Thomas Frank is a formidable tactician, that nobody can deny. But his decision to dispense with seven of his Liverpool-trouncing side in order to blood some limited–experience youngsters and include sundry other unfamiliar faces – okay, we know what Mads Bech Sӧrensen looks like, but he was accommodated for this FA Cup third round tie after being recalled from his loan spell at Nice – seemed more peculiar with every passing minute.
West Ham, beaten 2-0 by the Bees in their final game of last year and still struggling in the lower reaches of the Premier League, knew what was required. David Moyes’ team sheet may not have been exactly turbo-charged but just about as strong as could be without drafting in an infantry brigade. Winning, a rare experience of late, was paramount.
On an evening when the weather was trying hard to rain and often succeeding, the visitors set about putting together some pretty patterns of passes that invariably broke down when arriving close to Brentford territory.
With Kristoffer Ajer back from injury in swashbuckling form and Ben Mee as rock-solid as usual, Brentford’s defence was coping well. In midfield, Mathias Jensen – captain for the evening – quickly settled into the role with a commanding presence and some nifty through balls. Josh Dasilva grafted with little success but lots of enthusiasm and Yoane Wissa, mostly a lone frontrunner, looked threatening.
But somehow the collection of players, appearing not just unfamiliar to the home crowd but often to one another, struggled to gel. Furthermore, with West Ham lacking a creative spark – not one genuine chance in the entire first half –the game was, whisper who dares, DULL.
Indeed, stars of the afternoon was the travelling choir that en masse provided West Ham encouragement from their corral at the East End of the Gtech. They were at their best with the anthem ‘Bubbles’, which they seemed willing to be blowing for the duration of the game, if not forever.
Early in the second period Keane Lewis-Potter, a diminutive but determined young chap, shimmied his way into the opposing penalty area but shot weakly at keeper Lukasz Fabianski. The home crowd acknowledged his participation vigorously before going back to hooting Fabiansky, who was having as miserable a time as one could without conceding.
It was becoming evident that if either side could get the ball into the net, it would probably settle the game. Easier said than done, of course, but after 79 minutes and shortly after his substitution into the Hammers’ attack, Said Benrahma did it. A cultured tackle by Declan Rice freed up the ball for Benrahma to smack it beyond Bees’ keeper Thomas Strakosha, on whom the jury is still out.
Ex-Bee Benrahma resisted the efforts of his team-mates to celebrate, having decided it would not be proper to display their pleasure in front of his ex-colleagues and their fans. Now there’s a gent for you.
It had been a livelier half for both sides, but indicative of the lack of thrills when Frank’s substitution, new signing Kevin Schade, a tall, rangy winger witha fine turn of speed, was greeted by the crowd with an eagerness that had been noticeably absent until his appearance. He promises much.
With the trophy cabinet remaining bare this season, all Brentford’s energies can be directed at the League.
But no question that this was a poor show all round, I said to my mate Charlie.
‘Our cups runneth under,’ said Charlie.
Brentford: Strakosha; Ajer (substitute Henry, 80 mins), Bech Sørensen, Mee(Trevitt, 90); Roerslev, Dasilva (Janelt, 69), Jensen, Damsgaard (Canós, 80),Ghoddos; Lewis-Potter (Schade, 69), Wissa.
West Ham: Fabianski; Dawson, Ogbonna, Aguerd: Johnson, Lucas Paquetá (Downes, 86). Rice, Souček (Benrahma, 69), Emerson, Bowen, Antonio (Fornals, 86).
This report first appeared on the Chiswick Calendar website.