belief seemed to drain out of Brentford's players.

Their second-half display yielded five shots - two on target - but it's difficult to remember Bernd Leno having a testing save to make.

The season is still in its infancy but with Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City in three of their next four games, it's not going to get any easier for Andrews.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Fulham's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Fulham boss Marco Silva has named the same starting line-up which secured a 1-0 win over Leeds United in the Premier League last weekend.

They won that match courtesy of a own goal but Silva sticks with Rodrigo Muniz up front with Harry Wilson, Josh King and Alex Iwobi in behind.

The Cottagers have plenty of attacking options in reserve with Adama Traore, Emile Smith Rowe and Raul Jimenez on the bench.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon, Berge, Lukic, Iwobi, King, Wilson, Muniz

Subs: Lecomte, Jimenez, Cairney, Adama, Cuenca, Chukwueze, Castagne, Kevin, Smith Rowe

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews makes 10 changes from the side which beat Aston Villa on penalties in the Carabao Cup during the week.

Sepp Van Den Berg is the only survivor as the likes of Caoimhin Kelleher, Jordan Henderson, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Michael Kayode all return.

Fabio Carvalho, who scored a dramatic equaliser after coming off the bench in a 2-2 draw against Chelsea in their last Premier League match, is again among the substitutes.

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Van Den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Henderson, Yarmoliuk, Schade, Thiago

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Henry, Jensen, Carvalho, Onyeka, Ouattara, Ajer, Janelt

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

• Liverpool v Everton (12:30)

• Brighton v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Burnley v Nottingham Forest

• West Ham v Crystal Palace

• Wolves v Leeds

• Manchester United v Chelsea (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Brentford (20:00)

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I actually got a Fulham prediction right last week - and I think it was for the first time ever.

This is a hard one to call because Brentford are useful on the counter-attack under Keith Andrews, but Fulham did the double over the Bees last season.

After successfully backing Fulham to beat Leeds United, I'm going to stick with them.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham host Brentford this weekend with the London clubs sitting 11th and 12th respectively in the Premier League table.

BBC Sport examines some of they key themes ahead of their meeting at Craven Cottage, including why corners could be key for both sides.

Fulham's reliance on corners

This meeting at Craven Cottage involves two teams who endured frustrating transfer windows in the summer and as a result, are struggling to create chances in front of goal from open play.

Fulham boss Marco Silva bemoaned the "passive" nature of Fulham's transfer business before the Cottagers signed Brazilian winger Kevin for a club-record fee on deadline day.

Despite his arrival, along with the loan agreements for AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze and Bayern Munich striker Johan Kusi-Asare, Fulham have so far failed to fire in attack.

It means that corners have taken on particular significance for Silva's side. They are yet score from open play this season, with two of their three goals coming from corners – the highest share of any Premier League team.

Fulham are also yet to concede from open play, with two of the four goals they have let in coming from corners, along with two penalties.

Brentford's set-piece threat

Brentford have so far managed to pick up four points despite a lack of accuracy in front of goal this season but their model of doing so may not be sustainable over the course of the campaign.

The Bees lost both Bryan Mbuemo and Yoane Wissa during the summer and although they brought in Dango Ouattara for a club record fee, Keith Andrews' side have recorded the fewest shots (33) of any Premier League side other than Burnley.

Brentford have scored five goals although like Fulham, they have been reliant on set-pieces to provide their predominant goal threat.

Their expected goals tally is 5.33 when factoring in set-plays but this metric drops to 2.25 from open play – ranking Brentford 17th in the Premier League.

Additionally, Brentford have played only 132 line-breaking passes – the fewest of any top-flight side -with just five of these breaking the opposition's defensive line.

Corners for both sides could be key come Saturday afternoon at Craven Cottage.

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Fulham at Craven Cottage (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Andrews began by providing a positive team news update: "A couple of players were rested on Tuesday [against Aston Villa] but we're in a pretty good place on that front. No issues at all."

• On Brentford's performances so far: "Pleased but not surprised. We're growing as a group. The relationships are forming and the understanding of what we are trying to achieve and the steps that we are taking in the right direction. I'm very aware it has been difficult to get results against the level of opposition we have been facing."

• He continued: "We know who we are, we know who we are working with and the players that we have and the types of people that we have are amazing people. Today the energy in the building is really good and I have been pleased with the last two performances."

• Andrews described the London derby against Fulham as "a really important part of the football calendar" and said: "It's going to be a good test for us, but I like where we are at going into the game. The local derby means a lot to us; it means a lot to the fans. A local derby has never been lost on me."

• The Bees earned a draw against Chelsea last weekend thanks to a long throw and when Andrews was asked about using them in games, he said: "There are plans for each opposition depending on how they set up. It's about training aspects of the game you feel you need to get better at and improving what you are good at. What will give you an opportunity to cause opposition real problems."

• On what is possible for the group: "It's just constantly moving in the right direction. It's going to be important that the togetherness is very prevalent on a day-to-day basis and how we go about our business. The amount of players we were able to leave out against Aston Villa on Tuesday and still be a very, very good team shows exactly what the team are capable of."

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

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We asked for your views on Brentford's performance after they beat Aston Villa in a penalty shootout to go through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

Here are some of your comments:

Mark: Great to see the impact Keith Andrews is having on the team. We are playing with more confidence and determination from what I've seen at games so far this season. On Tuesday, we soon started to dominate the game and apart from the soft goal always looked favourites to get a result. I also like the way Andrews makes earlier substitutions. I'm confident we're going to have a good season.

