Adrian Clarke analyses the problems at Brentford, whose poor form has left them just three points above the relegation zone.
Team analysis: Brentford
Losing seven of their last eight Premier League matches, Brentford have struggled badly inside both penalty boxes since mid-November.
In attack, Yoane Wissa, Neal Maupay, Keane Lewis-Potter and the currently sidelined Bryan Mbeumo have scored only five goals between then during that period.
When you combine their game time, this works out at one strike every 345 minutes from one of Brentford's strikers.
This has contributed to a spell where the Bees have averaged just 0.87 goals per match, compared with 1.72 across their opening 11 contests.
It is little wonder results have tailed off.
Brentford attackers last eight PL matches
| Player | Goals | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Keane Lewis-Potter | 2 | 357 |
| Bryan Mbeumo | 1 | 298 |
| Neal Maupay | 1 | 445 |
| Yoane Wissa | 1 | 626 |
Erratic finishing meant Brentford fell 3.39 goals short of their Expected Goals (xG) tally of 22.39 between Matchweeks 1 and 11, and that issue has accelerated since.
With individuals’ form deteriorating and confidence ebbing away, in the following eight Premier League matches Brentford have been 5.65 goals shy of their 12.65 xG.
That is not a recipe for success.
Problems defending back post
From a defensive standpoint, Thomas Frank will be hugely disappointed at the volume of goals his side have conceded across a disappointing eight-match run.
A rise from 1.27 to 2.12 goals conceded per match is a cause for concern.
One common theme has been the concession of goals scored against them from far-post headers.
Injuries to both first-choice full-backs has severely weakened them in this part of the pitch, with Frank often having to use midfielders Saman Ghoddos and Vitaly Janelt in those positions.
Opponents have preyed on this weakness to good effect, with Arsenal, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion all scoring very similar goals against them.
Ghoddos is not comfortable defending far-post crosses, and his team-mates have failed to work hard enough to stop those deliveries coming into the area.
Brentford, usually so strong in the air, have been unusually vulnerable from crosses during the last two months.
A cocktail of personnel changes, poor concentration, bad communication and a failure to track runners has led to a noticeable upturn in the number of headed shots conceded.
Brentford defensive stats
| Headed shots on target faced | Headed goals conc. | |
| First 11 matches | 8 | 4 |
| Last eight matches | 10 | 6 |
Brentford must find solutions to this problem area.
They have only lost 20 or more aerial duels in eight of their 19 games, but six have come during this eight-match spell.
Key trio returning
Ivan Toney, Ben Mee and Kristoffer Ajer should all be ready to feature when Brentford resume their Premier League campaign this Saturday at home to a Nottingham Forest side who are one point above them.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 |
Everton
EVE
|
37 | -10 | 40 |
| 16 |
Brentford
BRE
|
37 | -7 | 39 |
| 17 |
Nott'm Forest
NFO
|
37 | -19 | 29 |
| 18 |
Luton
LUT
|
37 | -31 | 26 |
| 19 |
Burnley
BUR
|
37 | -36 | 24 |
| 20 |
Sheffield Utd
SHU
|
37 | -66 | 16 |
All tall in stature but also natural leaders, the trio should help provide some of the much-needed stability that the Bees have lost in recent weeks.
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Frank even reverted to a 3-5-2 formation for the trip to Palace in a bid to protect his weakened defence, a tactical ploy that is only usually reserved for matches against the "big six" teams.
It was a sign of how uncomfortable he is feeling about his side out of possession.
To avoid being dragged into a relegation battle, Brentford must quickly rediscover their aggressive and powerful identity in the second half of the season.
