Brentford

The Bees had taken the lead through Ethan Pinnock’s header in first-half stoppage time but were pegged back by goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund after the break.

Brentford welcome Ipswich Town to Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, knowing a victory could push them back into the top half of the Premier League standings.

Their next five league games are against teams currently around them, and Frank wants to see more character from his side in the coming weeks.

"It was a good first half, I was very happy with that, I thought we were the better team in that period of the game against a good team," Frank said.

"We went 1-0 up, but it's so frustrating and annoying that they scored after two minutes of the second half - if they don't do that, you don't know what would have happened. 

"I thought that we were way too passive. But we are at Old Trafford, they have some top players. After the first goal, I felt like we lacked a bit more character.

"If we want to win here, we need more. Unfortunately, not enough of our players hit a high enough level in the second half.”

Ipswich, meanwhile, were handed a fourth defeat of the season against Everton at Portman Road, leaving them without a win since their return to the Premier League.

The Tractor Boys are one of four sides in the division yet to taste victory, the first season in top-flight history to see as many as four different sides all fail to win any of their first eight games of the campaign.

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna expected difficulties in adapting to the Premier League, though said his players must do better in overcoming the fine margins they have experienced.

"We knew it would be a challenging season and the step up into the Premier League was always going to be a big challenge,” McKenna said. “In eight games we've got a result in four of them.

“We know where we need to improve and it's up to us to turn those margins in our favour. The last two games have got away from us.

“The balance of the game was really fine, and we didn’t manage to find enough to change the game in the second half against a good, experienced side. We had a go before the end, but it wasn’t enough.” 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Brentford - Mikkel Damsgaard

Damsgaard has assisted three goals in his last two Premier League appearances, more than he had in his first 55 games in the competition (two).

He has assisted via a corner in his last two games, with only Ashley Williams for Everton in April 2017 assisting a goal from a corner situation in three consecutive appearances in Premier League history.

Ipswich – Omari Hutchinson

Despite failing to notch a goal this season, Hutchinson has been a threat for the Tractor Boys.

In the Premier League, only Mohammed Kudus (28), Jeremy Doku (22) and Adama Traore have completed more dribbles than the Englishman (18).

Ipswich have also applied the second-most pressures to opponents in the Premier League this season (1,736) with Hutchinson top among all players for those pressures (316).

MATCH PREDICTION: BRENTFORD WIN

This is the first ever top-flight meeting between Brentford and Ipswich. It will be the 1452nd fixture to be played in England’s top-flight, and the 937th in the Premier League.

Brentford have lost just one of their last nine league games against Ipswich (W4 D4), with this the first meeting between the sides since a 2-0 home win for the Bees in April 2019.

Ipswich will also have to be aware of the Bees’ aerial threat. Only Aston Villa (five) have scored more headed goals in the Premier League this season than Brentford (four).

However, after losing a league-high 30 points from winning positions in the Premier League last season, Brentford have also dropped the most when leading in the competition this term (11). The Bees have scored first in each of their last six league games but have gone on to win just two of them (D1 L3).

McKenna’s side remain winless in the Premier League this season (D4 L4). In only two previous league campaigns have they endured longer winless starts, both in the Championship in 2009-10 (14) and 2018-19 (11).

Ipswich have also had the fewest shots (75), fewest shots on target (23) and had the fewest touches in the opposition’s box (130) in the Premier League this season, while the Tractor Boys have also accumulated the lowest expected goals (xG) total (6.3).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Brentford – 54.2%

Draw – 22.6%

Ipswich – 23.2%

The Hammers’ Brentford curse struck again after Nathan Collins condemned them to a 3-2 defeat on an unlikely afternoon of firsts in west London.

Defender Collins scored his first goal for the club after Jarrod Bowen became the first player in Premier League history to score in each of his side’s first six away matches.

There was also a first goal in 35 matches, and 14 months, for Brentford forward Neal Maupay.

Unfortunately for West Ham, it was a first Premier League win – or even point – against the Bees which eluded them. Thomas Frank’s side have the hoodoo over the Hammers having won all five meetings since they were promoted.

“We weren’t talking about anything weird and wonderful,” said former centre-half Moyes.

“We’ve found that we’ve not dealt with things which as a player I would have been disgusted with myself for not being able to deal with them much better.

“I don’t think my teams do that. That is why I am annoyed that I’ve come here and not been able to defend when put under pressure.”

