The Brentford Saga

[CakeWalker]

With a record of four wins and two draws, Thomas Frank had led his Brentford side to a great start to the season and the team had found themselves sitting in the top four in the table.

​

Position​	P​	W​	D​	L​	GF​	GA​	GD​	PTS​
1. Chelsea​	6​	5​	1​	0​	13​	7​	6​	16​
2. Brentford​	6​	4​	2​	0​	15​	4​	11​	14​
3. Nottingham Forest​	6​	4​	2​	0​	11​	6​	5​	14​
4. Liverpool​	6​	4​	1​	1​	13​	6​	7​	13​

Frank would make a point that the fact that Brentford were one of only three sides to have not lost showed truly how much potential this team had despite the lack of budget they had compared to other team in the league. He would offer praise to Nottingham Forest who were also showing that positives result could be achieved by the less established team in the league. He would end by stating that the next four games were going to be tough and that Brighton, West Ham, Man United and Arsenal were all going to be hard games and that he really hoped the squad could come together, but was realistic with his goals and expectations and that ultimately his goal was to keep the side in the league for another season and that everything else was a bonus.

It would be announced that Daniel Oyegoke would be joining Italian Serie B side Cosenza Calcio on a two year loan deal. A point would be made that Oyegoke had really potential and shown it with his MOTM performance in the Carabao Cup clash with Shrewsbury and it was felt that Oyegoke would really grow into a star and would benefit from developing his football on a regular basis

Yegor Yarmoliuk would also move to Italy on a two year loan deal joining Cagliari Calcio. Both players loan spells would start on January 1st, although it was not expected that either of the pair would feature for the first team now that they had been eliminated from the Carabao Cup and the next cup games would take place in January.​

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME SEVEN

Brentford's run of form would see them continue to use their new 4-3-3 Attack Formation against opponents Brighton . Bryan Mbeumo who had been taking on new position Central Attacking Midfielder [CAM].

Mbeumo would state that working deeper in the pitch and being able to provide service to the strike force felt a lot more natural and suited his playing style particularly in regards to how intense the EPL was as a league. Bryan would add that Brighton would be a real test for the team, as they were a group of players that weren't not scared of pushing high up the pitch.

Bench: Strakosha [GK], Hernandez, Jensen, Ajer, Janelt, Dasilva & Lewis-Potter

| Brentford 0-1 Brighton |
- Brighton score on the break so early on and a shot from Plano leaves Raya looking helpless, with no defenders in sight. [3min]

| Brentford 0-2 Brighton |
- Brighton score a second in quick succession following a mess from a corner that the defenders don't clear after the initial save with Ogbonna tapping it in. [8min]

| Brentford 1-2 Brighton |
- Brentford attack back with Rodriguez finding Toney for the goal. With the game being a really explosive game of three goals in the first 15 minutes. [11min]

| Brentford 1-3 Brighton |
- Brighton stun with a diagonal lob shot on the edge of the box by Mitoma. [29min]

| Brentford 2-3 Brighton |
- Bryan is not selfish and passes across the box to Rodriguez for an easy tap in. [41min]

| Half Time 2-3 |
A really tough game - and certainly the hardest game in the league for Brentford so far this season.

- Mbeumo off - Hernandez on | Norgaard off - Jensen on | [60min]

| Brentford 3-3 Brighton |
- Fresh off the bench Chicharito scores an equalizer during the scramble following a corner. [62min]

| Brentford 3-4 Brighton |
Mitoma scores straight away from Brighton and smashes the ball into the net to retake the lead for his second of the game. [66min]

Brentford 3-5 Brighton
Brighton continue to press and score a fifth from an easy throughball to see Buonanotte score. [75min]

| Full Time Brentford 3-5 Brighton |
- First loss of the season in the EPL
- Thomas Frank states that if you score three goals and still lose, then you know you are playing a tough team and that this is the most competitive league in the world and its impossible to win every game

+ + + + +

Mathias Jorgensen better known as Zanka, who had less than year left on his contract has been sold by the club to Spanish side Valencia for a fee of £1.4m. Zanka was struggling to get first team football, and the sale means that Brentford manage to earn a financial benefit from the sale.

