‘Naive’ Brentford add to concerns for new boss Andrews.
In terms of first impressions, Keith Andrews’ debut as head coach was comparable to forgetting your name or spilling red wine on your carpet.
The former Wolves and Blackburn midfielder took over in June after Thomas Frank left for Tottenham Hotspur. The 44-year-old Andrews, who had previously served as set-piece coach under Frank, took a significant step up.
But, with Brentford eager to promote from within, as they were when Frank stepped in to replace Dean Smith in 2018, the former Republic of Ireland international took the job.
Brentford’s new manager, their set-piece coach, conceded the first of three goals at Nottingham Forest in the fifth minute of his Premier League debut.
Andrews could only watch in frustration as Chris Wood took advantage of slack defending to score Forest’s first goal on the Premier League’s opening day, leading to a comfortable 3-1 victory.
It came from a needless corner, which was conceded due to a mix-up between custodian Caoimhin Kelleher and captain Nathan Collins.
Three Brentford players surrounded Wood after the resulting set-piece but failed to deal with either man or ball, allowing the New Zealand striker to open his account for the season. It set the tone for a lacklustre first half performance and, despite Igor Thiago’s penalty, the Bees’ first defeat on the first day of a Premier League season since promotion in 2021.
Brentford had not conceded three goals on the first day of a season at any level since 2004-05, when they lost 3-1 to Chesterfield in League One.
As fans brace themselves for a difficult season, Andrews was open about Brentford’s need to improve when speaking to BBC Match of the Day afterwards.
“It was always going to be difficult but we made it harder for ourselves,” he informed me. “We knew their strengths and the issues they would cause. Set pieces were always going to pose a threat. “Get back to the basics.
Basics in the game can be a dirty word at times, but you must have an edge and do the ugly side of the game in order to compete as a team. I did not think we did that.
“I noticed it a lot in the first half, and it’s something we should address. The second half was significantly better on a number of fronts.”
‘I think he’ll do a good job’
IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGESKeith Andrews won 35 caps for the Republic of Ireland
The nature of this defeat, in which Brentford created only 0.46 xG from open play, will raise concerns among supporters. The Bees were chasing shadows throughout, conceding twice as many fouls as Forest, while Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson dominated proceedings.
It will also call into question Andrews’ abilities as a Premier League manager. Not only has he never led a team before, but his coaching record is not stellar.
In 2015-16, when Milton Keynes Dons were relegated from the Championship, he began his career as an assistant to Karl Robinson.
Andrews also worked with Stephen Kenny during his unsuccessful reign as Republic of Ireland manager, and his previous top-flight experience came at Sheffield United under Chris Wilder, where they finished last in 2023-24.
He then moved to Brentford, where their proclivity for succession planning benefited Andrews.
“Keith Andrews was in and around the coaching, but his main focus was set-pieces,” said former Brentford defender Ben Mee on BBC 5 Live. “I felt that appointing Andrews would provide continuity for the club.
He has worked as an assistant to a few coaches, and I believe he will do a good job. “For the club, it was the correct decision. Brentford likes to do things differently there.”
In Andrews’ defence, even the most experienced coaches would face a difficult task at Brentford after losing much of their quality and experience this summer.
Bryan Mbeumo, captain Christian Norgaard, and keeper Mark Flekken were all sold.
Striker Yoane Wissa appears to be leaving as well, having been left out of the Newcastle squad on Sunday.
“It’s a day-by-day one in terms of Wiss,” Andrews said later. “As far as I know, nothing else occurred today. “I’m not sure what the situation will be; I’ve been up here since yesterday, so we’ll deal with it during the week. “Hopefully, it will resolve itself sooner rather than later.”
Bees need to find ‘familiarity and intensity’
IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES
Brentford were further hampered at Forest by midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard’s absence due to his wife giving birth, while German forward Kevin Schade was only fit enough to play as a substitute.
So Andrews’ first starting lineup was inexperienced and eventually exposed. Brentford has never had three players under the age of 21 in a Premier League game before.
It was also the Premier League team with the youngest average age, at 24 years and 98 days.
Antoni Milambo, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder from Feyenoord, was their most expensive summer signing to date, costing £17 million.
The Dutchman had a disastrous debut, was ineffective and well controlled by Anderson, and could have given away a penalty for handling a free kick but was saved by the video assistant referee (VAR).
Milambo was replaced at halftime by Schade, and the Bees improved in the second half with the introduction of 35-year-old midfielder Jordan Henderson.
The England international, who returned to the Premier League after spells with Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia and Ajax, provided much-needed aggression and reassuring presence in his 432nd appearance.
Based on the evidence, that alone will not be enough to keep Brentford out of the relegation zone.
“No team is at its best on the first weekend; it takes a few weeks to re-establish that familiarity and intensity,” former Scotland international Rachel Corsie told Radio Five Sports Extra.
“Brentford have a concession in some ways, but I did just feel though that they were naive and they need to learn very quickly.”
First impressions aren’t everything, but Andrews needs to hone his skills quickly. More set-piece coaching might be a good start.First impressions aren’t everything, but Andrews needs to fine-tune his side quickly. More set-piece coaching could be a good start.
Read more on Straightwinfortoday.com
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.