Brentford

Thomas Frank has always been a brave manager – and Saturday proved that once again in two ways.

Frank would always rather go for a win than settle for a draw. Many times during his five-and-a-half years in charge he has gone all-out attack in the closing stages of a match in which we are trailing or not winning, leaving barely any defenders on the pitch.

Understandably this campaign, given our injury problems, he has not really done this.

But with safety secured and a fairly full-strength team available, he reverted to type in each of the last two games – at home to Fulham and at Bournemouth at the weekend.

On each occasion he has played the closing stages with four strikers on the pitch.

It did not work in the west London derby, but did on the south coast as Bryan Mbeumo and substitute Yoane Wissa combined brilliantly twice to earn us a late win.

Frank also displayed personal bravery on Saturday in taking charge of the side despite the death of his father on Friday.

The players showed their support for the boss by all going to form a huddle with him to celebrate our first goal.

On a lighter note, we finally achieved a win in what had become known as our unlucky away kit. We had played in the light blue strip in 12 previous matches over two seasons without a victory. The club slashed the shirt’s price in the run-up to Saturday’s game and wanted a 'sea of blue' in the away end.

Plenty of people did wear the kit and it was 13th time lucky as the shirt bowed out with a smile!

Ian Westbrook can be found at Beesotted podcast, external

We asked for your views on Saturday's match between Bournemouth and Brentford.

Here are some of your answers:

Bournemouth fans

Simon: A typical end-of-season game between two teams with nothing to play for and ruined by an awful refereeing performance. If [Ivan] Toney gets in the England squad ahead of [Dominic] Solanke it will be a travesty. Solanke is all hard work and has added finishing and composure this season, Toney just sulked about adding nothing to the game.

Chris: Same old Bournemouth, lose concentration in the final 10 minutes. Thinking of the dressing room at 80 minutes.

Greg: Enjoyed the game today. Two decent sides, referee ruined the game. Bad decisions all game. Solanke looked sharp but Toney looked off the pace.

Brentford fans

Vince: Solid in defence but the game could have swung either way. It was a good win for the Bees. Respect to Bournemouth for their season.

Bill: Excellent well-taken goals that promise much for us offensively next season. Absolute stonewall penalty taken away from Ivan - who really needed to win and score that goal. We will be much better next year with a first choice defence as we have not had that all season and with Igor Thiago banging them in.

Stefano: Well done Brentford! Despite not playing with the panache they can display especially against “bigger” teams, this time they didn’t lose points from a winning position. Brentford have lost far too many this season, which has led to them ending this campaign far below last year’s position in the table.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's eight Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here.

Also, listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham United v Luton Town

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford fans on the south coast went through all sorts of emotions in the last 10 minutes of their match with Bournemouth on Saturday.

Having thrown away their initial lead, DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa was composed in the area to drill home a 95th-minute winner.

"It was a fantastic response and mentality from the players," Brentford manager Thomas Frank told BBC Match of the Day.

"I've said it before that this group are special in the way they come back."

The final whistle eventually came in the 104th minute, much to the relief of Frank's side.

After securing their highest-ever Premier League finish of ninth last season, Brentford will have to settle for a bottom-half place this time around.

But this win at Bournemouth was a reminder of the side's composure and efficiency in the final third.

More of the same will be needed next season.

Thomas Frank spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Brentford's victory against Bournemouth: "I think it was an interesting game, there were a lot of situations that could have ended in more opportunities. I am very pleased we took the win in what was a tight game.

"We scored some brilliant goals, I must say that.

"It was a fantastic response and mentality from the players. I've said it before that this group are special in the way they come back. They are unique."

On the two VAR involvements: "I think overall, fair enough. The first one, if there is a handball in the build up to a goal, then that is the rule. I think the second one, I think it's a 50-50 situation, I understand it could have been a soft pen.

"I think Ivan [Toney] slips and that's why. I can understand why it's overturned, I still think it's borderline if it's a clear and obvious mistake.

"The boys have put in the effort and foundation in the last three matches. We didn't have the cutting edge against Everton and Fulham, but we had it today."

• Bournemouth scored just eight first half goals on home soil in the Premier League this season, with only Burnley and Sheffield United (both 7) managing fewer, though the pair both play at home on the final day of this campaign.

