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Daily Brentford Weekend Match Review: A Glimmer of Hope in the Race for Europe
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This is your Weekend Match Review, where we analyse a 4-2 thriller at the weekend reminiscent of the Bees' pre-Christmas form on home soil. We discuss a first start for Michael Kayode, the front three firing again and potential permutations going into the final few weeks of the season.
Host: Daniel Toppin
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Transcript
Podcast Introduction and Community Engagement
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, we're back and welcome to the Bright Daily Brentford podcast with myself, Daniel, where today we'll be analysing return to winning ways at the GTEC in a 4-2 thriller over Brighton. Just before we get going, guys, we're a brand new company, so we're looking for your support this season and beyond as we look to bring you the best and most in-depth coverage across the entire network.
00:00:28
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Whether this is a five-star review on your favourite podcasting platform or recommendation to your friends, we are very grateful for any support that we receive. So let's get straight into it.
Arsenal Game Recap and Analysis
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'll briefly cover the Arsenal game as we didn't have any availability and we didn't do a podcast last week.
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought it was a good point on the road in what was... Probably a pretty dull game, perhaps expected, given Arsenal's exploits in the Champions League. And obviously they successfully went on to get through that tie against Real Madrid. And in my preview, I was quite hopeful that maybe we would get a result out of this. And that's how it kind of panned out. We didn't allow them to create too much.
00:01:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
It almost went as I expected when Arsenal took a lead in the second half. And I thought maybe then we wouldn't quite manage to get back into the game. But we showed a good response. Michael Coyote off the bench really changed the game. The first time he's really done that this season.
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Gave him hopefully plenty of confidence moving into these final few games. We'll talk about it in the moment. Obviously resulted him starting against Brighton. It was just great to see an overlapping presence um alongside Brian and Bumo.
00:01:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Even if he doesn't necessarily get the ball, if he's willing to overlap, that could open up more space for the likes of Bumo and Wisser. was involved. um that The cross, which led to the goal for Wisser, was brilliant. um It was great to see Nunes late on in this game as well. and Even thinking about Coyote and the other side of his play, when when Arsenal played the long ball forward. Flecken came out of his area, misjudged it a little bit, tried to control it on the edge of his area. Saka was in, but who was there to stop him before he was able to get a shot away? Michael Coyote. So I think he's got all the attributes you need, really.
00:02:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I think he's maybe a little bit raw and you can see that sometimes in the way he plays, you know, a little bit erratic at times. but he's 20 years old. It's important that we remember that. It's rare to have such young defenders. And, you know, if you look at our back four as a whole, if um Aaron Hickey was to play a left back and Coyote was to play a right back alongside Collins and Van der Berg, then that must be, you know, if not one of the youngest send set defensive partnerships in the Premier League. So i can certainly see growth in Coyote. I think it's definitely worth us triggering the option to sign him at the end of the season. I think we will
00:03:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
He looks very positive going forward. you know, it's not just long throws. It's also the ability on the overlap. He's quick. He's quite direct. um And defensively, he has got the ability to make challenges. He's got the ability to and impact play in those areas.
00:03:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Perhaps over time, you know, his discipline will grow.
Brentford's Strategy and Potential
00:03:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, he will maybe be a little bit more trustworthy um to Thomas Frank to start week in, week out, hopefully going forwards.
00:03:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Perhaps if I'm going to be a little bit critical from this Arsenal game, we we could have gone for it particularly a little bit more later on and when Arsenal went down to 10 men, Jorginho getting injured after Arsenal made their subs.
00:03:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Possibly we could have pushed a bit more to try and win it. You know, a point at the Emirates is a good point, but thought the circumstances and the fact that Arsenal didn't put out maybe their very best 11, of course they did come on, the likes of Saka and Odegaard towards the end. Um,
00:04:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
but the fact that they perhaps had other other things to worry about ah pretty nailed on twin second in the premier league was this our best chance so to really get three points at the emirates and how would the table look we'd be sitting ninth ninth place in the premier league um if we had got the three points in that game right now but decent point um Again, another point and against a big six side, which we have started to slowly pick up recently um after struggling against those types of sides earlier on in the season. So I don't think you can complain overall.