Maupay headed Brentford into a 10th-minute lead with his first goal since he scored against West Ham in September 2022.

West Ham equalised through a stunning volley from Ghana winger Mohammed Kudus and were ahead after 26 minutes through Bowen’s strike.

But a glaring miss from Michail Antonio before half-time proved costly as West Ham fell foul of two Brentford crosses, with an own goal from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Collins’ fine header giving Brentford a third straight win.

“The first goal was ‘Keystone Cops’,” added Moyes. “If you see that today, how can you win if you don’t deal with those moments?

“The second cross comes from (Bryan) Mbuemo and we should have dealt with that, then a cross to the back post and Collins gets it.

“We’re talking about small things, but small things lead to bigger things. We didn’t deal well enough with the small things.”

Brentford climbed above West Ham after a third straight victory and a 14th London derby without defeat.

“If feels of course very good,” said Frank. “Every win in the Premier League feels fantastic and coming back from 2-1 down, against a good team, and also a good performance makes me a happy man.

“I’m smiling, I’m so pleased for Neal. The last three weeks he was showing more and more in training with the sharp touches, the good finishes, more and more confident, getting up to his best level.

“The players were really celebrating Neal’s goal, and that tells you a lot about the group. A goalscoring run? That would be nice.”

Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash were all on target in a 13-minute flurry of goals in the first half that proved decisive at Villa Park.

An impressive victory saw Unai Emery's side end their alarming recent run of form, which had included collecting just two points from their last five Premier League games.

A long-range strike from Rogers midway through the first half broke the deadlock, and Watkins swiftly doubled the lead with a penalty kick he had won himself.

Cash's thumping volley stretched the advantage further, with Mikkel Damsgaard's early second-half strike only proving to be a consolation for Brentford, who continue to struggle away from home.

The hosts return to the Premier League's top half in seventh place on 22 points – two more than Thomas Frank's side, who slip to ninth.

Data Debrief: Villa end drought as Bees' tricky travels continue

Emery was in danger of overseeing a nine-match winless streak for the first time in his managerial career.

However, Villa ensured that would not be the case with a clinical first-half display. Watkins was on target for the fourth time in his last three appearances against his former club.

The hosts have now lost just one of their last 12 league games at Villa Park, where Brentford have now failed to win in 10 league attempts.

Not only that, but just one of the Bees' 20 points this season have been registered away from home. Though a cause for concern, Frank's side are still well placed in the table.

Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Matty Cash were all on target in a 13-minute flurry of goals in the first half that proved decisive at Villa Park.

An impressive victory saw Unai Emery's side end their alarming recent run of form, which had included collecting just two points from their last five Premier League games.

A long-range strike from Rogers midway through the first half broke the deadlock, and Watkins swiftly doubled the lead with a penalty kick he had won himself.

Cash's thumping volley stretched the advantage further, with Mikkel Damsgaard's early second-half strike only proving to be a consolation for Brentford, who continue to struggle away from home.

The hosts return to the Premier League's top half in seventh place on 22 points – two more than Thomas Frank's side, who slip to ninth.

Data Debrief: Villa end drought as Bees' tricky travels continue

Emery was in danger of overseeing a nine-match winless streak for the first time in his managerial career.

However, Villa ensured that would not be the case with a clinical first-half display. Watkins was on target for the fourth time in his last three appearances against his former club.

The hosts have now lost just one of their last 12 league games at Villa Park, where Brentford have now failed to win in 10 league attempts.

Not only that, but just one of the Bees' 20 points this season have been registered away from home. Though a cause for concern, Frank's side are still well placed in the table.

Bournemouth had taken the lead twice, first through Evanilson and then Justin Kluivert, but could not hold on either time.

Yoane Wissa's brace and a goal from Mikkel Damsgaard handed Brentford the three points, as the Bees bounced back from their late capitulation to Fulham on Monday.

Iraola's team had the better of the chances, creating 2.6 expected goals (xG) to Brentford's 1.5, and the Spaniard felt the result was not a reflection of Bournemouth's display.

"I don't think we deserved to lose today. I think we were better for most of the game. Probably, they've been more efficient than us in the key moments, and they've made the difference," Iraola told BBC Radio Solent.

"We had very, very clear chances to score. We played really well again. The problem is when you lose, people always say, 'No, but you lost.' Against Everton [a 3-2 win in August], we played much worse, but we won, and it looks much different.