• Brentford are unbeaten across their past seven league games against Bournemouth (D2 L5), a run that directly followed on from a streak of failing to win any of their seven prior meetings between the two sides.

• Bournemouth have conceded 498 fouls in the Premier League this season, the most by any team in a campaign since Watford (517) in 2016-17.

• Despite winning 2-1 against Bournemouth, Brentford have now failed to keep a clean sheet across each of their past eight away Premier League games, the Bees’ longest such streak since a run of 19 matches between October 2021 and August 2022.

• On his 199th appearance for Brentford across all competitions, Bryan Mbeumo scored his 50th goal for the club. Meanwhile, Yoane Wissa’s strike, timed at 94:31, was Brentford’s latest winning goal in the Premier League since Ivan Toney’s goal against Manchester City in November 2022 (97:17).

Yoane Wissa scored a 95th-minute winner to help his Brentford side beat Bournemouth in a stunning finish at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League.

Bryan Mbeumo played in substitute Wissa, who buried his finish from a tight angle to give the Bees just their fifth league win in 2024.

After an even first 86 minutes Mbeumo gave Brentford the lead as Wissa met goalkeeper Mark Flekken's long ball forward and set up his strike partner for an easy finish.

But fewer than three minutes later Dominic Solanke equalised, meeting Marcos Senesi's cross with a looping header.

Were you at the ground or following along from home?

Bournemouth fans, give us your thoughts on the game.

Tell us what you made of the performance, Brentford supporters.

Follow all the reaction here

There are eight Premier League games taking place today, and you can stay updated with all of them via our live page.

Keep up with all the action and reaction here.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for every Premier League game this season against a variety of guests.

For this weekend's matches, he takes on Kasabian frontman Serge Pizzorno.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Bournemouth lost to Arsenal last week but they still caused them a few problems.

You could see why the Cherries are on track for a top-half finish, but I don't think they will have things all their own way against Brentford.

Ivan Toney needs to find some goalscoring form if he is going to make the England squad for the Euros, but I am a fan of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, and the Bees always carry a threat.

Serge's prediction: 2-1

Every player is in their flip-flops for this game - no-one is too bothered about it - but I think Brentford might edge it.

Read all of the predictions here

Thomas Frank has been speaking to the media before Brentford travel to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Frank confirmed Kristoffer Ajer, who went off with a broken nose against Fulham, and Mathias Jensen, who had a minor injury, should both be available for the weekend.

• On this being one of Brentford's toughest seasons in the Premier League: "It is tough to lose in football matches, other things out there in the world are much together, but when you are in this business you work hard to make things perfect, play the perfect game and achieve that and get points. If you don't get that reward it is tough to go again and again and again."

• He added: "We lost a lot of football matches and players to injuries. The hope and expectation we had at the start we could have done more, there was a lot of promising performances and stats and with performances we put in we could have finished higher. If we had the players we probably would, but we have done the minimum to stay in the Premier League."

• He feels staying up this campaign "may be our biggest achievement" since being in the Premier League and added: "I want more but I understand where they [the questions] come from. With Ivan Toney's ban and with the injures and our budget in mind, it is probably more than an OK season. So we will keep on developing."

• On whether he is expecting them to have started their transfer business by mid-June: "Yes hopefully. I always want to buy a few players. We have already done the first bit of the job, like we try to do, we are planning ahead. We got [Igor] Thiago in, but we are always in the market to strengthen our squad and make it the best."

• On if Ivan Toney will be feeling better about his Euro 2024 selection chances after the squad expansion to 26 players: "We all want certainty in our lives. When you don't have that it is tricky. Ivan has a strong mentality and character so in general he is fine. I know it is a big ambition of his to be called up for the Euros. I hope he is picked but I'm probably biased. I think he should be in with the qualities he has and I think he gives something extra to the squad."

• He added: "Ivan takes into account he was out for eight months, then came back flying. But when when you haven't been playing to the highest level you can pick up small niggles and that has made him have a small set back. But he has had a good training week so hopefully we have a good performance."

Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Bournemouth and Brentford in the Premier League.

• Bournemouth are without a win in their past six league games against Brentford since a 1-0 win in the Championship in August 2014.

