Third season: City bounce back
Brentford 1; Manchester City 3; 05 February 2024
Great, scintillating football for the first 45 minutes, with a splendid goal and every hope that the Bees could pull three much-needed points from what has developed into a troublesome second half of the season. But, as all Brentford faithful supporters know, one shouldn’t count their points before the final whistle, and even then it’s worth double-checking in case the opposition score once or twice when we weren’t looking.
The opening of the game, once the Bees realised they were not playing the big bad wolf, just one of the best sides in the game, saw the Gtech scratch-eleven responding with gumption and do-or-die energy, preferably that of the ‘do’ variety. It was a pleasure to watch therm.
Facing one of the favourites to win the Premier League championship – Manchester’s most powerful side and Liverpool are currently jostling for leadership at the top of the table – Brentford were too frequently knocked out of their stride. But soon Ivan Toney and Neal Maupay, hunting deep in a City defence that gave every impression they were having a stroll in the park spoiled, looked capable of seizing one or two of the chances on offer, while Mark Flekken hit a form we didn’t know he possessed and, indeed, had criticised lack of on various occasions.
It was difficult to count how many times Flekken saved from the raiding parties of Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez and Phil Foden – more of hm later – but around 21 minutes in, Flekken, presumably deciding to take matters into his own hands, thumped a long, well-aimed goal-kick up-field.
Toney saw it coming and so did two City rearguard defenders, but Toney’s muscle won the contest and the ball raced on at the feet of Maupay, who judged perfectly the rush from his goalmouth of Ederson and slotted past him a shot that clipped the inside of a post on its way into the net.
Celebrating his fifth goal in as many games, Maupay, became engulfed by his team-mates. City look as if there must have been a mistake, but the home supporters’ gleeful chorus of ‘There’s one only one Mark Flekken’ proved it was real.
Brentford rode the wave of success until the minutes added by referee Jerrad Gillett were running out, by which time City had shaken themselves back into shape and Flekken made what retrospectively seems his first error. De Bruyne sent a polished 40-yard ball that was only partly cleared by Ethan Pinnock and Foden pounced to equalise for the visitors.
It was that man again – only 23 years old but of special maturity – who made space to guide his header past Flekken and, as it turned out, settle the game. And it was this remarkable player who popped up after seventy minutes to evade the attentions of Pinnock and other defenders before turning what had been a fine first-half for Flekken became very much a so-so one for the second.
Overall, Flekken produced the best performance seen from him since the season’s opener. He can be proud of his afternoon’s work, especially the meticulous assist he supplied with the superkick that allowed Maupay to get among the goals again with a panache that might keep quiet the hyper-critics among his own supporters.
Toney was not quite the force we have seen since remerging from his suspension – two of the chances that came his way also came to nothing, a special shame as the fierce volley that sailed over Ederson’s bar would have given the final score a healthier respectability.
Of the others running themselves into the ground, Mikkel Damsgaard, a substitute sent on with fifteen minutes to go, impressed once again in midfield – long may he continue to do so.
They are still smarting from the injuries that have seen the Bees slip to fifteenth in the table, I observed to my mate Charlie. When will they get a rest?
‘Not next week,’ said Charlie. ‘That’s when we play away to Wolves, who’ve beaten us twice and drawn the other game so far this season.’
And next? ‘Liverpool,’ he said.
Brentford: Flekken; Collins, Pinnock, Mee; Roerslev (substitute Lewis-Potter 76), Jensen (sub Damsgaard 77), Nørgaard, Janelt (sub Yarmoliuk 76), Reguilión (sub Ajer 79); Toney, Maupay (sub Baptiste 90+1).
Manchester City: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol; Rodrig\o, Alvarez; Bernardo (Doku 71); Foden; De Bruyne, Haaland (Kovacic 86).
Revenge is sweet
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Brentford 2; 10 February 2024
Wolves became more than a pain in the backside in the first two clashes between these sides. The first cut was the deepest – 1-4 at the Gtech in a Premier League clash – and then scrambling a 1-1 draw, also at home, in the FA Cup third round, which wouldn’t have been so bad if the visitors hadn’t had a player sent off in the first half.
The Bees perked up when facing the Wanderers in the replay, but still managed to lose 2-3. Oh, the humility. And so to the fourth meeting, away again and with high hopes of returning to London with something, if only an ice cream cone.
But what a difference a player makes, especially when that player is Ivan Toney, plus a team getting to loathe the sight of opponents who were growing to be as familiar as their nearest and dearest.
What’s more, those who played remarkably well in the first half against Manchester City seemed determined to deliver a repeat performance. And, praise be, Spanish loanee Sergio Requilión, made available by Spurs, was obviously a top-drawer left-back bringing good news to the ravaged Bees squad.
Neal Maupay signalled to the Wolves early on that they were facing a more confident, more adventurous side and although he failed to convert either of the chances that came his way, skipper Christian Nørgaard made no mistake after 35 minutes, heading Brentford ahead when the visiting defence appeared to nod off for a moment or two.
Wolves, presumably thinking this wasn’t the scenario they expected, played some immaculate football and after 44 minutes Craig Dawson headed an equaliser, only for VAR to rule him offside. And, as so often can happen, a perfect pass by Vitaly Janelt enabled Toney to sweep the ball into the net – his third goal since returning from suspension.
Wolves resolve frittered away the remaining 14 plus-extras minutes. As for Brentford, happy days were there again.
Brentford: Flekken; Collins, Pinnock, Mee; Roerslev, Jensen (substitute Yarmoliuk 69m), Nørgaard (sub Ajer 85), Janelt (sub Baptiste 85), Reguilión; Toney, Maupay (sub Lewis-Potter 76).
