Brentford 2-1 Crystal Palace. Brentford kicked off their season with a hard-fought victory over Crystal Palace, despite notable absences and some contentious moments. The Bees edged out their opponents 2-1 in a match that showcased both their resilience and their capacity to capitalize on key moments.
The game, played at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium, saw Bryan Mbeumo score the opening goal in the 29th minute. Mbeumo’s strike came shortly after Crystal Palace had an opportunity of their own controversially dismissed. Eberechi Eze had appeared to score directly from a wide free-kick, but the goal was ruled out by referee Sam Barrott, who had blown his whistle for a foul before the ball crossed the line.
Brentford’s lead was solidified when Mbeumo maneuvered his way through the Palace defense to slot the ball past goalkeeper Dean Henderson. This goal, resulting from a clever dribble and precise finish, demonstrated Mbeumo’s ability to step up in the absence of striker Ivan Toney, who was left out of the squad due to ongoing “transfer interest.”
Manager Thomas Frank had indicated before the match that Toney’s exclusion was related to speculation about his future, but he did not confirm whether Toney’s departure was imminent. Frank commented to Sky Sports, “Who knows? There is interest. It’s not close,” reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the striker’s situation. Should Toney leave, replacing his goal-scoring prowess will undoubtedly be a significant topic for Brentford throughout the season.
Despite Toney’s absence, Brentford displayed a clinical edge. Following Mbeumo’s opener, Kristoffer Ajer forced Henderson into a notable save with a close-range effort. Additionally, Kevin Schade narrowly missed with a curling shot just before half-time. New signing Fabio Carvalho made a brief appearance as a substitute late in the game, adding fresh energy to the squad. However, fellow new recruit Igor Thiago remains sidelined with a knee injury that is expected to keep him out until late 2024.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, were unlucky not to have taken an earlier lead. Eze’s quick-thinking free-kick caught Brentford keeper Mark Flekken off guard, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul committed by Will Hughes on Nathan Collins, which the referee had already spotted. The decision prevented the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) from reviewing the play, as the whistle had been blown before the ball went into the net.
Palace’s frustrations continued as they saw another goal by Odsonne Edouard disallowed for offside. Edouard’s timing was just slightly off, with his run forward occurring a split second too early. Throughout the second half, Palace pressed for an equalizer, with midfielder Adam Wharton testing Flekken on several occasions. The Brentford goalkeeper made a crucial save to deny a deflected shot from Eze in the dying moments of the match.
Despite Palace’s persistent efforts and several near misses, Brentford managed to secure the win with a decisive goal in the 78th minute. Yoane Wissa capitalized on a rebound to score from close range, sealing the victory for Brentford after Henderson had initially kept out Nathan Collins’ attempt.
In the end, Crystal Palace’s inability to convert their chances into goals resulted in a frustrating defeat, while Brentford demonstrated their ability to secure a win even in the face of controversy and key player absences. This victory not only highlights Brentford’s resilience but also sets a positive tone for their upcoming fixtures as they aim to build on this promising start to the season.
