Brentford's Resilient Start Under Keith Andrews
After years of success under Thomas Frank, Keith Andrews faced a significant challenge when he took over as head coach of Brentford this summer.
Following a 10th-place finish last season, many doubted the Bees could maintain that level of performance this year, especially after the departures of captain Christian Norgaard and star winger Bryan Mbeumo.
However, Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 victory against Premier League champions Liverpool propelled them to 11th place, and Brentford's home record—bolstered by wins against Manchester United and Aston Villa—is now among the best in the league.
Only Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Bournemouth have scored more than Brentford's 14 goals in nine matches.
Igor Thiago has been a standout performer, netting six goals, making him the joint-second top scorer in the division, trailing only Erling Haaland.
In his debut Premier League managerial role, Andrews has taken a measured approach—so what has contributed to his success?
The former Republic of Ireland midfielder has implemented a tactical evolution rather than a complete overhaul. He focuses on maximizing the talents within his squad, making subtle adjustments to build on Frank’s legacy.
“The one thing we have is individual brilliance,” said the 45-year-old. “I believe we have players capable of producing standout moments. This stems from the environment, the support they receive, and our training model, which emphasizes developing individual qualities.”
While Brentford has seen less possession under Andrews, their overall statistics remain strikingly similar to those during Frank’s tenure.
Given his background as Brentford's set-piece coach, expectations were high that his team would rely more heavily on set pieces as a tactic; however, goals from set pieces are currently at the lowest level since the club's promotion to the Premier League in 2021.
That said, Michael Kayode’s long throws remain a formidable weapon—after Manchester City narrowly won 1-0 at Gtech Community Stadium last month, match-winner Haaland remarked, “It was a tough game, reminiscent of Stoke City with Rory Delap 15 years ago!”
In their 2-0 victory at West Ham last Monday, Brentford recorded 10 headers out of 22 total shots on goal, marking the highest number by any team in a Premier League match this season.
Andrews’ team has excelled at counter-attacking, averaging more than double the number of fast breaks compared to when Frank was in charge. Their four league goals scored on the counter-attack have already equaled last season’s total.
While Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and Kevin Schade combined for 50 goals last season, it may be challenging to match that figure this year. However, there are encouraging signs that their revamped attack could be highly effective.
In the impressive win over Liverpool, Dango Ouattara, Thiago, and Schade all scored in the same match for the first time. Thiago, who faced injury challenges in his first season, has netted six goals, instilling hope that he can emulate the success of prolific scorers like Ivan Toney, Mbeumo, and Wissa.
“His heart is huge. His spirit, his courage, and the adversity he faced last year due to injury and adjusting to a new culture have been remarkable,” Andrews noted. “He has received real support and belief from us. I engage with him daily about his game and how he can improve. He is a nightmare for defenders, playing with incredible hunger. Sometimes, he needs to be calmed down a bit, but he is proving to be a key player for us, as we anticipated.”
Brentford has never found themselves in the bottom three at the end of a Premier League matchweek since their promotion, a statistic that Andrews has successfully upheld so far this season.