00:04:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's go into the team news then for the Brighton game. As just mentioned, Michael Coyote came in from the start for this one after that positive cameo. i like it. I would keep him there. I think um barring an absolute disaster performance from him, I would keep him there for the last four or five games of the season.
00:04:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought he got a very, very silly yellow card in this game for throwing the ball. It's something you'll have to learn from, you know, with experience. I'm sure he will. And that's perhaps why Thomas Frank chose to take him off early in this one to minimise any risk of us also going down to 10 men, um given the positive position we were in.
00:05:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
But yeah, he maybe we didn't have the same impact, didn't, you know... completely stand out in this game but i thought he was part of a solid defence and I thought he looks more promising you know he's a bit more unpredictable and that could play um into you know Brighton's defenders minds where they've also got the likes of Brian Abuma to think about and You know, it might have been a coincidence that Abuma had his best game in a long time at the weekend.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
Brighton Game Preparations and Tactical Insights
00:05:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, you know, there has there is some argument that maybe a more threatening option from right wing back um does maybe allow the likes of Brian Abuma to have more time on the ball when they get it.
00:05:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But, yeah, definitely pleased to see that and definitely hope that continues with Coyote starting more games at right back. Jan Moliuk came back in as well for Janel. He's someone in recent weeks who is getting more game time.
00:06:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
and We're seeing him being picked over the likes of Janel occasionally now. I think he looks tidy. and But I want to see more from him. It's a difficult one with Jan Moliuk. He never looks...
00:06:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
out of place he looks tidy on the ball you can tell he's got some quality but I think now I want to see him progress um I remember the first couple of times he to put a Renfrew shirt on one of which at Anfield when we were already down in the game but he looked like he was dictating that game and I'm not really seeing that from him now he looks you know unremarkable but fairly solid And I think for next season, in that third midfield spot alongside Norgaard and Dam's guard is up for grabs. And, you know, someone like him could take it if they show in these last three or four games, um just that little bit of extra quality, you know, whether it's just in getting a goal, whether it's just,
00:06:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
him getting some confidence from somewhere and then starting to look forward a little bit more often like Damsgaard does. um It's just what I want to see from him to really progress to the next stage. Because I think, I feel now Jarmusch in a place where he's settled at the club. but He's played a good number of games for the club. So we want to see him push on now.
00:07:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Away from that, it was good to see Rico Henry get some minutes on the pitch. Matthias Jensen as well when he came off the bench. He did look a bit rusty. We'll go on to Rico Henry later, but maybe that's to be expected after being out for such a long period, of course.
00:07:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is his second comeback, but he only really made one or two appearances in his first comeback. Gustavo Nunes as well, someone I want to speak about, made his debut against Arsenal, came on very briefly in this one too. We're still yet to see too much from him, but it's great to see him involved.
00:07:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And again, someone hopefully moving into next season we can benefit a lot from. And it's just great to have an attacking option on the bench because our bench now all of a sudden does look like it has it has more depth on it.
00:08:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Still perhaps a few too many defenders on there. You know, you had Aya, Pinnock and Ben Mee on the bench. Do you really need three out and out centre-backs on the bench? Probably not. and But these this attacking depth, the likes of Nunes, the likes of Igor Thiago, if hopefully we see him on the bench before the end of the season, and um that would be wholly welcomed. And we we would look like a different side, in my opinion, with a stronger bench like that.
00:08:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Looking towards Brighton, Kyrie Matoma was only on the bench due to a recent injury. He made his first appearance from the bench and obviously scored in this one. Brighton started with both Jao Pedro and Welbert. don't always do that. Often they start with just one of them up front.
00:08:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I guess you could say they only started with one out-and-out winger as well with Minter and Jao Pedro was more playing a wide role in this one. Mads Weefer, it was um noted by me that he was a right-back for this one.