Another Italian forward joins the academy Massimo Martinelli (64) 17 years old, as well as 15 year old Sweden CF Dennis Olsson (60)

New York City FC was looking to loan Trevitt with an option to buy - with it being agreed that he will join NY for two years. NY agree to pay 60% of his wages, but talks fail as they are unwilling to offer a potential £700,000 for Trevitt if they choose to buy. Brentford would comment that players minimal value must be respected before any terms can ever be agreed upon.

+ + + + +

One of the side's key defenders Ethan Pinnock would express his frustration following the loss to Brighton and that conceding five goals in one match was never something you wanted to experience as defender and it really meant that him and rest of the lads were going to really pull up their socks and take a good long look at themselves. A point would be made that the side had conceded more goals in the Brighton match than they had in the previous six league games combined. ​

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME EIGHT

Following the loss to Brighton, Brentford returned their previous formation of 5-3-2 - with reinforcing the back with an extra defender at the back. The change would also see Damsgaard, Wissa and Mbeumo losing their places in the starting XI.

Bench: Strakosha [GK], Damsgaard, Ajer, Wissa, Mbuemo, Janelt & Roerslev


| West Ham United 0-1 Brentford |
- Hickey sends a cross pass into the box and finds Hernandez to break the deadlock in a tight matches between the two team, with a delicious header into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. [36min]

| Half Time 0-1 |
A tough game, but Brentford looking much better this week with perhaps the 5-3-2 formation really being their best asset formation available to them.

| West Ham United 0-2 Brentford |
- Bees break on the counter and Jensen scores a great goal to double the lead. [56min]

| West Ham United 1-2 Brentford |
- Raya makes a terrible rolling pass that leads to confusion and the easiest goal of his career for Scamacca. And acts a reminder that you can't lose concentration even for a second in the EPL. [60min]

- Hickey off - Roerlslev on | Norgaard off - Janlet on | [64min]

| West Ham United 2-2 Brentford |
- West Ham equalize against the run of play and leave Brentford frustrated with a goal from Fornals. [74min]

- Toney & Hernandez off - Wissa & Mbeumo on | This is seen as a potentially rash double substitution after the goal. [75min]

| West Ham United 3-2 Brentford |
- A shot from West Ham on the counter, is saved by Raya but ends up bobbling over the line still to give West Ham via the shot Scamaaca. Although it could be debated that it was actually an own goal. [81min]

| West Ham United 3-3 Brentford |
- Rico Henry scores a tap in after a counter attack from Rodriguez, with the RWB showing real speed to get there. [91min]

| Full Time West Ham United 3-3 Brentford |
In what looked originally looked like a win for the Bees, they must be feeling lucky they even managed get a draw in what proved to be a very tough fixture.

+ + + + +

Rico would share his feelings in what was only his fifth goal for the club and that playing in his position it was rare to score goals, but each one was memorable and that it being the difference between losing and drawing it almost like like winning a cup final especially because it had taken place at the Olympic Stadium. Rico would add that the team needed to continue to play well as a team together, because their new two opponents were going to be difficult and tough games.

+ + + + +

Luis Romo (76 rating) becomes the third Mexican start to be signed by the Bees - although it is expected that Romo will actually be sent out on loan rather than feature anytime soon for the first team.
​

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME NINE

Following Brentford's last minute draw with West Ham, the Bees decided to hold the same formation as the previous week with Schade replacing Mbeumo on the bench.

Kevin Shade had been on loan for SC Freiburg on loan with a possible option to buy, but as of late hadn't featured much in the matchday squad. The young German talent would comment that he really hoped he could impress the coaching staff, although feared if he didn't get enough came get time he would be recalled back to Germany and the potential deal would fall through. Shade would accept that the squad was proving to be incredibly competitive at the moment, but that fighting for a place wasn't personal - it was just business.