"Overall, we've been the better team, especially in the first half. I was very happy with the performance in the first half.

"We hit the crossbar at the end, and I think there was a clear penalty to Evanilson to score and make it 3-3, but we couldn’t do it."

Bournemouth's Brazilian striker Evanilson netted his third goal in as many games, making him the first Bournemouth player to score in three successive league games since Dominic Solanke in December last year.

Evanilson had shouts for a penalty denied on the hour mark after it appeared Ethan Pinnock had caught his leg, and Iraola was not satisfied with the explanation he received from the officials.

"They tell us he kicks himself, but he kicks himself because he was kicked. To me, it is very clear and obvious, but to them, they don't think so," he explained.

Thomas Frank concurred with Iraola's assessment of the visitor's strong first-half performance but praised his side's fightback.

"The bounce-back mentality was unbelievably good. Maybe even more impressive than if we had won 3-0 because we actually played badly in the first 20 minutes. Bournemouth were better than us," he told Sky Sports.

"We gave them clearly the first goal and then one or two other chances. But after that goal we stepped up and we found some of that great bounce-back mentality."

While Brentford are scoring plenty, they have shipped 12 goals in their last five games, though Frank is keen to focus on the positives.

"The positive is that we are a very dangerous team going forward," he said.

"We must be up there [as a team that's scored the most goals]. That is incredible. We are Brentford. I think that is insanely good. I think people don't understand how good it is.

"But of course, I am also very ambitious and I would love us to win 3-0 today."

Mbeumo volleyed home from close range after 38 seconds to give Brentford the perfect start, but the hosts could not build on their advantage and West Ham equalised early in the second half.

Soucek’s goal for the visitors came after 54 minutes following some intricate play around the penalty area.

Both sides spent the rest of the second half searching for a winner, but one was not forthcoming.

The point leaves Brentford 12th in the Premier League table, while West Ham are two places below them in 14th.

Data Debrief: Brentford break Premier League record with successive early goals

Brentford have become the first side in Premier League history to score in the first minute in three successive matches.

16 of Soucek’s last 17 Premier League goals for West Ham have either drawn them level (5) or put them one goal ahead (11) in the match.

More worryingly for Thomas Frank, Brentford have dropped more points from winning positions than any other Premier League side since the start of last season (38), with their eight so far this term a joint-high with Everton.

Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.

With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.

Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.

Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.

Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home

Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.

Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.

With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.

Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.

Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.

Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home

Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.

It was another high-scoring Premier League affair for Thomas Frank’s side at home, as his side have now scored three or more goals in their last three home wins.

They had to work hard for the three points, however, as Evanilson profited from a mistake from Sepp van den Berg to open the scoring early in the first half.

Wissa’s header cancelled out that opener before the break, while Mikkel Damsgaard got them back on level terms just one minute after Justin Kluivert had restored Bournemouth’s lead in the second half.

However, Wissa delivered the winner nine minutes later with a lovely dink to get the Bees back to winning ways after their heartbreaking late defeat to Fulham on Monday.

Brentford leapfrog their opponents into 10th on 16 points, with Andoni Iraola’s side one point behind them in 11th.

Data Debrief: Wissa leads the way for the Bees

Only Erling Haaland (19) has now scored more non-penalty goals in the Premier League in 2024 than Wissa (15).

He has scored in each of his last five home Premier League games (7 goals), becoming the second player to do so for Brentford in the competition after Bryan Mbeumo, who did so last month against Ipswich.

The pair have been pivotal to Frank's side. Either Mbeumo or Wissa have had a hand in 68% of Brentford's goals in the Premier League this season.

Bournemouth have also profited from the form of their striker. Evanilson is the first Bournemouth player to score in three successive league games since Dominic Solanke in December 2023.

Four first-half goals kept fans at the Gtech Community Stadium on the edge of their seats as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa's efforts were cancelled out by quickfire equalisers from Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes.

The chances flowed at both ends in the second period, but it was Brentford who seized their opportunity to rack up another three points.

Nathan Collins prodded home his first goal since October to put them 3-2 up, then Kevin Schade put the seal on the win, with a dinked finish in stoppage time.

Thomas Frank's team remain unbeaten on home soil this season and now sit sixth in the table, while Newcastle remain in 12th, and without a victory in four league games.

Data Debrief: Homebird Wissa king of the Gtech

Home wins have become a running theme for Brentford this season with 22 points now amassed at the Gtech Community Stadium in 2024-25. No Premier League team can match them for points or wins on their own turf this term.

