4 months ago
In this wintertime of managerial discontent, Keith Andrews and Régis Le Bris person proved tin frontmen for stable, cautiously system shot operations. The Irishman’s exemplary rookie play arsenic a caput coach continued pinch Brentford’s commanding triumph against Le Bris’s Sunderland. The visitors’ westbound London travel will undoubtedly beryllium astir recalled for Enzo Le Fée’s grounded effort to dupe Caoimhín Kelleher from nan punishment spot. Within minutes, nan finishing of Igor Thiago took nan crippled beyond scope of a squad possibly tying up aft their good play truthful far.
Aside from their New Year’s Day reunion pinch Thomas Frank, Brentford person been turning connected nan style, smashing successful 4 goals either broadside of that goalless Tottenham game. Their brisk beginning, nan Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs clawing distant a Kevin Schade shot, further evidenced nan attacking intent Andrews has instilled. It has Bees fans dreaming of European recreation adjacent season.
Sunderland, coming disconnected 4 successive draws, person shown immoderate strain of losing six players to nan Africa Cup of Nations, though tin now invited backmost 4 aft their nationalist teams’ exit. Dan Ballard’s return from wounded was besides welcome, pinch Thiago coming disconnected a hat‑trick astatine Everton, and Michael Kayode hurling agelong throws into nan box. Their fans, making a 600-mile information trip, were successful afloat voice, moreover erstwhile their squad was nether sustained pressure.
This was heralded arsenic nan play of nan large striker, and Thiago is proving nan champion of nan caller activity of No 9s. Brian Brobbey, his Sunderland counterpart, has besides impressed but fired wide his team’s champion effort of a first half afloat of Brentford chances.
Before his goal, Thiago was doubly denied, firstly by Matthias Jensen delaying his pass, and past by Roefs’s smart save. Kristoffer Ajer besides deflected a Jensen free-kick wide pinch his bottommost arsenic Sunderland were forced backmost successful an opening 30 minutes concluding pinch Vitaly Janelt winning nan shot successful midfield from Nordi Mukiele. Janelt’s perfectly weighted walk allowed Thiago to information Roefs without breaking stride to score. Keane Lewis-Potter struck nan barroom pinch a free-kick successful nan last action of nan first half.
Le Bris made 2 speedy changes wrong moments of nan 2nd half’s resumption, swapping successful Romaine Mundle and Eliezer Mayenda. His squad were creating chances, Le Fée firing over, Omar Alderete and Mundle some denied earlier Sunderland won a punishment erstwhile Ajer some manhandled and tripped Brobbey.
Le Fée’s effort to panenka his punishment was risible, Kelleher staying still for a dolly catch. Le Bris tried his champion to enactment expressionless while Le Fée had to strengthen location fans jeering nan replay. Punishment was added to their embarrassment when, aft Schade had deed nan barroom from adjacent range, nan shot was recycled for Thiago to people his second. A bursting tally and speech pinch Schade mightiness person resulted successful Thiago’s 2nd hat-trick successful 2 games but Roefs saved well.
Thiago’s treble ne'er came, nan Brazilian departing arsenic a precaution aft an ankle knock.
Roefs was again near exposed as, from a corner, Yehor Yarmolyuk, tapped successful nan third. The Ukrainian is flourishing nether Andrews’s tutelage, repaying nan religion of nan erstwhile set-piece master coach whose assignment now looks little a bet than a masterstroke.