• Brentford have won their final away league game in each of the past three seasons and scored three goals each time – 3-1 v Bristol City in 2020-21, 3-2 v Everton in 2021-22 and 3-1 v Tottenham last season.

• Bournemouth have lost their final home league match in three of the past four seasons. They had only lost their final home game in three of the previous 33 campaigns before this.

• Brentford’s past two Premier League games have been a one-nil defeat by Everton and a 0-0 draw with Fulham. They have not failed to score in three or more consecutive league games since a run of four in March and April 2019.

• Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke has opened the scoring in nine different Premier League games so far this season - more than any other player. His goals have also been worth a league-high 15 points for the Cherries this term.

• Ivan Toney has failed to score in any of his past 10 Premier League games for Brentford. Only in his first 11 Football League appearances for Northampton in 2013-14 has he failed to find the net in more consecutive league games for a single team.

Manchester United's defensive midfielder Casemiro has been heavily scrutinised in recent weeks for mishaps, slow pace and overall lacklustre performances.

But is the Brazilian getting a hard time, or is the criticism valid?

According to Opta, the 32-year-old has been dribbled past 52 times (so far this season) by an opponent in the Premier League. That is still 17 less times than Brentford midfielder Mathias Jensen, who has recorded the most.

It is also less than top-flight stars Alexis Mac Allister, with the second highest at 62, and United captain Bruno Fernandes who rounds off the top three with 57.

He has also been beaten less than Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tottenham's Pedro Porro.

Here is the full breakdown of the top-ten:

1. Mathias Jensen (Brentford) - Dribbled past 69 times in 30 Premier League starts

2. Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) - Dribbled past 62 times in 31 Premier League starts

3. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) - Dribbled past 57 times in 33 Premier League starts

4. Antonee Robinson (Fulham) - Dribbled past 56 times in 35 Premier League starts

5. Pedro Porro (Tottenham) - Dribbled past 54 times in 32 Premier League starts

6. Christian Norgaard (Brentford) - Dribbled past 53 times in 29 Premier League starts

7. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) - Dribbled past 53 times in 26 Premier League starts

8. Joao Gomes (Wolves) - Dribbled past 53 times in 32 Premier League starts

9. Casemiro (Manchester United) - Dribbled past 52 times in 22 Premier League starts

10. Joao Palhinha (Fulham) - Dribbled past 47 times in 31 Premier League starts

One important thing to note, however, is appearances.

Excluding Casemiro, Alexander-Arnold and Christian Norgaard, they have all made over 30 Premier League starts this season. Casemiro has made the least with 22 to date and Alexander-Arnold and Norgaard have made 26 and 29 respectively.

Therefore it highlights the difficult season the five-time Champions League winner has had under Erik ten Hag compared to last season's strong debut campaign.

As west London derbies go, Brentford’s meeting with Fulham on Saturday was one of the tamest I can remember.

With nothing to play for, neither side really got going in a hugely disappointing game, which suffered the ignominy of having its highlights shown after the Friday night game on Match of the Day.

Since the Bees’ Premier League safety was confirmed, we have not scored a goal in two matches, so hopefully we can finish the season with a flourish in our final two fixtures at Bournemouth and against Newcastle United.

It would be interesting to see Thomas Frank give some of the players who could feature more next season a chance to stake a claim now.

It is rare to have the opportunity to play competitive Premier League games with nothing much riding on them.

So it would be good if the likes of Kevin Schade and Yehor Yarmoliuk featured in the starting XI on the next two weekends.

And it would also be worth playing Neal Maupay – who did so well during the absences of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo - before a decision on whether or not to make his loan move permanent for next season.

A lot has been made of Toney's current goal drought of 10 games.

Some are accusing him of not trying, but I wonder if he is playing with an injury.

It is of no benefit to him not to play well if he wants to make a move in the summer and play for England at the Euros.

Ian Westbrook can be found on Beesotted podcast, external

We asked for your thoughts on Saturday's goalless draw between Brentford and Fulham.

Here are some of your answers:

Chuck: This was no blood-and-guts local derby - more like a couple of neighbours at ease in each other's company at a local spring fete. The positive is the improving form of [Mikkel] Damsgaard and [Nathan] Collins - that and Going Underground by the Jam blaring out at half-time.