Phil: Very happy with our determination to stay in the game when under pressure. We really worked hard for the draw. The pens were all first class. Into the next round!

Ronan: Villa's XI suggested they were serious about progressing to the next round but were out-fought and out-pressed for most of the game by Brentford's half-strength team. Andrews is impressing.

George: What a game. I had prepared myself during the 90 to just be content with seeing Hickey score an absolute peach of a strike, but seeing Valdimarsson go from the biggest villain on the pitch (even again the Villans themselves) into a cup-tie hero during the second half and beyond was even sweeter.

Anthony: Really happy for Valdimarsson. He's been incredibly solid every time he's been subbed in and the goal really wasn't his fault. Brentford don't do cup runs - however, we all would love one!

Jeff: Brentford were by far the better side in both halves, despite gifting Villa the opening goal. No nerves shown in the shootout with our excellent pens. Keeper made good saves during the game and capped that by saving two of Villa's spot-kicks.

Richard: Outstanding result! Andrews is quietly asserting his role as our new gaffer!

Chris Wise
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter at Gtech Community Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

"You don't take any day for granted."

Aaron Hickey wasn't willing to dive too deep into how tough the past couple of years had been when I spoke to him for BBC Radio 5 Live after Brentford's EFL Cup win over Aston Villa.

But they were quite telling words.

Hickey's first Brentford goal wasn't just special in terms of the execution of the finish, it was also another moment for him to savour after almost two years of injury hell.

He was calm and softly spoken when giving his answers in his post-match interview - so much so that you would perhaps never have guessed the severity of Hickey's injuries if you did not know the story already.

Bees boss Keith Andrews said afterwards that the Scottish international has had to "dig really deep" to get back on the pitch as a Premier League player again.

There is that common saying in football about players who come back from injuries feeling like a new signing for a club.

Hickey could be just that for Brentford this season, and with the sort of mental fortitude that would benefit any team.

Image source, PA Media

Brentford manager Keith Andrews, speaking about goalkeeper Hakon Valdimarsson after the Bees progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup:

"Goalkeepers are always involved in the moments, aren't they?

"I said at half-time that mistakes will happen. I'm OK with that. The reaction I'm really happy with, two great saves in the shootout."

On Aaron Hickey's goal after the full-back recently returned from long-term injury:

"He's a talented player and to score a goal of that quality was special for him."

Brentford are through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after beating fellow Premier League club Aston Villa in a penalty shootout.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brentford's performance

What did you make of Aston Villa's display?

Come back on Wednesday for a selection of your replies

Brentford manager Keith Andrews was expected to use his full squad for this cup tie and has not disappointed. In total there are 10 changes from Saturday's draw with Chelsea.

Sepp van den Berg is the only player retained. Vitaly Janelt plays for the first time since April after a heel injury.

Nineteen-year-old academy product Benjamin Arthur makes his first-team debut.

Brentford XI: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Van den Berg, Arthur, Ajer, Henry, Janelt, Milambo, Onyeka, Carvalho, Ouattara.

Subs: Kelleher, Schade, Jensen, Nelson, Yarmoliuk, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Damsgaard, Kayode.

Jadon Sancho, meanwhile, makes his debut for Aston Villa - his first appearance for any club this season. There is also a full debut for fellow new signing Harvey Elliott, who came off the bench at Everton on Saturday.

Emi Martinez, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, Emi Buendia and Ollie Watkins all drop out of the Villa XI.

Aston Villa XI: Bizot, Cash, Konsa, Maatsen, Bogarde, Elliott, McGinn, Malen, Sancho, Guessand.

Subs: Proctor, Mings, Buendia, Watkins, Digne, Jimoh, Rogers, Kamara, Borland.

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It was hugely satisfying to bounce back from seeing Brentford concede a last-minute goal to lose at Sunderland to see us score one for a deserved point against Chelsea on Saturday.

We would all have taken a draw before the game - especially without Mikkel Damsgaard - and Keith Andrews' side did us proud with another resilient performance. It showed again that the team spirit is strong and that the new boss is unafraid to try different things.

In our early Premier League seasons under Thomas Frank, we always played five at the back against the top six. Andrews, who fielded a four-man back line in the first three league games, switched to five on Saturday, pleasingly including Ethan Pinnock.

For the second home match running, Andrews made big changes to defensive personnel in the closing stages. It did not work as well as against Aston Villa, with Moises Caicedo given too much time and space to score with a cracking shot.

However, his final substitution in throwing on Fabio Carvalho did pay off in grabbing a point.

Kevin Schade looked exhausted by that stage and we were questioning why he was not the player taken off. But keeping him on for his long throws was the right decision.

Another key factor in the draw was Jordan Henderson's first full game of the season. His brilliant pass for the first goal has been well praised - but his experience, calmness and knowledge of being in the right place at the right time were crucial.

That was the first of three 20:00 kick-offs in eight days and two big games follow.

Villa at home in the Carabao Cup - a competition in which it would be great to have a long run - comes before the big derby at Fulham.

An exciting few days beckon.

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Brentford have expressed interest in Borussia Dortmund's 19-year-old German full-back Almugera Kabar. (Bild - in German, subscription required), external

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