Bench: Strakosha (GK), Damsgaard, Ajer, Wissa, Schade, Janelt & Roerslev

| Brentford 0-0 Manchester United |
- Hickey crosses the ball to Henry in a wingback to wingback combo, with Henry only be stopped by De Gea's impressive acrobatic skills between the posts. [15min]

| Brentford 0-1 Manchester United|
- United scored the first goal of the game, despite having been under early pressure from the home side with Morata managing to break past the line of defence and avoiding the offside trap to score a classy goal. [31min]

- Brentford would be reduce to ten man, when Pinnock as the last man would recklessly tackle Fernandes and be show a straight red card. The dismissal would result in captain Norgaard dropping back into the defence, leaving one less man in midfield. [38min]

| Brentford 0-2 Manchester United|
- It wouldn't take long for Brentford's defence to buckle and Morata would score a second shortly after Pinnock had been giving his marching orders. [40min]

| Half Time 0-2 |
- Hernandez off - Schade on | Rodriguez off - Da Silva on

| Brentford 0-3 Manchester United |
- Fernandez scores a third, as United start to pull away from the 10-man team [50min]

- Jensen off - Janelt on [65min]

| Brentford 1-3 Manchester United |
- Schade scores with a header from the corner, in what is Janet’s first tough of the ball as he takes the corner. [66min]

| Brentford 1-4 Manchester United |
- Eriksen scores against his former club, seeming to end any hopes of any sort of comeback for Brentford in the game. [70min]

| Brentford 2-4 Manchester United |
- Schade scores a second on the counter as the ball spills past De Gea and trickles over the line before the defenders can clear, although they do their best in trying. [74min]

| Brentford 2-5 Manchester United |
- Casemiro scores from a corner, and Brentford continue to struggle with a man down. [85min]

| Brentford 3-5 Manchester United |
- Schade's speed manages to break the line and he finds Toney, but it just too little too late. [88min]

| Full Time Brentford 3-5 Manchester United |
Thomas Frank would make it clear that the defence had simply not been good enough, but Raya had really stood no chance as soon as Ethan Pinnock had been sent off. Frank would make the point that losing two nil would have been better with eleven men on the pitch and that he would be speaking to Pinnock in more detail about the incident.

He would praise Schade and make a point that he would be given the German loanee more game time, as had been very impressed with his performance.

+ + + + +

It would be confirmed that Luis Romo would be joining Borussia Dortmund on loan as son as the January transfer window opened up. A point would be made that Romo's free agency status had been an opportunity too good to let go and although the Mexican wasn't in the current first teams plans come the summer - Luis could very much be part of the team's plan and that is why they had taken on this gamble and whether or not it ended up being fruitful or fruitless was something yet to be determined.​

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME TEN

The last time the two sides had met, it had been earlier in the season in the third round of the Carabao Cup when the Brentford Bench and Reserves had suffered a big loss of six goals to one at The Emirates. This time round both team's were playing their first string players. Kevin Shade would start his first game in the EPL, whilst Ajer would start in the back with Pinnock suspended for one game. Luis Romo also feature on the bench although it wasn't certain if he would actually play considering the loan agreement deal with Dortmund now in place.

Bench: Strakosha (GK), Damsgaard, Romo, Wissa, Mbuemo, Janelt & Dasilva

| Brentford 0-1 Arsenal |
- Jesus score early with Brentford's poor defensive form continuing. [7min]

| Brentford 0-2 Arsenal |
- On the break, Gabriel Jesus score again. [20min]

| Brentford 0-3 Arsenal |
- Jesus' impressive form would continue and he would score a hat trick in less than thirty minute, with the away fans look over the moon whilst their was silence from the home fans present at the Gtech. [26min]

| Brentford 1-3 Arsenal |
- Schade scores on break - just before half time and controls the ball with a perfect side foot with the young German continuing to impress. [45+3min]

| Half Time Brentford 1-3 |

| Brentford 1-4 Arsenal |
- Raya saves the shot, but the ball falls flat at the feet of Martinelli who just tapes the ball in for a cheap goal. [56min]
Schade off - Damsgaard on

- Rodriguez off - Dasilva on [60min]

- Ajer fouls Gabriel Jesus in the box and gives away a penalty, but Raya manages to save the penalty offering some sort of hope for the Bees. [61min]

| Brentford 1-5 Arsenal |
- Gabriel Jesus would continue run riot and score his fourth of the game, this time by scoring a header from a corner. [64,om]

| Brentford 1-6 Arsenal |
- Martinelli would continue Brentford's punishment by scoring from within the six yard box. [69

| Brentford 1-7 Arsenal |
- Gabriel Jesus wonder goal that would go in top right hand corner from 30 yard out, that was without a shadow of doubt the best goal of the game so far. [73 mins]
Toney off - Mbeumo on | Norgaard off - Janelt on

| Brentford 1-8 Arsenal |
- Jesus would end up scoring his sixth goal of the game, in what would be a double hat trick and make Raya look silly by tricking him with fancy footwork before nutmegging him. [82min]

