The 2021/22 season is now at an end. Brentford's first-ever campaign the Premier League ended with The Bees in 13th place. There were some great moments to reflect on.
Over the next week, we will look back at the season. Join us and remember the home wins, great days on the road, late winners and the moments away from the match. We'll start off with the Home Highlights.............
Brentford 2 Arsenal 0
Brentford announced their arrival in the Premier League by kicking off the 2021/22 season with a 2-0 win over Arsenal. West London beat North London on the opening evening of the campaign with The Bees scoring a goal in each half. Brentford’s first top flight game since 1947 finished with a well-earned victory thanks to goals from Sergi Canós and Christian Nørgaard.
Canós struck midway through the first half, becoming the first Brentford player to score a top division goal since Len Townsend more than seven decades ago. Nørgaard headed home in the second half to seal a win that The Bees deserved. David Raya, in the home goal, made one spectacular save late on, but Bryan Mbeumo hit the post for The Bees and there was little doubt the better team won on the night.
Brentford 3 Liverpool 3
Brentford came from behind twice to secure a point in a remarkable 3-3 draw against Liverpool. The Bees scored first through Ethan Pinnock just before the half hour and the teams exchanged goals for another 60 minutes. The game was level at 1-1 at half time and Liverpool took the lead twice in the second period, but The Bees battled back. Vitaly Janelt and then Yoane Wissa scored to give Brentford a share of the spoils.
It was a thrilling game played on a mild West London autumn evening. The teams went toe-to-toe throughout, both looking to get a two-goal cushion to kill the other off. When Curtis Jones smashed in after Janelt had equalised, that might have been that, but Brentford refused to be beaten. Wissa came off the substitute’s bench to score the sixth and final goal of the evening and ensure the spoils were shared.
Even the six goals only tell a fraction of the tale. David Raya made some fine saves and Alisson was almost as busy at the other end. Ivan Toney had a goal ruled out, one that would have put Brentford 4-3 up, and both sides had efforts cleared off the line. It was probably right that it finished level as neither team deserved to lose.
Brentford 2 Burnley 0
Ivan Toney scored twice in the last five minutes as Brentford beat Burnley. The Bees probably had slightly the better of the game, but it looked like it would end all square. But Toney powered home a Christian Eriksen cross and then won and converted a penalty to secure a 2-0 win.
After victory against Norwich City a week earlier, the Burnley success meant The Bees have recorded back-to-back wins for the first time in the Premier League. Neither goalkeeper was particularly busy, but Brentford created more of the chances. There was a vital save from David Raya when the game was level and when Toney made his mark late on, he gave The Bees the win.
This was one of five penalties that Ivan Toney converted in the Premier League this season. He spoke about spot kicks in a long read which can be found here.
Brentford 2 West Ham United 0
Brentford completed a Premier League double over West Ham United and made it four wins in five matches with a 2-0 victory on a sunny spring afternoon. Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney set up goals for each other as The Bees picked up three points against their East London opponents. The Bees fully deserved the points, which they added to three secured in a 2-1 victory over the same opponents earlier in the season, as they continued their winning run.
The Bees had the better of a first half that ended 0-0 and took control after the break. Mbeumo scored just after half time and ended a swift counter-attack with a volleyed cross that Toney headed in for the second. West Ham only had limited spells of attacking possession and mostly played in front of a well-drilled Brentford defence, creating few chances.
Brentford 3 Southampton 0
Two goals in 90 first half seconds set Brentford on their way to a fine 3-0 win over Southampton. Pontus Jansson and Yoane Wissa both found the net in quick succession as The Bees took control of an entertaining contest. When the game settled down, Brentford had the upper hand and Kristoffer Ajer added a third late on.
It was a comprehensive victory for Brentford, who had the better of a helter-skelter first half and then dominated the second. Southampton had their chances, particularly before the interval, but Brentford never looked like losing after their quickfire double. The late third goal gave the score line the gloss it probably deserved.
This was Brentford's fourth consecutive home clean sheet.