Frank has consistently looked to harness the power of the home crowd during his time at Brentford, but there is something extra special in the air this season, with Wissa a vital part of it.

The DR Congo international has scored eight of his nine Premier League goals at home this season and his partnership with Mbeumo is flourishing in the post-Ivan Toney era.

Wissa has now scored in seven straight home matches in the Premier League, and only Toney can match his 19 goals at the Gtech overall in the competition. 

Kieran McKenna's side looked on course for a morale-boosting victory as quickfire first-half goals from Sam Szmodics and George Hirst put them 2-0 up.

However, the game was flipped on its head just before the break, as Yoane Wissa slotted home and then forced an own goal from the luckless Harry Clarke, who subsequently conceded a penalty early in the second half.

Mbeumo slammed home from 12 yards, and Clarke’s day got worse when he received his second booking, only for Ipswich to fightback through Liam Delap’s 86th-minute effort.

Yet Mbeumo had the final say as his cross-shot found the net deep in stoppage time, with Brentford moving ninth while Ipswich remain 16th, without a win to their name.

Data Debrief: Mbeumo the man for buzzing Bees

Brentford's powers of recovery were once again on show at the Gtech Community Stadium, coming from two goals down to win a Premier League match for the very first time, having drawn two and lost 29 of the previous 31 games in which they found themselves down by at least two.

And the Bees' comeback was spearheaded by Mbeumo, who has now scored in each of his last five league home matches, the first time a player has done so for Brentford after the Cameroonian himself between November 2019 and January 2020.

It was, however, a game to forget for Ipswich's Clarke. He became just the second player in Premier League history to score an own goal, concede a penalty and be sent off in the same Premier League match, after Jan Bednarek for Southampton against Manchester United in February 2021.

Ipswich remain winless across their first nine matches of the 2024-25 Premier League season (D4 L5), the Tractor Boys’ longest ever such run at the start of a top flight campaign.

Both sides traded blows early on, with former Wolves defender Nathan Collins heading home inside two minutes before winning a 20th-minute penalty that was converted by Bryan Mbeumo.

Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen hit equalisers for the visitors between those Brentford goals, the latter with an excellent flick from Rayan Ait-Nouri's cross, but some dire Wolves defending allowed Christian Norgaard to re-establish the hosts’ lead, drilling home from the right side of the area.

Ethan Pinnock's back-post header put Brentford further ahead just before half-time, and despite a string of second-half saves by Sam Johnstone, the Bees grabbed a fifth through Fabio Carvalho, who pounced on a rebound in the 90th minute.

Rayan Ait-Nouri pulled one back for Wolves at the death, but they stay bottom with just one point, while Brentford go ninth in the table with 10.

Data Debrief: Breathless start favours Brentford

Saturday's match was just the sixth in Premier League history to feature six different goalscorers in the first half, with Collins, Cunha, Mbeumo, Larsen, Norgaard and Pinnock all on target in a breathless opening period.

The previous matches were Manchester City v Oldham (in August 1992), Blackburn Rovers v Leeds United (September 1997), Leeds United v Bradford City (May 2001), Swansea City v Wolves (April 2012) and Reading v Manchester United (December 2012).

While Brentford are now into the top half after collecting 10 points from four home games this term, Wolves have failed to win any of their first seven Premier League games for the first time since 2003-04, when they finished bottom.

With Manchester City up next for the Old Gold after the international break, Gary O'Neil may soon be feeling the heat.

Neal Maupay opened the scoring and Ben Mee added a second soon after. Although Luton’s Jacob Brown pulled a goal back, Shandon Baptiste sealed a 3-1 success for Thomas Frank’s men with nine minutes remaining.

However, the Bees’ injury troubles worsened when Kristoffer Ajer picked up a knock in the warm-up, with Saman Ghoddos replacing him.

The hosts lacked any edge to their play in the first half as they struggled to play without midfield operator Mathias Jensen, who remained sidelined with an abductor injury.

Luton’s absent Alfie Doughty, who picked up a hip injury in the week, was replaced by centre-back Amari’i Bell, who slotted in as a makeshift left-wing back.

In the early stages of the contest, Bryan Mbeumo beat Jamaica international Bell on the outside, before his deft cross was dealt with by Luton’s tight defence.