Brentford 2-8 Arsenal
- Josh Dasilva would score a great goal on the counter attack and show that despite seeming down and out, Brentford were refusing to quit even though this was their biggest in the Premiership. [86min]

| Brentford 3-8 Arsenal |
Damsgaard would add a third for the Bees by scoring a nice half volley from a corner. [92min]

| Full Time Brentford 3-8 Arsenal |
A nightmare match for Brentford - and the fans would boo at the end of the game and the first time this sound would be heard at the new stadium. Which wasn't surprising considering Gabriel Jesus had scored six goals in one game.

+ + + + +

Well known fan Billy 'The Bee' (Billy Grant) would comment that a five goal defeat was honestly an embarrassing moment as a Brentford fan, but that what they had witnessed a true masterclass from Gabriel Jesus today and the fact that he was the first player to ever score a double hat trick in the history of the league meant he was a special player. Billy would comment that over the last four games the Bees had one earned one point, and that he along with the rest of the fans in attendance really wanted to see the lads get back on winning way and recapture some of their form from the start of the season.

+ + + + +

Young Italian Sergio Giordano [64 rating] had been officially promoted to the senior team and was unveiled as #31 for the team, although it was already expected that the club were searching for a potential club for the young 17 year-old to go out on loan and get some first team experience under his wings. ​

 

[Death By Looch]

Oh man, what results. Defense completely falling apart. I don't think that 532 is working anymore.

At least the team got some points in early in the season. Otherwise this would already look very bad.

 

[CakeWalker]

Oh man, what results. Defense completely falling apart. I don't think that 532 is working anymore.

At least the team got some points in early in the season. Otherwise this would already look very bad.

Tell me about it. 4-3-3 Attack and 5-3-2 failing [and that the IRL formation lol]

Its fun enough doing the diary - but rough couple of games for sure LOL.

 

[Death By Looch]

Yea, as long as you still have fun with it, it's all good. ... Maybe it's time to dig deeper in the chest of tactics. Old school Diamond 4-4-2 that shit.

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME ELEVEN

After such a poor run of form that last thing that Brentford wanted was to do was visit the Etihad. The formation would change with the team adopting a 5-4-1 diamond formation, with particular detail noted that the usage of wingbacks seemed to be a popular feature of most of Thomas Frank team sheets'. Pinnock would return to the team, but Jansson would be dropped in favour of Ajer. Toney would remain up front, with Schade keeping his spot but moving to right midfield. Hernandez would noticeably once again not be involved in the match day squad in any capacity.

Bench: Stakosha [GK], Damsgaard, Mbeumo, Janelt, Oneyka, Ghoddos & Dasilva

| Manchester City 0-1 Brentford |
- In what had been a scrappy game with both team having chances, Jensen breaks through the defensive line after a pass from Toney and scores just to the right of the keeper to give Brentford the lead. [31min]

| Manchester City 1-1 Brentford |
- De Bruyne scores almost straight off the kickoff to bring the game back on even terms with a crisp and powerful finish. [33min]

| Half Time 1-1 |
First half was close, and Brentford look miles better than the team that played United and Arsenal with the new formation seeming to payoff.

| Manchester City 1-2 Brentford |
- Jensen scores the second by a shot that bounces off the far right post and bounces back in with good fortune helping the Bees. [51min]

- Jensen off - Mbeumo on (CAM) [60min]

- Both team continue to pressure on each other.
Schade off - Damsgaard on | Ajer off - Oneyka on (CB) | Norgaard off - Janelt on [79min]

| Manchester City 2-2 Brentford |
- Haaland strikes out of nowhere as he spins 180 degree and smashes the ball into the net to score the leveler and catch Raya out. [85min]

| Manchester City 3-2 Brentford |
City score another, this time with Haaland finding Silva who slams the shot into the top right corner and beats Raya with ease. [88min]

| Full Time Manchester City 3-2 Brentford |
Brentford show signs of improvement, but it is another loss and the the rot continues for the Bees. There is no denying that despite the loss, the squad looked in much better spirits despite the loss.

