Brentwood 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
3 APRIL 2024 -
BRENTFORD 0 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0 -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at the GTECH COMMUNITY STADIUM, BRENTFORD.
The Albion were back on the road, this time a short trip to West London to meet Brentford in a Premier League fixture, "live" in front of the TNT Sports cameras and broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Previously, Albion had narrowly lost 1-2 at Liverpool on the 31 March and for their visit to the Gtech Albion made four changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Igor Julio, Facundo Buonanotte, Adam Lallana and the fit-again Joao Pedro replacing Pervis Estupinan, Tariq Lamptey, Jakub Moder and Danny Welbeck, the latter four dropping down to the substitutes bench.
Last time out Brentford had drawn 1-1 at home to Manchester United on the 30 March and for Albion's visit Head Coach Thomas Frank named an unchanged starting line-up from that game.
In the reverse fixture earlier this season on the 6 December 2023 at the Amex, the Albion won 2-1 with their goals coming from Pascal Gross (31m) and Jack Hinshelwood (52m) after Brentford had opened the scoring through Bryan Mbeumo (27m, penalty).
In their meetings in the Premier last season Brentford beat the Seagulls 2-0 at the Gtech on the 14 October 2022, with both goals being scored by Ivan Toney (27m) and (64m, penalty). In the return fixture at the Amex on the 1 April 2023 the teams fought out a 3-3 thriller, with Albion's goals coming from Kaoru Mitoma (21m), Danny Welbeck (28m) and Alexis Mac Allister (90m, penalty). Brentford's goals were scored by Pontus Jansson (10m), Ivan Toney (22m) and Ethan Pinnock (49m).
Early chances fell to both teams, as Joel Veltman's header was saved by Brentford keeper Mark Flekken and at the other end Ivan Toney's half-hit shot was easily dealt with by Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. It was the Seagulls who looked the sharper of the two teams and it was some inventive play by Pascal Gross who found Adam Lallana in space but the midfielder sent his shot wide of the target. Next it was Joao Pedro who twice tested keeper Flekken with efforts which the Brentford custodian kept out. Just prior to the break Albion thought they had won a penalty when Yoane Wissa appeared to have fouled Lewis Dunk in the box. Referee Andy Madley rejected Albion's pleas for a penalty but instead went to the pitch-side monitor and then confirmed his decision not to award a penalty as it appeared that Dunk had instigated the incident.
Half-time 0-0.
A low-key start to the second-half eventually saw Lallana fire a shot over the bar when well-placed. The Seagulls looked the team most likely and substitutes Julio Enciso and Danny Welbeck went close to breaking the deadlock. In time added on Welbeck's vision saw him race through on the Bees goal but his final shot missed the target by inches. A disappointing game ended score-less with the points shared.
Final-score 0-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 24 attempts at goal, with 6 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 12.
Brentford had 9 attempts at goal, with 2 on target and won 1 corner, free-kicks conceded - 9.
TO SUM UP -
The match stats speak for themselves as the Seagulls were the team with the greater ambition and should have picked up the three points. It was good to see the fit-again Joao Pedro back in the starting line-up.
Next, Arsenal arrive at the Amex in another tough test for the Albion.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Bart Verbruggen; Joel Veltman (Jakub Moder 86), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Igor Julio; Pascal Gross, Carlos Baleba; Facundo Buonanotte (Danny Welbeck 73), Adam Lallana (Julio Enciso 64), Simon Adingra (Tariq Lamptey 74); Joao Pedro.
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Pervis Estupinan, Odeluga Offiah, Cameron Peupion, Mark O'Mahony.
Brentford line-up (3-5-2):- Mark Flekken; Mathias Jorgensen, Kristoffer Ajer, Nathan Collins; Mads Roerslev, Yehor Yarmoliuk (Mikkel Damsgaard 64), Vitaly Janelt, Mathias Jensen (Frank Onyeka 86), Keane Lewis-Potter (Sergio Reguilon 73); Yoane Wissa (Bryan Mbeumo 73), Ivan Toney.
Subs not used: Thomas Strakosha (G/K), Saman Ghoddos, Shandon Baptiste, Ji-Soo Kim, Neal Maupay.
Referee: Andy Madley (South Yorkshire).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Facundo Buonanotte. Brentford: 1 - Vitaly Janelt.
Possession: Albion - 67%. Brentford - 33%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Joao Pedro (Albion).
Attendance: 17024.
NEXT GAME:
13 APRIL 2024 - BURNLEY - away - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.
Jack Kaye.