Neither side registered a shot on target inside the first half hour, although Yehor Yarmoliuk came close for the hosts. The midfielder’s close-range effort took a heavy deflection off Carlton Morris before the ball narrowly missed the inside of Thomas Kaminski’s post and went out for a corner.

The Bees gained momentum from this and Mbeumo was in the thick of things again in the 37th minute. The attacker glided past his marker, driving inside, before producing a whipped curling shot which narrowly missed the target.

The six-goal man was Brentford’s only real outlet in the first half and his neat flicks and feints opened opportunities up for attack partner Yoane Wissa, who tested Kaminski moments later.

The home side came out for the second half strongly and broke the deadlock in the 49th minute.

The pacey Wissa took up a dangerous position on the left and sent a testing cross into the box. The ball cannoned off Gabriel Osho and into the path of the alert Maupay, who opened the scoring.

Frank’s half-time wisdom paid dividends for the west Londoners and they doubled their lead in the 56th minute through Mee.

Mbeumo’s corner found the head of the rising central defender, whose effort deflected off Morris and into Kaminski’s net.

Luton had paid the price for an erratic opening 10 minutes of the second half, as their defensive structure and organisation abandoned them.

However, Rob Edwards’ team sought a way back and Brown, who helped them to a first home win of the season last week, came off the bench to make it 2-1 in the 76th minute.

A week after his 83rd-minute winner against Crystal Palace, Brown cut through the middle of the Brentford backline and shot powerfully into the bottom corner of Mark Flekken’s goal.

However, in keeping with the Hatters’ day, a series of mishaps led to Brentford sealing the win five minutes later.

The ball pinballed around Luton’s penalty box and no defender managed to clear their lines before a poor parried save from Kaminski gifted Baptiste with an easy tap-in to round off the scoring.

Nathan Collins' second-minute header was cancelled out by Matheus Cunha soon after, only for in-form Bryan Mbeumo to put the Bees in front from the penalty spot. 

Jorgen Strand Larsen levelled the game once again, but the hosts then raced into a 4-2 lead by the break thanks to efforts from Christian Norgaard and Ethan Pinnock. 

The final two goals of an enthralling encounter came in the closing stages, with Fabio Carvalho scoring Brentford's fifth before Rayan Ait-Nouri netted a late consolation.

Wolves are now winless in their first seven games of the 2024-25 Premier League season (D1 L6), their worst run at the start of a top-flight campaign since 2003-04, when they also went without a win in their first seven (D2 L5). 

They have also managed just one win in their last 17 league matches, but it was the manner in which his team collapsed that left O'Neil feeling downcast.

"It's the furthest I've seen the group from what we wanted to look like. An unbelievably disappointing afternoon for us. Crazy, crazy goals we gave away," O'Neil said. 

"There's a lot to think about and a lot to put right. We’ll get straight to work. Some players will be away [on international duty] but we need to find a way for the team to be better than this afternoon.

"Today was so loose. [We made] crazy decisions with and without the ball. It was a really poor performance.

"The responsibility is on me. Of course, the players are going to make decisions, but I need to give them something that makes them make better decisions than they made today, make fewer mistakes than we made today. It’s the worst game I’ve been involved in as a coach.

“I'll do the best I can with the group I have. The club do what they can do off the pitch. My responsibility is to find results. This league can be tough. There are no hiding places. We can do better than that."

For Thomas Frank and Brentford, they continued their impressive home form in the Premier League this term. 

The Bees are now unbeaten in their first four home games of the 2024-25 Premier League season (W3 D1), their longest such run at the start of a top-flight campaign since 1936-37.

Saturday's triumph was also their first home league win against Wolves since a 3-0 win in the Championship back in February 2016.

They also netted four first-half goals for the second time in the Premier League following their 4-0 win over Manchester United back in August 2022. 

Brentford continued their lightning starts to matches this campaign, with Collins' opener coming after a minute and 15 seconds, with the Bees falling agonisingly short of scoring inside the first minute for the fourth game running. 

"We've been practising winning the coin toss all week, and we lost it. That’s why it took us so long [to score]," Frank joked. 

"AIl jokes aside, we want to get forward as quickly as possible and put crosses into the box. After they made it 2-2, we scored 32 seconds after the kick-off.

"Offensively - wow! Unbelievable. We seemed to create a chance every time we went forward, and we were such a threat from set pieces.

