In an exhilarating match, Brentford defeats Wolves 5-3, advancing into the Premier League’s top half. Explore the highlights and player performances.
Introduction:
But Brentford finally ended their three-game winless streak in thrilling style with a pulsating 5-3 thumping of Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Gtech Community Stadium. With six goals in the first half of the game, Bees sailed up into the top half of the Premier League, but for Wolves, they continue wallowing at the bottom table.
Quick Start
Brentford did not take much time to make their mark, opening the scoring within the first 75 seconds. Former Wolves man Nathan Collins headed home Mikkel Damsgaard’s inviting cross that sent the hosts into the lead.
See also: Mbeumo Strikes Early, Soucek Saves the Day: Brentford and West Ham Draw 1-1
Wolves, though, were quick on the response. Two minutes into injury time, they had conceded a goal, but Matheus Cunha scored an equalizer for the visitors when he fired Nelson Semedo’s cutback into the top-right corner. The early trading of blows set the tone for a thrilling match.
Penalty Drama and Quickfire Goals
But the battle seesawed back in the other direction as Brentford were ahead once more, this time through a Bryan Mbeumo penalty in the 15th minute after Collins was fouled by Mario Lemina inside the box and Mbeumo could leave his cool enough to convert the spot-kick to make it 2-1. Wolves responded in kind as well immediately as Jorgen Strand Larsen nodded in a Rayan Ait-Nouri cross to level the score once again at 2-2.
Within 90 seconds of that levelling goal, Christian Norgaard restored Brentford’s lead with a clinical strike into the bottom-left corner, capitalizing on Wolves’ porous defending. Then, Brentford would not let up, and moments before half-time, Ethan Pinnock headed yet another Damsgaard delivery home to give the Bees a 4-2 advantage going into half-time.
Wolves Fail to Recover
But in the second half, Wolves were on the prowl looking for their way back into the game. Sam Johnstone was the custodian between the sticks for Brentford and was crucial in holding away the efforts from Vitaly Janelt and Kevin Schade. Still, it proved to be Brentford who found the way into the back of the net.
The friendly bounce fell onto Fabio Carvalho, who tucked home Brentford’s fifth as Johnstone parried a shot from Keane Lewis-Potter in the 90th minute. Consolation for Wolves would eventually come when Rayan Ait-Nouri netted in stoppage time but it was too little, too late. Brentford won 5-3 to climb to ninth on the table.
The defensive horrors continue to plague the books at Wolves
Their full defensive frailties were on show in that match; especially without their injured center-back Yerson Mosquera, Gary O’Neil’s side was comparatively poor against the intimidating physicality of Brentford from set-pieces. In fact, the earlier the match came across the pricier previous accumulator, the more it crashed over enough crosses and corners that caused chaos in the Wolves penalty area, and three of their goals had come from aerial situations.
Wolves have conceded 22 in the Premier League this season and haven’t won any of their first seven, leaving them parked at the bottom of the table on a solitary point. O’Neil must be concerned about his side’s composure, particularly given how they twice levelled and then again conceded.
The Bees’ Physical Dominance
Brentford were hardly at their best in this game, but they lost their fire in the second half of the season partly because of a growing list of absentees, including Yoane Wissa, Mathias Jensen and Rico Henry. Thomas Frank’s men, though, showed unimaginable resilience and tactical acumen. The physicality they assailed Wolves through – especially from set plays – was painful for them to deal with, and their defence has absorbed pressure when necessary.
Conclusion: Confident Brentford Creeping up
And Brentford now head into the international break with renewed confidence, well and truly sitting comfortably inside the top half of the table. They will hope that some of the injured players will return ahead of their next Premier League clash against Manchester United on October 19.