Brentford 2, Crystal Palace 1

Fourth season: Two-striker Bees sting Palace

The story of Brentford’s first game of the Premier League season might be subtitled ‘The man who wasn’t there’. The undoubted star of Thomas Franks’ squad during the past three mixed-fortunes terms in the top-flight is Ivan Toney, here withdrawn from among of those about to take on the visiting Londoners – a jolly decent gesture from Brentford – presumably just in case a suitable suitor should find him or herself at a loose end this sunny afternoon.

There being a lull in progress to higher up the tree of football life, the next chapter of Brentford’s latest England international’s chronicle is yet to be writ large, even if he is certain soon to is depart through the door marked Exit.

Saudi is a possible destination it is said, but in the meantime, for the rest of the team there was the more urgent matter of a season opener to be disposed of.

Nathan Collins flying defensive header

Full marks, then, to a line-up looking suspiciously like one that shared the spoils with Palace at the Gtech Stadium about a year ago, right down to Toney’s absence. (Indeed, Palace had yet to be beaten by the infamous Hounslow bus stop in all encounters, which added a certain frisson to the day’s proceedings.)

Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, the do-it-yourself strike duo that has replaced Toney plus Mbeumo with some success, plus Kevin Schade supplying speed of foot and in the air, started well against a Palace outfit that looked strong in defence but less so up front. A bit like Palace’s set-up for the game in reverse, of which more later.

It was the visitors who came a whisker of going ahead after 26 minutes when Eberechi Eze curled a penetrative shot in off a post. Brentford and the home supporters breathed easier when referee Sam Barrott awarded a free-kick to the Bees for an illegal tackle on Nathan Collins and said that his whistle had sounded milliseconds before the ball crossed the goalline. No goal, ruled the official, and was a real gent in apologising for his speed lapse.

And worse was to come for Palace just three minutes later when Mbeumo curled his shot inside a far post after Wissa had feinted a run away from the penalty area that seemed to bamboozle the defence. Slick thinking from the Bees’ pair.

Bryan Mbeumo claims the ball

The visitors didn’t roll over and let the Bees tickle their tummies, but a fizzer of a shot from Kevin Schade looked a winner until it ran clear across the face of Dean Henderson’s goal on it way somewhere else. If nothing more, it signalled the Bretford winger’s arrival back in business after injury.

Palace also scored what wasn’t a goal – offside by a street! – before the real thing came along after 56 minutes. Marc Guéhi shot goalwards and as Mark Flekken attempted to unscramble a melee, Ethan Pinnock, otherwise his reliable self, settled the matter by kneeing the ball home with his knee. Oops, but one-all nonetheless.

Mikkel Damsgaard was the pick of Frank’s substitutions as Brentford set out to find a decider, but it was Wissa who put the finishing touch to a ball Henderson nearly finger-tipped away, only for this half of the Bryan/Yoane partnership to squeeze it home.

Janelt, Wissa and Schade heading home happy

The front line therefore emerged with top marks, especially for Wissa and his impersonation of a runaway train. Midfield? Satisfactory. But the defence was struggling too much, too often – Ben Mee, probably still not fully fit, was a welcome sight when subbed with just a minute or two to play.

What do you think? I asked my mate Charlie.

‘Three points in the bag,’ said the pragmatist.

Brentford: Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, Ajer; Janelt (sub Damsgaard 74m), Jensen (Onyeka 84), Norgaard; Mbeumo (Mee 90), Wissa (Carval 84), Schade (Lewis-Potter 74).

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Muñoz, Richards (Saar 84), Andersen), Guéhi; Mitchell, Wharton, (Lerma 74), Hughes (Doucouré 84), Kamada (Ayew, 70), Mateta (Édouard 46), Eze.

Bill Hagerty is a contributing editor to the Beels United website. Photographs by Liz Vercoe.

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