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2 days ago
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In this winter of managerial discontent, Keith Andrews and Régis Le Bris have proved capable frontmen for stable, carefully structured football operations. The Irishman’s exemplary rookie season as a head coach continued with Brentford’s commanding win against Le Bris’s Sunderland. The visitors’ west London trip will undoubtedly be most recalled for Enzo Le Fée’s failed attempt to dupe Caoimhín Kelleher from the penalty spot. Within minutes, the finishing of Igor Thiago took the game beyond reach of a team perhaps tying up after their fine season so far.
Aside from their New Year’s Day reunion with Thomas Frank, Brentford have been turning on the style, smashing in four goals either side of that goalless Tottenham game. Their brisk beginning, the Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs clawing away a Kevin Schade shot, further evidenced the attacking intent Andrews has instilled. It has Bees fans dreaming of European travel next season.
Sunderland, coming off four successive draws, have shown some strain of losing six players to the Africa Cup of Nations, though can now welcome back four after their national teams’ exit. Dan Ballard’s return from injury was also welcome, with Thiago coming off a hat‑trick at Everton, and Michael Kayode hurling long throws into the box. Their fans, making a 600-mile round trip, were in full voice, even when their team was under sustained pressure.
This was heralded as the season of the big striker, and Thiago is proving the best of the new wave of No 9s. Brian Brobbey, his Sunderland counterpart, has also impressed but fired wide his team’s best effort of a first half full of Brentford chances.
Before his goal, Thiago was twice denied, firstly by Matthias Jensen delaying his pass, and then by Roefs’s smart save. Kristoffer Ajer also deflected a Jensen free-kick wide with his heel as Sunderland were forced back in an opening 30 minutes concluding with Vitaly Janelt winning the ball in midfield from Nordi Mukiele. Janelt’s perfectly weighted pass allowed Thiago to round Roefs without breaking stride to score. Keane Lewis-Potter struck the bar with a free-kick in the final action of the first half.
Le Bris made two quick changes within moments of the second half’s resumption, swapping in Romaine Mundle and Eliezer Mayenda. His team were creating chances, Le Fée firing over, Omar Alderete and Mundle both denied before Sunderland won a penalty when Ajer both manhandled and tripped Brobbey.
Le Fée’s attempt to panenka his penalty was risible, Kelleher staying still for a dolly catch. Le Bris tried his best to stay expressionless while Le Fée had to endure home fans jeering the replay. Punishment was added to their embarrassment when, after Schade had hit the bar from close range, the ball was recycled for Thiago to score his second. A bursting run and exchange with Schade might have resulted in Thiago’s second hat-trick in two games but Roefs saved well.
Thiago’s treble never came, the Brazilian departing as a precaution after an ankle knock.
Roefs was again left exposed as, from a corner, Yehor Yarmolyuk, tapped in the third. The Ukrainian is flourishing under Andrews’s tutelage, repaying the faith of the former set-piece specialist coach whose appointment now looks less a gamble than a masterstroke.
