Brentford's 'Ignore us at your peril' message diluted by loss of 2-0 lead in their quest for Euro qualification
- By Yann Tear at the Gtech Community Stadium
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
Premier League
Brentford (2) 2 Kayode 22, Thiago 37
Wolverhampton Wanderers (1) 2 Armstrong 44, Arokodare 78
The Bees blew a 2-0 lead and two precious points in their bid to qualify for Europe - a strangely off key second half seeing them fritter away a commanding position.
It was credit to rock-bottom Wolves that they found the resolve to change the narrative and their display totally belied their status.
The outcome was decidedly not the one that looked like unfolding after a defiant pre-match light show intro over the PA and a confident start from the Bees.
During that pre-match serving, there was a rousing collection of Bees goals on the big screen accompanied by voice clips of pre-season pundits predicting the demise of the team after the summer departure of their boss and three star players.
No harm at all in reminding everyone that this is a team undaunted by prophets of doom and AI forecasts of calamity. They've been so good at going about their business that qualification for Europe is a distinct possibility, while their newly assimilated centre forward has just been called up for the Brazil squad.
A visit from the team languishing in last place and doomed to the drop seemingly offered the ideal opportunity to enhance those claims for a spot in one of next season's European competitions. Wanderers have only just avoided the ignominy of a record low points tally in the Premier League era but have at least showed signs of life, just as all seems lost.
The unexpected 2-2 draw with Arsenal, followed by wins over Aston Villa and Liverpool meant they were not the canon fodder they might have been a couple of months ago.
Mikkel Damsgaard's consistently good form has been one of the reasons for the success and he it was who almost got the opener after an exchange of passes with Dango Ouatarra and a clipped shot that only just cleared the bar.
The man who did get them in front was Michael Kayode, who timed a run into the box perfectly to meet Keane Lewis-Potters' cross from the left with a powerful, unchallenged header from six yards. It was his first goal for the Bees.
Soon after, Thiago almost celebrated that call-up with a goal but did not get his header right from a nicely flighted ball in from Ouatarra - heading wide. It would not be long before he could lap it up for real.
When Caoimhin Keller launched a long kick, Ouatarra controlled the ball with a superb touch and strode on before laying the ball to his right for Thiago to tap into an empty net
In the happy zone, the striker then hit the post with a header - almost profiting from a near post flick-on by Sepp van den Berg after another of those Kayode touchline hurls.
"We're all going on a European tour," sang home fans.
It was becoming a very routine night for their side.
But it was all about to change and there was to be a reminder that nothing should be taken for granted. Witrh the first half almost over, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde led a fine charge upfield, and his lay-off to Adam Armstrong enabled his team-mate to blast home from the edge of the box.
Armstrong nearly made it 2-2 after the break when he played a one-two with Jackson Tchatchoua before side-footing against the base of a post and sub Angel Gomes - a player who has turned out for England - was not far off target with a shot from just outside the penalty area.
Their spirited approach deserved the reward it got when sub Tolu Arokodare - who had just come on - stooped to head home Joao Gomes' lifted ball to the far stick. And he came agonisingly close to adding another with a header that came back off the crossbar in the next attack.
Reiss Nelson could have won it in the final minute with a close range header that flashed wide - Jordan Henderson's cross picking out the unmarked sub. But Wolves were worthy of the draw.
Bees: (4-2-3-1) Kelleher - Kayode, van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter - Henderson, Jensen - Ouatarra (Nelson 86), Damsgaard (Ajer 72), Schade (Yarmoliuk 68) - Igor Thiago
Wolves: (3-5-2) Jose Sa - Mosquera, Santiago Bueno, Krejci - Tchatchoua, Bellegarde (Arokodare 74), Andre, Joao Gomes, Hugo Bueno - Armstrong (Rodrigo Gomes 87), Mane (Angel Gomes h/t)
Attendance: 17,155
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