"Defensively, I’m mostly angry about the first goal. The second one, we lost the ball - it was quite good play from them. For their third goal we could have done better.

"We gave less away compared to the West Ham game, but we still need to improve."

Villa looked to be consolidating fourth position after goals either side of half-time from Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers put them in the ascendency.

But they hit the self-destruct button as quickfire strikes from Mathias Jorgensen, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa saw Brentford turn the game on its head.

The hosts had to rally and a Watkins header rescued a point, but the result handed the impetus to Tottenham in the race for guaranteed Champions League qualification.

Spurs, who are three points behind in fifth, play relegation threatened Nottingham Forest on Sunday and also have a game in hand.

The draw means Brentford’s winless run extends to nine games and they will see this as a chance missed.

After an even opening, Villa almost took the lead midway through the first half when Lucas Digne’s inswinging corner was clawed away by Bees goalkeeper Mark Flekken.

An opener came in the 39th minute as Watkins grabbed his 23rd goal in all competitions and 16th in the league.

John McGinn, back after a three-game ban, floated in an inviting cross which Watkins headed down towards goal.

Flekken scrambled to scoop the ball away and Leon Bailey followed it in, but the goal decision system showed Watkins’ header had crossed the line.

Villa doubled their lead 32 seconds after the restart as Rogers opened his Villa account in style.

The January signing from Middlesbrough picked up a Youri Tielemans pass, weaved into the area and found the bottom corner.

The game appeared done but Brentford stunned their hosts with three goals in nine minutes.

They got themselves back in it just before the hour, but goalscorer Jorgensen did not know too much about it.

The defender completely missed his kick from Mikkel Damsgaard’s ball across goal, but it hit his standing foot and wrong-footed Emi Martinez.

The tension inside the stadium was palpable and 121 seconds later the Bees were level as Mbeumo volleyed home Sergio Reguilon’s cross from the left.

The remarkable turnaround was complete in the 68th minute as Reguilon was again the provider, squaring for Wissa to convert the easiest of tap-ins.

Suddenly Villa were mounting a rescue act in a game they thought they had already won.

And it took them 12 minutes to get back level as Watkins nodded home Bailey’s deflected cross after Flekken had come to claim it but missed it.

They threw everything forward in search of a winner, with Digne’s acrobatic effort going over, but they could not find a winner and dropped two points.

The pacy attacker will join up with the Premier League side, subject to international clearance, until the end of the season, though Brentford confirmed they then "expect to make the deal permanent for a club-record undisclosed fee", with reports suggesting that could be in the region of £22million (€25m).

Schade made his Freiburg debut in August 2021 and scored seven goals in 36 games for the Bundesliga club.

Speaking to the club's website after the announcement of the 21-year-old's arrival, Bees coach Thomas Frank said: "I think Kevin is a typical Brentford signing. He is a young, promising talent that we see a big potential in. We have been following him for a while and we think he will suit our style of play.

"He can play anywhere across our front three positions. He could play for us on either wing or as the central striker. He has great pace and is very promising in the way he runs behind defences.

"He is very good aerially, in both boxes, and can develop even more to be a real threat as an offensive option with his head.

"We like the way he presses when the team do not have the ball. He is willing to work very hard for his team. We see him as a player that could have a big potential to be a fine goalscorer and it is great to have him at Brentford. Our coaching staff are looking forward to working with him."

Brentford are enjoying another fruitful season in the Premier League, sitting ninth in the table after their 3-1 win against Liverpool on Monday.

As the hosts maintained their unbeaten home record in league action this season, the full-time whistle drew frustration and more questions for the Magpies, who failed to break the Bees down in the closing stages.

A chaotic first half saw four goals fly in at a windy Gtech Community Stadium, as Newcastle twice came from behind, via Alexander Isak and Harvey Barnes before the break.

Their defensive fragility, however, was punished after the restart, as Nathan Collins prodded home, as the visitors defence failed to deal with a punted free kick into their penalty area from Mark Flekken.

As Howe's charges pushed for a third equaliser late on, their ragged back line was exposed again, as Kevin Schade raced through to slot home a clinching goal.

Captain Bruno Guimaraes offered no excuses at full time as the Brazil international struggled to explain why his team are struggling against direct attacks this season.

"It's very disappointing. In the first half we had some good moments, but after the third goal we lost our way, we lost control," he told PLP, via BBC Sport.

