Thomas Frank celebrated five years at Brentford this past week, time in which he has established himself and his club in the Premier League. This season threatened to be his most difficult and a first league win since August, the first at home and over potential relegation rivals, proved most welcome. Their victory, including two spectacular goals, might have been more comfortable without another case of VAR confusion.
Vincent Kompany and his team have much to learn from the west London club. “Overall, not good enough,” he admitted. Nine matches in, having beaten only Luton, there are serious grounds for concern over last season’s Championship winners. They failed to cope with what Frank described as the “high pressure, high intensity and big energy” of his team.
Having faced four of last season’s top seven at Turf Moor, concerns about home form might be set aside but this commenced a crucial pair of away matches. Still winless Bournemouth follow next week but signs at the Gtech were unpromising from the start. Neal Maupay has gone 31 matches without a Premier League goal but should not have been allowed space to shoot wide from a Mathias Jensen free-kick in the opening seconds.
Burnley appeared to be relying on Maupay’s lucklessness, and fell on the right side of the type of VAR ruling that damages the protocol’s reputation. Maupay slotted the ball in the net after Nathan Collins hooked the ball back for him to volley in. Kristoffer Ajer had been offside but did not look to be interfering with play, as was the official explanation that belatedly arrived. Frank was incandescent in arguing with the fourth official, Darren England, infamous for his role in Luis Díaz’s disallowed Liverpool goal at Tottenham. This time, the VAR decision maker was Stuart Attwell and Frank, while happy with the win, felt it was “borderline” at best. “Kristoffer is not affecting the situation,” he said.
With Kompany raging, England was receiving pelters from both dugouts, though Brentford’s broke into cheer following their opener. Sander Berge was caught in midfield by Maupay and a switch of play with Bryan Mbeumo gave his attacking partner, Yoane Wissa, a tap-in.
From the half-hour, Burnley were fortunate not to be several goals down; their out-balls to the lonesome Lyle Foster reeked of desperation. Frank, who revealed he would celebrate his anniversary and three points with “a good red wine and a little bit of tapas” pronounced his team’s first-half display as “maybe our best performance this season”.
“Going in losing 1-0 was flattering for us,” Kompany admitted. “You can’t put in 45 minutes like that.” Not that Brentford fans lacked for anxiety. As chances came, a team that had surrendered 11 points from winning positions were in danger of squandering more once Burnley began the second half strongly. Frank was booked for more criticism of England but his mood improved after Maupay – his overall play excellent and who left the field to warm applause and an “eight or nine” rating” from his manager – set up Mbeumo for a lashing finish.
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Once the Burnley substitute Luca Koleosho missed from yards out after Foster’s break laid him a chance on a plate, and Connor Roberts was sent off for a second bookable offence, Burnley’s fate was sealed. Saman Ghoddos’s 25-yard wallop past Trafford pressed home how far Kompany and co must travel to emulate Frank and Brentford.
“Can you still be resilient?” Kompany asked of his players. “Can you face the truth? It’s for us to pick ourselves up.”