00:08:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
He's not a right-back, he's a central midfielder, so there was a bit of a makeshift. area to that part of their side and of course they have the experience of the likes of lewis dunk and van hek at the back and belaba is a highly rated prospect in the middle of the park and he started this one as well after the break then will be going into the game itself and breaking it down
00:10:11
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00:10:28
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Gameplay Highlights and Key Performances
00:10:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to part two of your Daily Brentford podcast as we look back over our weekend game against Brighton, reminiscent of our pre-Christmas form at the GTEC. Oh, how we missed a goal fest at the GTEC, which ends in three points. um It feels like a such a long time since that happened before this one. And I thought we started the game really brightly.
00:11:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And I want to talk about Keane Lewis Potter. Some brilliant build-up play at the beginning of this one. Firstly, a lovely ball over the top into Kevin Sharder. Mads Weaver, as I spoke about, out position at right back. Perhaps caught a little bit out of position very early on here.
00:11:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Kevin Sharder able to run through, square it to Wisser. And it's a chance he normally scores. Bart Verbruggen in the Brighton goal did very well. But very unlucky not to score there. Probably should have taken an early lead.
00:11:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But moments later, we didn't dwell on it. um Great play with Mikar Damsgaard. and reverse pass back into Keane-Lewis-Potter, something that I don't think any other Brentford players would see. I think the easy pass there is to play it back to the centre-backs or to Flecken and build again.
00:11:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
But no, Damsgaard's looking forward. Damsgaard looks to return the ball back where it came. Keane Lewis Potter able to cut inside and play a defence-splitting ball for Brian Mbumo. And you don't give the likes of Mbumo and Whistle more than one bite at getting through on goal.
00:12:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
And where Whistle failed, b Brian was able to finish with his weaker foot, which I thought was really impressive. You know, it was a very, very good finish. A brilliant play in the likes of Keane Lewis Potter, as I said. Absolutely brilliant um in the opening minutes of this one.
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Brentford took an early lead. Couldn't continue, unfortunately, with that momentum. And Brighton did gain more possession and territory without really creating anything clear-cut in that first half. and There was a penalty shout by Danny Welbeck from fleck and error playing out from the back.
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not for me, I don't think. I think he was looking for contact. I think He was going down before contact was really made and the contact that was made was minimal. so no penalty for me. And it was waved away by the referee and VAR.
00:12:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then just as it looks at Brentford, we're coasting to halftime and it would have been a very good half, you know, especially after our recent run at the GTEC. um We are hit with a sucker punch, which is extremely frustrating.
00:13:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Welbeck again, managing to hold off Christian Norgaard in the box and heading home. Mark Flecken, I don't think he's saving that. think he was right in the bottom corner. A very good header from his perspective.
00:13:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
The only thing I would say about this goal is that there was a quick throw in which we took just moments earlier. And, you know, we were talking about there being three added minutes at the end of the first half.
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know we had this throw-in on about 45 plus 2. We tried to take it quickly. We tried to release Wisser, but Wisser, which I mean, we did we did get the ball to Wisser, but for Wisser to score from that situation, you know he had half the pitch to go um There were Brighton shirts around him. Not many Brentford players really um up supporting him. I think he would have had to pull off something absolutely unbelievable ah for him to create something out of that. So I think Did we need to do that?
00:14:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Could we have just not taken a quick throw in? Could we have just thought about the time we were in the game? Thought about the fact that, you know, there's a minute to go until halftime.
00:14:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Can we just see it out and protect what we've got for that minute? I think in hindsight, surely that's got to be the best solution.
00:14:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
i just think it's got to be more sensible game management at that at that time in a game. And ultimately we were punished and Welbeck. got the equaliser and again is that familiar feeling against another side up against us um close to us in the table are we just not gonna quite have enough um to come out of it with the three points having said that we came out in the second half the same way as the first which a nice change i can't remember the amount of times i've spoken on this podcast this season about us starting slowly particularly in second halves
00:14:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
but that wasn't the case here. The interplay between Brian and Buma and Jan Wisser both but benefiting from selection deflections and both assisting each other um to put Brentford 3-1 up inside 15 minutes in that second half.