+ + + + +

It would be announced that with Brentford having founded themselves overloaded with forwards, after an offer of £11m was made by Newcastle United for Bryan Mbeumo, the club had no difficulty in accepting the offer. Mbeumo had proven himself as invaluable member of the squad in recent years, but as of late it had become clear that he wasn't likely to be a regular in the squad every matchday .

+ + + + +

It would be announced that Young-Coombes would join Turkish side Alanyaspor on a two year loan deal at the start of the January window. This would continue a trend of Frank allowing players to go out on loan on two year basis, rather than the more common season or six month periods.

It would also be confirmed that Keane Lewis-Potter would join Aston Villa on loan for six months.

+ + + + +​

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME TWELVE

Former captain Pontus Jansson who as of late hadn't been getting as much first team time as he would have hoped for, he understood that Thomas Frank had a plan and that if he had to step aside for Ajer then perhaps that was what the team needed the most. Pontus would add that he did hope to be involved in some sort of capacity even if it was off the bench though, as otherwise he might have to consider seeking options elsewhere - but until then he would be watching from the stands and hope that the Bees would get a big win over Liverpool this coming weekend.

Brentford would choose to use the same formation and lineup they used against Manchester City, with a perception that it would be the remedy for the team’s poor run of form.

Jude Bellingham who had joined Liverpool in the summer was seen as the team's biggest threat and it was clear that he was very much being seen as the tiger at the gates waiting to pounce at the Gtech.

Bench: Stakosha [GK], Damsgaard,Hernandez, Janelt, Oneyka, Roerslev & Dasilva

| Brentford 0-1 Liverpool |
- Salah scores a tap in, following Bellingham’s shot hitting the crossbar and landing at the strikers feet. [38min]

| Half Time 0-1 |
A close and tough game between two side that are really showing promise.
Toney subbed off with an injury to his knee - replaced by Damsgaard | Schade goes up front.

| Brentford 1-1 Liverpool |
- Rodriguez scores the leveler with a cheeky back turn and smashes the ball to the right of Allison and keeps the ball as it skims across the grass. [51min]

- Schade off - Hernandez on | Hickey off - Roerslev on [62min]

| Brentford 1-2 Liverpool|
- Jota puts Liverpool ahead with a header from a corner. [65min]

| Brentford 1-3 Liverpool |
- Jota scores another goal this time by dribbling around two defenders before poking it into the bottom corner, with Brentford caught napping once again. [81min]

|Brentford 1-4 Liverpool |
- Gakpo lobs Raya to add insult to injury, in what had looked like such a positive game for Brentford early on. [89min]

| Brentford 1-5 Liverpool |
- Jota scored a hat trick in the last minute of the game. [95min]

| Full Time Brentford 1-5 Liverpool|
No win in six games and only one point earned. With Toney confirmed to be out for four weeks with a sprained knee, the situation for Brentford keeps getting worse and worse. ​

 

[Death By Looch]

No win in six games, yea... but there were also five matches against the big dogs of the league in those six. The 541 looked to work better against Man City, it's a shame that it only seemed to be more of a flare-up. Maybe the upcoming games give more, depending on the opponents.

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME THIRTEEN

Brentford decide to use the 4-1-2-1-2 Wide formation, with it last being used in the Carabao Cup by the bench and reserves but this being the first time it is actually being employed by the first team. With Ivan Toney injured, a pairing of Hernandez and Schade is chosen to lead up top, with Wissa being added to LM. With four in defence, Pinnock find himself being dropped to the bench where he is joined by Romo and recent academy graduate Giordano.