John: Both teams were playing as if they were on holiday. There was poor passing and a lack of passion.

Tim: Another strong showing by Damsgaard. Why he got subbed off beats me. It was a wasted opportunity to show the fans some decent football. Keeping [Ivan] Toney on the pitch when he was clearly frustrated and yelling at his teammate was pointless, and [Kevin] Schade was left on the bench for too long again.

Pete: The Bees seem to be drifting a bit. Ethan Pinnock was immense and Keane Lewis-Potter showed moments of promise, but elsewhere there was little to excite. Ivan Toney seems to have given up on a Euros spot and Bryan Mbeumo was peripheral. I suspect these two will be off soon. It's time for the new wave of young talent to be given a chance.

Uzzi: We were really flat, considering it was a derby against our most fierce Premier League rivals. We were defensively solid and Collins and Pinnock didn't give [Rodrigo] Muniz a sniff. That said, we really flattered to deceive going forward. Lewis-Potter looked sharp, but he was subbed off for whatever reason. Toney's movement was akin to what you see in Madame Tussauds. All in all, a fair result.

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Friday and Saturday's six Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer here.

And you can watch highlights of Sunday's games on Match of the Day 2 here.

Listen back to Saturday's BBC Radio 5 Live match commentaries in full:

• Burnley v Newcastle United

• Manchester City v Wolves

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford manager Thomas Frank, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Today I think there was a bit more bite without being through the roof. I think there was just a lack of quality offensively."

On whether there was a lack of motivation: "There's no lack of effort. Everyone's running around, big energy, both knew it was a local derby. There was plenty to be motivated by.

"The narrative is it's the end of the season and no-one can achieve anything. It just happens sometimes."

On whether the lack of 0-0s this season surprises him: "It surprises me it's only 11 but on the flip side it's a league that's so intense and so much quality in general so small mistakes usually get punished."

On Ivan Toney's recent performances: "There are spells for any striker where they don't score in a period of time and then they'll do it again. Ivan is a top player and he will score again soon. He's been out with injury. I think he was average last week and took a step forward this week. Both games we haven't been fantastic offensively so even when Messi was top it was very rare. The team need to click as well."

On having been at Brentford as manager for so long: "The fire is definitely there. It's a massive privilege to be in the Premier League. I never take that in any way. I think it's an achievement for Brentford. The backing and everything we do, what we create together. We want to do what we can for the last two games of the season then we go again."

Image source, Getty Images

This was a goalless draw which will not live long in the memory as Brentford's modest returns from London derbies continued.

The Bees have now picked up two points in their last seven meetings with clubs from the capital.

Thomas Frank was quick to point out "if you can't win then don't lose" in his post-match media duties and one of the positives to take from this stalemate was how "solid" Brentford looked defensively.

In attack, though, the Bees struggled to make much of an impression with Ivan Toney a peripheral figure for much of the contest.

With little to play for in their remaining two games - away to Bournemouth and home to Newcastle - it might be the time for Frank to experiment a little.

The deck chairs were not quite out against the Cottagers, but a few players did seem to be coasting at times as the look towards a break at the end of the season.

Maybe now is the right time to give a few untried youngsters a go?

• Brentford have drawn at home against Fulham for the first time in 19 matches in all competitions (W11 L7), previously doing so before today in February 1987 in the third tier (3-3).

• Brentford are unbeaten in five Premier League home games (W1 D4), keeping clean sheets in each of the last three, having conceded in 10 consecutive such matches since the start of November 2023 (22 goals conceded in total during that period).

• Fulham have kept consecutive away clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since February 2023, having shipped 28 goals across their previous 12 matches on the road before their 2-0 victory at West Ham in April.

• This was Brentford’s eighth 0-0 draw in the Premier League, only Crystal Palace (11) and Brighton (9) have had more since the Bees were promoted to the competition in 2021-22.

• Brentford’s Ivan Toney has now gone 10 Premier League games without scoring, only in his very first 11 league matches for Northampton in 2013-14 has he gone longer without netting a league goal for a single club.

• Both sides hit the woodwork in the match, only Liverpool (24) have done so more often than Fulham (18) in the Premier League this season, while Fulham's woodwork has been hit more times than any other side (19).