00:15:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
b Brian and Buma now 18 Premier League goals. Jan Wisser now 16 Premier League goals. That is absolutely unbelievable for a Brentford pairing. Obviously, Ivan Tony's Premier League record for Brentford was 20 and Boomer at least looks on course to try and achieve that we are the only club in the Premier League to have two players score 15 or more this season and the only club in the top five European leagues to have two players score 10 or more at home so absolutely brilliant from those two and they score so often in the same game I think they're seventh or eighth now
00:15:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the all-time Premier League list of of partnerships um scoring in the same game. I think Harry Kane and and Son from Tottenham are at the top of that list, but it's just so impressive. And, you know, we look we will look ahead in five, 10 years time. And I think there'll be an iconic duo. And if we lose just one of them in the summer, I think it won't be the same um in terms of one being without the other.
00:16:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And it it would be interesting, I suppose, to see how they cope because even if they leave, very unlikely. I would suggest that they leave to the to the same place. It'll be interesting to see how they cope next season and beyond wherever they both
Controversial Moments and Game Dynamics
00:16:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
are. But for now, we can enjoy them at Brentford.
00:16:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Following this, and if it wasn't bad enough for Brighton at this stage already, we've got to talk about Jao Pedro. Of course, this is the same Jao Pedro who should have been sent off.
00:16:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
in the reverse fixture at the Amex in December for an elbow on Yarmolioch. And this time he takes Collins out off the ball like again. I thought this was less killer cut than the Yarmolioch incident, if if you remember rightly.
00:17:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
um There was a clear swing of the elbow towards Jan Moliuk in that game. He didn't connect, but the the intent certainly seems to be there. um For whatever reason, the the referee and the VAR justified it as him making a gesture towards the referee. I do not buy that at all. and I think it was a bad mistake ultimately from the officials.
00:17:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
This time, the referee on the field gave it. It Doesn't look too clear from the camera angles what has exactly happened. It looked like he kind of kicked um between Collins' legs and may also have made contact with Collins' face.
00:17:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And you just can't do that. It's totally unnecessarily unnecessary from a Brighton perspective. I don't think the Brighton supporters in the away end took to it too well. and And he's got a bit of a reputation from you so himself and he is going to have opposition players try to wind him up if he behaves like that and you know you you can't rise to it if you if you're going to be a wind up much and if you're gonna have a history of doing things like this against the same side Brentford in this case then I just don't think you know there's any forgiveness you know he's of course he's frustrated they're 3-1 down
00:18:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what he did does not help him or his teammates or anyone um related to Brighton. Brentford did look more comfortable after the red card initially, ah passing the ball around for a spell without any real danger. And Brighton just did not look like getting back into the game at one stage.
00:18:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then they made tactical changes. They took off Danny Welbeck. Of course, Ja Pedro is already off the pitch by this stage. and went with a strikerless attack um led by Kyrie Matoma, who who returned from injury.
00:18:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Again, the Brighton fans didn't take to these substitutions very well, but ultimately I think it helped them retake control of the midfield. um They matched us up again in midfield. They weren't a man short. that Their man short came from, obviously, the top end of the pitch.
00:19:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
And... Probably coupled with a bit of complacency for Brentford. It made for a nerdy ending. Matoma got one back with a tidy finish um around Mark Flecken.
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Quite classy from Matoma, who I think is a very classy player and ah and a very, very good player. Polly Brighton's best current player and maybe one of the next to to leave for big money.
00:19:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
and It was at this point that we also made the substitutes. We we brought Keane Lewis Potter off, who was having a brilliant game. Rico Henry came on. Jensen also came on after a period of injury.
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
And these aren't the subs that I would envision that Thomas Frank would have made if we were losing or if we were in a different situation or perhaps if he wasn't against 10 men.
Game Conclusion and Strategic Success
00:19:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought it was a little bit complacent. I thought Rico Henry in particular looked quite rusty. A little off the pace, maybe to be expected, although I'm a little bit concerned about him more than the other injured players long term, about getting back to his best, given his age and how much he was previously reliant on his pace.
