AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run under interim head coach Gary O’Neil when they host Premier League rivals Brentford on Saturday (3pm kick-off).
Since taking the reins at the end of August, O’Neil has presided over three games, draws against Wolves and Newcastle sandwiching a memorable win at Nottingham Forest.
Brentford have started their second season in the Premier League by taking nine points from their first seven games – with late goals contributing to three draws.
Josh Dasilva’s effort four minutes from time earned them a share of the spoils from a 2-2 draw at Leicester on the opening day, the Bees battling back from 2-0 down.
Dasilva was joined on the scoresheet by Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee and Bryan Mbeumo as Thomas Frank’s team dismantled Manchester United 4-0 on 13th August.
Aleksandar Mitrovic’s last-minute winner condemned them to a first defeat of the season, the Bees going down 3-2 against London rivals Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Vitaly Janelt’s 84th-minute equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw with Everton at the Brentford Community Stadium before Yoane Wissa’s late leveller saw them take a point from a 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.
Ivan Toney took his personal tally for the season to five goals with a hat-trick in a 5-2 home win over Leeds, the Bees losing 3-0 against Arsenal before the international break.
Under Frank, who has been head coach for four years, Brentford sealed promotion after winning the Championship play-off final in 2021 and finished 13th last season.
Ahead of Saturday’s clash, afcb.co.uk caught up with Jay Harris who covers the fortunes of the Bees for The Athletic.
BRENTFORD PROFILE
Founded: 1889
Ground: Brentford Community Stadium
Nickname: The Bees
Record appearances: Ken Coote – 559 games (1949-1963)
Record goalscorer: Jim Towers – 163 goals in 282 games
Head coach: Thomas Frank (appointed October 2018)
Captain: Pontus Jansson (pictured below)
League position: Ninth
Leading goalscorer in Premier League: Ivan Toney (five in Premier League)
Last game: Brentford 0-3 Arsenal (Premier League)
afcb.co.uk: Give us a summary of Brentford’s start to the season?
JH: It’s been pretty good and it’s probably been a seven out of ten so far.
The 4-0 win over Manchester United was a particular highlight, not just in this season but in the club’s history. It was a massive result.
The 5-2 victory against Leeds was really entertaining. Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick and the third goal in particular was excellent.
Those moments are what people come through the turnstiles for.
Toney getting called up for England was another big footnote in the club’s history, even though he didn’t make his debut.
There has also been a little bit of frustration because in three of their games, they have conceded first and then come back to draw.
It’s great coming from behind to get a point but I think there’s a little bit of frustration that they seem to be quite slow starters this season.
afcb.co.uk: Who’s the pick of their transfer window signings?
JH: Although Keane Lewis-Potter was the club’s record signing, he hasn’t really had that many opportunities yet.
I think we will see more of him over the rest of the season so it comes down to between Ben Mee (pictured above) or Aaron Hickey.
I knew Hickey was going to be good but he’s been even better than I expected. But then the same goes for Mee.
Brentford like to play with the ball coming out from the back and, maybe wrongly, I almost assumed ‘is Mee going to be able adapt to that?’ He’d just spent the best part of ten years playing for Sean Dyche’s Burnley who we know were quite direct.
But the way he has adapted has really impressed me and he has been one of the best players in the team so far this season. I’d say he has been the most impressive signing so far.
afcb.co.uk: Who is their one to watch?
JH: I think that’s a simple answer, of course, it’s Ivan Toney. He’s such a talented striker.
Wrongly, a lot of people just perceive him to be someone who impacts the game in the box and gets on the end of crosses. But there’s so much more to his game than that.
He enjoys dropping deep and linking up with Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo (pictured above) and he’s a leader on the pitch as well.
The way he puts himself about and the duels he has with opposition centre-backs is going to be particularly interesting.
Off the back of what happened during the international break with England, he probably feels he has a point to prove so you can never look much further than Toney for Brentford’s one to watch.
afcb.co.uk: How would you summarise Thomas Frank’s four years in charge?
JH: Phenomenal!
It started really poorly which is quite funny and is something he alludes to a lot. He lost eight of his first ten games in charge.
To then see the development that the team has gone through makes him Brentford royalty.
They got so close to promotion in 2020 when they lost to Fulham in the play-off final before coming back stronger the following season and beating Swansea in the final.
They stayed up in the Premier League last season on one of the lowest budgets in the division which was a great achievement.
He always manages to find new ways to keep the team fresh and engaging and is someone who never stands still. His four years in charge have been simply phenomenal.
afcb.co.uk: Are any key players either injured or suspended against the Cherries?
JH: The biggest question mark will be over Christian Norgaard who has been struggling with an Achilles injury.
Before the international break, Frank said it was 50-50 whether he would return. I have a suspicion that he won’t return in time but we’ll have to wait and see.
Ethan Pinnock hasn’t played a single game yet this season due to a knee injury he suffered in the summer. But he played a friendly last week so there’s a chance he could be involved on Saturday.
They are the two main concerns.
afcb.co.uk: Which Brentford player would you recommend for FPL?
JH: Again, it has to be Toney (pictured above).
If people don’t get both Gabriel Jesus and Erling Haaland in their team, Toney is a nice, cheaper alternative option.
He’s less than £7million and he’s already got five goals and two assists in seven games. That’s a direct goal involvement in every game so that’s easy points on the board.
afcb.co.uk: How do you see the game panning out and what’s your score prediction?
JH: I think it’s going to be quite a tight game. Bournemouth are at home and have been performing really well under Gary O’Neil.
Brentford have had this strange affliction this season where they tend to only get going once they’ve gone a goal down.
But having said that, Kristoffer Ajer played his first game of the season against Arsenal and, with an extra two weeks of fitness, he will be raring to go.
I definitely think Brentford will come out firing and I think it’s fair to say their strength in depth is a little better than Bournemouth’s.
It might be quite tight for the first hour or so and then Brentford switch it up and potentially nick a 2-1 win.
You can follow Jay on Twitter – @jaydmharris
Officials: Thomas Bramall (referee), Edward Smart (assistant), Nick Greenhalgh (assistant), Josh Smith (fourth official), John Brooks (VAR).