Bench: Strakosha [GK], Damsgaard, Pinnock, Janelt, Dasilva, Romo & Giordano

| Chelsea 1-0 Brentford |
- Sloppy defending allows Mason Mount to break and put Chelsea ahead with an easy goal. [16min]

| Chelsea 2-0 Brentford |
- Aubameyang scores another for Chelsea, with the passing making the Bees defence dizzy as to reach him look like a training exercise of hot potato. [21min]

| Chelsea 2-1 Brentford |
- Rodriguez with a composed finish to put Brentford on the score sheet, low and too left of the keeper. [30]

| Half Time 2-1 |

| Chelsea 2-2 Brentford |
- Schade shot is saved, but Wissa is present and smashes in the rebound into a virtually empty net with the keeper still on the floor and unable to get back up. [57min]

- Wissa off | Damsgaard on | Ajer off - Pinnock on [63min]

| Chelsea 2-3 Brentford |
- Hernandez scores a freekick that goes into the top left corner, with the keeper Mendy touching it but not managing to stop it. Brentford fans go wild. [69min]

- Jensen off - Janelt on [78min]

- Norgaard off - Dasilva on [89min]

| Full Time Chelsea 2-3 Brentford |
Brentford end their winless run with a victory at Stamford Bridge and it is seen as massive important turning point for the team.

+ + + + +

​

Position​	P​	W​	D​	L​	GF​	GA​	GD​	PTS​
9. Leicester City​	13​	5​	3​	5​	24​	25​	-1​	18​
10. Brentford​	13​	5​	3​	5​	33​	35​	-2​	18​
11. Everton​	13​	5​	1​	7​	16​	17​	-1​	16​
12. Arsenal​	13​	4​	3​	5​	21​	17​	4​	15​

Hugo Bearman, one of the many coaches working for Thomas Frank would offer his thoughts following the victory over Chelsea. The German tactic expert would make a point that despite the fact that Brentford only managed to earn one point in six games, all six games were against established opponents. So to actually manage to claim such an important victory over Chelsea and bring an end to the funk was just such a great feeling. With the analysis Bearman would comment that despite only being seven point off the relegation zone, the team were only one victory shy of being in the top seven so this season was far from being over. And would further add that despite having the worst defence in regards to goal conceded in the league, as a team the had also scored the most goals so at a performance levels they were shown themselves at their very best and very worst at the same time.

Another player going out on loan in January would be announced, with RB Finn Stevens going to Germany for six months to play for Dusseldorf. ​

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME FOURTEEN

Although there wasn't an established rivalry between both teams on paper, in recent years neither sets of fan had shown much love for the other and the game was expected to be an intense encounter with much of this having stemmed from both team's time in the Championship. The match day squad would be much the same, with the only changed being Romo dropped in favour of Roerslev on the bench.

Bench: Strakosha [GK], Damsgaard, Pinnock, Janelt, Dasilva, Roerslev & Giordano

| Brentford 0-0 Leeds |
- Hickey passes to Hernandez who hits the ball on the volley from the cross and it just grazes over the cross bar, in what would have been a memorable goal and one of the best of the season - if it had gone in. [13min]

| Brentford 1-0 Leeds |
- Wissa crosses to Rodriguez who hits on the volley and Robles is forced to make a great save, but Jensen score an easy rebound with his head to give Brentford the lead. [27min]

| Brentford 2-0 Leeds |
- Wissa scores a second with a nice left footed strike that was hit crisply and perfect execution. [33min]

- Schades almost scores a one-on-one but hits post, and is left disappointed as the whistle for half time blows. [45+3min]

| Half Time 2-0 |
Rodriguez off - Dasilva on

| Brentford 3-0 Leeds |
- Schade scores a great solo effort, to bring back winning ways for the Bees showing real pace from the young talent. [56min]

- Wissa off - Damsgaard on | Henry off - Roerslev on [61min]

- Schade off - Giordano on [makes his debut and first professional game] [71min]

- Mee off - Pinnock on [89]

| Brentford 4-0 Leeds |
- Giordano scores on his debut with a great strike, on the counter attack led by great pace from Roerslev, after defending a corner. With the young Italian being shown a lot of love from the fans in the Gtech. [92min]

| FT Brentford 4-0 Leeds |
First clean sheet for many games, and Brentford look the best they have in months that is capped off with a MOTM performance from Jensen. Giordano would also be recognized for being an exceptional young talent and to score a goal on his debt really turned him into a real hot prospect on Brentford's books.