"We have always been reactive, we need to concede a goal to score one ourselves. We never score first, we concede a lot of goals, this cannot happen. We have to find a way to be consistent.

"After we conceded the third goal, we became a mess, gave the ball away a lot, and we were punished. We have to turn things around. Last season we had one of the best defences in the league, now we concede a lot. It's about the whole team, we have to find a way not to concede."

Guimaraes' frustration is backed up by some concerning recent defensive numbers for Newcastle, with no clean sheet in their last five league games, and 11 goals conceded.

However, the doom and gloom for Newcastle was in sharp contrast to a buoyant Thomas Frank, who saw his side record a fifth successive home Premier League win.

The Danish boss hailed the resilience of his players, and singled out goalscorers Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa for praise, as the duo moved onto nine Premier League goals each in 2024/25.

"I'm very happy, it was a great performance in many ways. The way we performed today physically, and with quality against a very good Newcastle side, I'm very proud of my players.

"Wissa, the way he links up and goes forward, and gets behind the back line for tap ins. Bryan Mbeumo today was unplayable. The way he holds the ball up and links play, as he did to Kevin Schade [for the fourth goal] was very impressive."

The Clarets took the lead through a 10th-minute Jacob Bruun Larsen penalty given after a foul on Vitinho by Sergio Reguilon, who received a straight red card.

David Datro Fofana, having been guilty of a remarkable miss late in the first half, then doubled the advantage with a finish just past the hour mark.

Kristoffer Ajer pulled a goal back for Brentford with eight minutes of normal time to go but Burnley were able to see out what was their first victory of 2024, and only their fourth in the league this season.

Boss Kompany had emphasised pre-match that he had not given up hope of avoiding relegation and after ending their winless run, the gap between second-bottom Burnley and safety stands at eight points with nine games left to play.

Fifteenth-placed Brentford, meanwhile, are four points above the drop zone as their own sequence without victory extended to a sixth match.

Kompany made one change from last weekend’s 2-2 draw at West Ham, opting to drop goalkeeper James Trafford – previously an ever-present in the league this season – and bring Arijanet Muric into the team for his Premier League debut.

One of those coming into Brentford’s starting line-up as boss Thomas Frank made two adjustments from the 2-1 loss at Arsenal was the fit-again Reguilon, whose return proved extremely short-lived.

An early Burnley attack saw Josh Cullen swing the ball into the box, where Vitinho went to ground following contact from behind from the on-loan Tottenham defender.

VAR intervened and after referee Darren Bond had watched the incident back pitchside, a penalty was awarded, Reguilon was given his marching orders and Bruun Larsen coolly sent the spot-kick past Mark Flekken.

Ivan Toney headed over as Brentford looked to hit back, and Burnley then breathed a sigh of relief when Dara O’Shea misjudged an attempted pass back to Muric and the goalkeeper slid to clear the ball off the line with his boot, then saved Toney’s follow-up effort.

At the other end Fofana somehow missed when looking certain to score from close range having been teed up by Lorenz Assignon’s cutback.

Muric then produced a fine save to deny Yoane Wissa, before Fofana, having lurked behind Flekken as he prepared to take a kick, emerged to nick the ball, only to be thwarted by the Dutchman as he tried to take it past him.

After Charlie Taylor put a shot over the Brentford bar early in the second half, Fofana was then able to redeem himself in the 62nd minute as he was played in by Wilson Odobert and slotted past Flekken.

Burnley’s push for more included Zeki Amdouni’s shot being held by Flekken, before their lead was halved by Ajer heading in a cross from Shandon Baptiste.

The Clarets had been 2-0 up against West Ham only to be held 2-2 and fans may have been fearing a repeat as Muric kept out a Keane Lewis-Potter header.

A lengthy period of stoppage time – in which replacement Amdouni was substituted himself – then saw the ball in the Burnley net but no goal given with Toney being penalised for a challenge on Muric, before the final whistle confirmed three points for the hosts.

Champions Manchester City and last season’s runners-up Arsenal will resume battle with the Gunners’ having struck an early blow in the Community Shield, while newcomers Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton begin the task of ensuring their stay among the big boys is not fleeting.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the talking points surrounding the opening fixtures.

Harry Kane’s “will he, won’t he?” summer saga finally approached its conclusion on the eve of the new campaign as he headed for Germany with a view to tying up a £95million switch from Tottenham to Bayern Munich. The England skipper’s impending departure is likely to dismay fans of a club which drastically under-achieved in finishing eighth last season. Spurs open their campaign at Brentford on Sunday with the travelling supporters contemplating what life after Harry may represent.