00:20:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Of course, there was a penalty incident also on Rico Henry, and which has looked a bit messy. i don't think it was a penalty, but it might have been one of those if the referee gave it it wouldn't have been overturned. I thought it looked a bit messy. I thought, you know, he just looked a little bit off the pace.
00:20:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
which is sad to see, but i'm not I'm not writing him off yet. You know, this his first appearance in a long time. And I think it is definitely to be expected at this stage. But i do think we're a little bit complacent at this time in the game. And, you know, really, Brian could have got back into the game.
00:20:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
It was only really when Janel came on. I thought that we stemmed that tide again a little bit. Konak came on as well for Shada. And obviously, we we know how reliable Janel is.
00:21:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then Konak coming on for Shard also just served to add an extra body in the midfield um from our perspective too, so that we that we got again on top of that battle. um The nerves were growing though. Eight minutes were added on um for additional time in that second half.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought this referee, by the way, gave absolutely loads of added time, first half and second half. And that is before the injury to Van Heek at the end. Of course, we wish Van Heek well. I think Konak,
00:21:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
seemed to come out the better of the two from that challenge anyway. but yeah, loads of added time. and It was approaching the end of the eight when that injury happened. Not really sure where they got the eight in the first place from.
00:21:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
But we didn't have to wait till the end. We didn't have to chew on our fingernails until the end because Jensen reminded us of the delivery has from set pieces and put it on a plate for Norgaard. Brilliant header um to seal the victory.
00:21:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
And again, another goal for Norgaard must be his most prolific season. He's just as important now he as he has it has been for us. And I think it's a great um win for us to get him tied down for another couple of years on his contract. I thought I'll set pieces in general. Actually, we're better here. Brian and Bumo's delivery from corners. We seem to be going for the back post, which worked. We got a number of first contacts, could have easily scored from a corner.
00:22:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And these are the kind of routines I want to see us do um more regularly. Try something more regularly. you know Maybe don't go for the near post because nothing looks worse than a free kick that doesn't make it past the first man because you're aiming for someone in the near post.
00:22:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I thought those deliveries on Brian were really good. And we actually looked to fret from corner kicks in this one. you haven't done. maybe enough this
European Qualification Hopes and Future Outlook
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
season. But yeah, overall a brilliant win and I've been someone who's been reluctant to talk about Europe and the fact that we are in a race or not in a race this season and but results elsewhere you can't ignore them from the weekend just gone. Fulham lost against Chelsea in a game that I thought they'd actually get something in and they only lost late on.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
they They were still winning with 10 minutes to go in that one. Bournemouth and Palace drew with each other and obviously Brighton lost against us so That puts us now three points off eighth place. And remember, eighth place is likely to be enough for a conference league space next season, unless Crystal Palace win the FA Cup. That's the only thing that can really impact that from my calculations. I don't think Palace will win the FA Cup. Obviously, that's out of our control, even if that was to happen or not.
00:23:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it makes an exciting mini-league. I think that Fulham game, second game from last, could be absolutely massive, could be the biggest game against Fulham we've had in the Premier League. I think the next one's very, very important as well. Away at Forest. um I think the other three sides all have more winnable games perhaps than us in the next one.
00:23:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then I think maybe we have the the more favourable fixture list but beyond that. So it could be on. i think we can talk about it more after the Forest game. I think things will become clearer there, but I think we've given ourselves a glimmer of hope with three
Episode Conclusion and Listener Appreciation
00:24:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
points here. But that will do for today.
00:24:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you for listening to the Daily Brentford podcast. We hope you've enjoyed today's episode. And once again, we'll be extremely grateful for your support as this will enable us to get bigger and better moving forwards. Daily Brentford can be found on X, Instagram and TikTok under the handle at gspnbranford.
00:24:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
We'll be back again next week where we'll be looking ahead to a potentially season-defining game if we're to get into Europe, away at Nottingham Forest, who obviously have a lot to play for themselves as well.
00:24:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Until then, from myself, thank you for being with me.