No mercy Mersey
Brentford 1, Liverpool 4; 17 February 2024
Some you win and some you lose and sometimes one or two or three other competitors can, without trying, form a cabal.
Hence Manchester City played Brentford at the Gtech Stadium just a fortnight before Liverpool rolled into town and now will meet Thomas Frank’s team again on Tuesday of next week, at the Etihad Stadium. Meanwhile Arsenal, having edged the Bees out 1-0 at home last November are poised to entertain them at the Emirates three weeks from now, when several key Bees will still be suffering from injuries that have blighted the club’s progress this term.
As you may have noticed, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City occupy the top three places in the Premier League and are likely to be there still – shuffle the pack to see in which order – as the season ticks to a close.
No complaints. That’s the way it goes. And one can hardly blame the crème de la crème of the game – their own problems less devastating because of untold wealth – for taking advantage of football’s less glamorous clubs.
Which is why Manchester City scored three times to Brentford’s once at the Gtech and Liverpool went one better in – let’s face it – what was a one-sided encounter on a day when the Bees were frustrated as the visitors showed their class with a faultless, almost, display.
It didn’t help that a series of errors opened the doors of success to the League leaders on the day, with defensive blunders occurring and chances missed from the start – witness Ivan Toney’s uncharacteristic scuffed shot rolling across the face of Caoimhin Kelleher’s goal early on. Brentford competed spiritedly, but soon it became obvious that even without Mo Salah in the starting line-up, this polished performance was the real deal. Rarely did a pass go astray, gaps were opened up almost at will, and after 35 minutes Darwin Núnez latched on to a Diogo Jota header to outwit the defence and float a lob over the advancing Mark Flekken. Perfect in all departments.
Curtis Jones had already received attention from the medics and was then substituted, but the Bees hung on tenaciously until Jota limped off and Salah made his first appearance since returning from the Egyptian squad at the Africa Cup of Nations. It took him the interval and ten minutes or so to settle in before laying on the pass that enabled Alexis Mac Allister to score a second goal. As if Liverpool needed help from the bench!
From here on it was mostly uphill for the Bees. Salah ghosted into the penalty area, where discomfort was almost visible on the faces of the defence, making his journey simpler than necessary to tuck the ball inside the far post. Then Cody Gakpo added a fourth for City, although not before a rare defensive mistake allowed Ivan Toney to seize a wayward ball and easily beat Kelleher.
It was some consolation to wrap up an unsatisfactory afternoon for Brentford, but not much of one considering the game as a whole.
Nothing to add really, other than a word for referee Michael Oliver, who at time appeared determined to keep the match moving no matter what. His few firm decisions earned Brentford two yellow cards and Liverpool one, but more interesting was – among others – a blatant, illegal and unacknowledged charge in the back that floored Toney. Check out Facebook if in doubt.
The two or three knocks suffered by manager Jürgen Klopp’s talented players were a couple that might mean time out for them to heal and, therefore, matches to be missed. We know the feeling, what with first-teamers Aaron Hickey, Rico Henry, Bryan Mbeumo, Kevin Schade, Josh Dasilva and – the latest – Ethan Pinnock all in treatment and several of them already on the long-term injury list.
It’s a tough old game, observed my mate Charlie. ‘Yes, and at the end of every game, sometimes you’re smiling and sometimes you’re crying,’ I told him.
‘I’m not smiling’, said Charlie.
Brentford: Flekken; Collins, Ajer, Mee; Roerslev (substitute Lewis-Potter 63), Jensen (sub Damsgaard 74), Nørgaard (sub Onyeka 63), Janelt, Reguilión (sub Ghoddos 85); Toney, Maupay (sub Wissa 63).
Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley (sub Gomez 83), Konaté, van Dij, Robertson; Mac Allister (sub Elliott 83), Endo, Jones (sub Gravenberch 34); Jota (sub Salah 44), Núnez (sub Gakpo 45), Diaz.
THIRD SEASON: Honour saved
Manchester City 1, Brentford 0; 20 February 2024
A fully deserved point escaped from the Bees’ grasp when Kristoffer Ajer slipped and fell with 19 minutes remaining at the Etihad Stadium. Up till then, City, 3-1 victors when the teams met a fortnight before at the Gtech, must have been cursing their bad luck, while Erling Haaland – largely contained by the visiting defence – would have been thankful for his good fortune as he ran on to slot the ball past Mark Flekken.
The truth is that this was a game where Brentford had at last shaken off the poor performances against the Premier League leading group that has seen the injury-hit squad tumble towards the relegation zone in the table.
Is this the end of a bad dream? Or perhaps the revival loyal supporters have been waiting for?
Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa made a formidable spearhead, one that caused consternation to the home defence from the start. Shame their finishing wasn’t as good as their approach work – all too frequently they were off-target and, when not, Brazilian Ederson was back in goal, proving he is still among the greatest keepers in the sport.
Having hit a streak of form, Mark Flekken continued to impress for the Bees, while Zanka, Ben Mee and Ajer formed a barrier that even Phill Foden could rarely penetrate. Quite rightly, Thomas Frank congratulated the efforts of a team consisting of last men standing when it comes to team selection.
Memories of last season’s double over City – the only team in the League to have beaten them home and away – must have been lurking in the minds of those who were playing this day. More, please, Brentford.
Brentford: Flekken; Zanka, Ajer, Mee; Roerslev (substitute Ghoddos 89m), Onyeka (Damsgaard 89), Nørgaard; Janelt (Jensen 77), Reguilón (Lewis-Potter); Toney, Wissa (Maupay 68).
Bill Hagerty is a contributing editor to the Chiswick Calendar website.