If last season’s top three had a familiar look about it with Manchester United following their neighbours and Arsenal across the finishing line, there was a measure of turbulence below them as Newcastle disturbed the established order to push Liverpool out of the top four and Brighton claimed sixth spot with Aston Villa hot on their heels. Despite losing Jordan Henderson and Roberto Firmino to the Saudi Arabian exodus, the Reds have added World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to their ranks with Moises Caicedo also seemingly on his way to Anfield, while James Maddison is perhaps the most eye-catching of Tottenham’s summer arrivals and Chelsea’s spending spree shows no signs of abating as the wounded prepare to fight back.

If Gary O’Neil felt hard done by when he was relieved of his duties at Bournemouth in June having steered the club to Premier League safety, it did not blunt his readiness to take on a challenge. The former Portsmouth and Middlesbrough midfielder was parachuted into the hotseat vacated by dissatisfied Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui after the Spaniard and the club decided to go their separate ways as a result of disagreements over recruitment. O’Neil stepped into the void with just days to prepare for Wolves’ opening fixture – a daunting trip to a rejuvenated Manchester United on Monday evening.

Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton will set foot in the top flight knowing the first and overwhelming priority is survival. Last season was the first since 2017-18 when the three promoted clubs all stayed up, with at least one having made an immediate return to the top flight at the end of each of the previous four. The Hatters last played in England’s top division in 1992, but having worked their way back from the non-league ranks in the last decade, they know all about fighting tooth and nail.

Unpopular as it may be with some, referees’ chief Howard Webb has insisted moves to eradicate time-wasting are here to stay, and that means there could be some lengthy matches this season. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Manchester United defender Raphael Varane are among those to have questioned moves to tackle the game’s “dark arts”, as well as behaviour on and off the pitch, but their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. How will they feel after the weekend?

Yet the top two in England's second tier look increasingly likely to be the pair promoted to the Premier League, with third-placed Fulham suffering a damaging home defeat against Brentford.

In the first matches following the league's three-month coronavirus suspension, a new hero emerged for mid-table Derby County as 18-year-old Louie Sibley scored a hat-trick in their win at Millwall.

And Rhian Brewster, a striker on loan from Liverpool, gave Swansea City's play-off hopes a boost by netting twice at Middlesbrough, as well as making a powerful political statement.

POINT A MIXED BLESSING FOR BAGGIES

With Leeds in action at Cardiff City on Sunday, West Brom had an opportunity to go two points clear of Marcelo Bielsa's team as the league resumed.

Bilic's players dominated the derby clash and had a host of chances but could not find a breakthrough, and a stalemate at the Hawthorns potentially plays into the hands of Leeds.

The top two are now level on points, with West Brom top on goal difference, but Leeds will have the chance to go three clear before the next round of games.

BEES STING NEIGHBOURS

Said Benrahma and Emiliano Marcondes scored late for Brentford in a 2-0 win at promotion rivals Fulham, a result that leaves West Brom and Leeds seven points clear with eight games remaining for the play-off pack.

Nottingham Forest were heading for victory at Sheffield Wednesday after Joe Lolley gave the visitors a 69th-minute lead, only for Connor Wickham to grab a stoppage-time leveller for the Owls.

Forest sit fifth, four points clear of a Preston North End side who were held 1-1 at Luton Town, Callum McManaman firing a late equaliser for the hosts, who nevertheless fell to the foot of the table.

KING LOUIE

Blackburn Rovers beat Bristol City 3-1 in a battle between teams fighting with Preston for sixth place, but the individual performance of the day came from Sibley, whose heroics guided Derby to their 3-2 win at Millwall.

"I'm absolutely buzzing," Sibley told Rams TV. "To get that hat-trick was just unbelievable. When the third goal went in, I couldn't stop smiling."

Brewster was not far behind, his double steering Swansea to a 3-0 victory at lowly Middlesbrough.

Brewster held up a shirt that read "our colour is not a crime" after his first goal, expressing support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

TIGERS ON THE SLIDE

Wigan Athletic were 2-0 winners at fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town, while Hull City slipped into the bottom three after losing 1-0 at home against Charlton Athletic.

Barnsley climbed off the bottom by winning 1-0 at QPR, and Stoke City drew 1-1 at Reading.