+ + + + +

Giordano would comment that the game that he hadn't thought he would making his club debut anytime soon and had expected to make his professional debut on loan rather than for Brentford. The Italian star would state he would never forget this day and the fact he had been part of the team that had beaten Leeds United 4-0 at home. His interview proved very popular with Brentford fans after the fact.
​

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME FIFTEEN

Considering the manner in which Brentford beat Leeds United, it wasn't surprising that Thomas Frank chose to use the same starting eleven once again. Bryan Mbeumo would return to the bench, with it being his first inclusion in a matchday squad since his transfer to Newcastle had been confirmed. With the likes of Schade, Hernandez and Wissa all starting whilst he was on the bench was a strong indication of why he had been allowed to leave the club. Nonetheless, in a candid interview Bryan would be open and admit that until he left the club he would do everything in his power to make sure Brentford won every match until his departure in January.

Bench: Strakosha [GK], Damsgaard, Pinnock, Janelt, Dasilva, Romo & Mbeumo

| Half Time Aston Villa 0-0 Brentford |
The first half if the match was incredibly even between both sides and would remain goalless, but that didn't mean that either side had been shy with their attacking play. Villa had nine shots to Brentford's three in what had been an exciting game. Brentford's right flank had be particularly worked out, which would leave to two substitutions at half time to allow them time to refresh,.

Hickey off - Janelt on | Jensen off - Mbuemo on

| Aston Villa 1-0 Brentford |
- Coutinho scores an amazing goal with the inside of his right foot from outside of the area and put Villa in the ascendancy. [52min]

| Aston Villa 1-1 Brentford |
Rodriguez scores right back, with the GK tipping it onto the far post, but the ball still goes in. [55min]

- Schade off - Dasilva on (ST) | Norgaard off - Romo on (Romo makes his Brentford debut) [61min]

| Aston Villa 1-2 Brentford |
- Rodriguez with a cross and Wissa scores with a diving head that catches the goalie off guard and leave him stuck in the mud. [77min]

- Hernandez off - Damsagaard on [80min]

| Full Time Aston Villa 1-2 Brentford |
Brentford have now won three games in a row, and despite the fact that Aston Villa were arguably the better team - Brentford's defence really held up. Ajer is awarded as MOTM, and as of late has really shown he has earned his place in the starting lineup.

+ + + + +

It would be announced that MLS side DC United had accepted an offer of £1.65 from Brentford for the services of Christian Benteke, but that the Belgian's agent had higher expectations in regards to wages and talks had broken down. With an oversaturated number of forward it was unclear what exactly Brentford's plans were going forward - but clearly they had their sights set on creating a squad not just for now, but for the future.​

 

[CakeWalker]

GAME SIXTEEN

There was a rivalry that was present between Forest and the Bees, but this had little to do with the club and more to do with Forest's manager Cooper who in the past had said some choice things about Brentford whilst managing Swansea City. This had led to the Brentford faithful having particular ill feelings towards the Welshman and so a football feud between fans and an opposing manager had come to be. In terms of team changes, Schade would be dropped from the match day squad with Wissa moving up front and Damsgaard moving to LM. Whilst, David Raya would be dropped in favour of second choice goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha.

Bench: Raya [GK], Mbeumo, Pinnock, Janelt, Dasilva, Oneyeka & Ghoddos

| Brentford 0-1 Nottingham Forest |
- A great goal on the counter that see the ball struck with venom by Becker to go in the top right hand corner leaving Strakosha flummoxed. [28min]

| Half Time 0-1 |
Both teams with chances, but the wonder goal being the difference maker.
Rodriguez off - Mbeumo on (CAM)

| Brentford 1-1 Nottingham Forest |
- Following a pass from Mbuemo, Wissa weaves through the defence before nailing the ball with his left foot to score. [55min]

- Hickey off - Pinnock on | Jensen off - Ghoddos on [66min]

- Henry off - Onyeka on | Hernandez off - Dasilva on (CAM - Mbeumo moves up front. [75min]

| Full Time Brentford 1-1 Nottingham Forest |
A tough contest that could of gone either way, with Brentford having more shots but not getting the goals when it mattered. Frank makes a point that nothing is worse than losing and there rotten losing run will not be forgotten anytime soon.​