9 November 2024
Brentford 3 Bournemouth 2
Brentford welcomed The Cherries to the Gtech Community Stadium. They say home is where the heart is and nothing could be truer for Thomas Frank’s side. All of their points this season have been won at home as they looked to end Bournemouth’s impressive run of late. The hosts have the best home form in the top-flight so far this season.
However, it was the visitors who made the brighter start to the game. In-form Semenyo picked the ball up out on the right and cut inside onto his left foot. The Cherries attacker never needs an open invite to shoot and this was no different. His effort seemed to be heading in but Flekken made a good reaction save to deny him an opening goal.
In the early stages of this game, the hosts really struggled with Bournemouth’s attacking play. As a cross was lofted into the back post, Senesi had timed his run to perfection. As the ball dropped to him on the half-volley, three yards out, he made a mess of his effort. He tried to take it on the outside of his left foot, when it seemed a simple finish with his right, and ballooned it over.
It is hard to comprehend when you see a professional footballer who is so one-footed. In no other job would you get away with this. The fix is simple, all you do for a living is play football all day. Practise makes perfect. Just start using your weaker foot all the time and sooner or later, it will no longer be looked at as your lesser option. Either way, The Cherries should have been two up.
This was turning into a horror show for the hosts. Van den Berg then looked to play a pass back to his keeper without looking up first. As he did, Evanilson collected the ball and rounded Flekken. He could not believe his luck as he was then able to roll the ball into an empty net. The Gtech Community Stadium fell silent, in shock with what they had seen in these first seventeen minutes.
There must be something in the loan agreement between Chelsea and Bournemouth for Kepa that dictates how much he plays. This can be the only answer for why he started ahead of Travers in this game. The Spaniard just does not dominate his box and struggles with basic concepts of the art of goalkeeping all too often.
As a long throw in came in, he stood rooted to the spot as it was flicked on at the front post for Wissa to head home. He immediately went crazy with the official, demanding a free kick for a foul on one of his defenders. The referee was not interested and The Bees had found a way back into this game with their very first attack.
Andoni Iraola’s side look capable of beating anyone when they are on their game. After the restart, they played a corner short and their slick pass and move style, saw Kluivert get in behind the defence to slot home and give the visitors the lead once again. Brentford just seemed to have no reply to The Cherries when they turned on the style.
Frank’s side knew they had to find a response to going behind so early in the second-half. As they pushed forward, the dangerous Mbuemo spotted the run of Damsgaard. The Dane picked up the ball at an angle so tight that surely his only option was to cross. Not when Kepa is in the goal it is not. He beat the Spaniard at his near post and the game was level once again.
Brentford felt they should have had a penalty when Collins and Kerkez wrestled before a cross came in. The referee waved away protests and the game continued. To be fair to the official, after seeing the replay, both players were giving as good as they got. It is rare in the modern game that you get a penalty for this jostling at set pieces.
Janelt then threaded a pass into the path of Wissa. Kepa came out to try and make himself big but resembled Ant-Man more. The Brentford striker dinked the ball over him to give the hosts the lead for the first time in the game. With plenty of time remaining, it looked like this was going to be another goal bonanza in West London.
Bournemouth threw everything at Brentford in the closing stages of the game. As Tavernier clipped a cross into the box from the byline, a host of players challenged for the ball. Huijsen rose to get his head on it, only to see his effort come back off the crossbar. As it was half-cleared, Semenyo looked to drill a shot at goal but it was well blocked. The Bees had survived this onslaught.
Thomas Frank’s side held on for all three points. Their home form is second to none so far this season. They have not picked up a single point on the road as yet. Disappointment for Iraola as he will have felt his side created enough chances to be out of sight in this game before Brentford scored their first goal. It might be an idea to leave Kepa at home next time if he wants to change his fortunes.
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