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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
John Brewin

Thomas Frank’s fearless yet fragile Brentford bask in their home of goals

Brentford's Bryan Mbeumo celebrates scoring against Newcastle
Bryan Mbeumo celebrates scoring against Newcastle, one of his eight goals at the Gtech Community Stadium this season. Photograph: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images

As fearsome fortresses go, the Gtech Community Stadium is unassuming. Anyone driving past as the A4 becomes the M4 is liable to miss it completely, tucked away among high-rise des-res flats. Its family vibe is hardly Galatasaray’s old Ali Sami Yen either, the team kick off to the not exactly fearsome rabble-rouser Hey Jude and that word “community” is very much to the fore in the PA announcements.

Yet Brentford, the former “bus stop in Hounslow”, have the best home record in this season’s Premier League. Only West Ham, on 28 September, have taken a point, seven teams departing beaten. That the Bees’ away record is an inverse mirror image, their sole point coming at Everton with a 0-0 draw on 23 November, is another story, though probably occurs for much the same reason: all-out attack.

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