Southampton fans turned on manager Nathan Jones as Brentford produced one of the most comfortable football results of the weekend in the Premier League. Thomas Frank’s team earned their comfortable lead towards the end of the first half when they scored twice in three minutes. From a brief corner, Ben Mee headed Bryan Mbeumo’s cross high into the goal (41), and in the subsequent attack, Mbeumo finished a spectacular breakaway past Gavin Bazunu (44). By scoring a third goal in the dying seconds from Rico Henry’s cross, Mathias Jensen added gloss to the final score (79). At halftime, Southampton introduced newcomers Kamaldeen Sulemana and Paul Onuachu, and they did generate some chances after the break, but Jones’ tactics failed to impress the visiting supporters, who frequently chanted insults at their own head coach.
Brentford controlled all of the early possession while Southampton threatened briefly on the break, but their final pass let them down. The game got off to a hectic start. Ivan Toney’s ball over the defense of Southampton to Wissa, who rounded Gavin Bazunu but was only able to slap his finish off the crossbar, giving the home team the best opportunity of the game. James Ward-Prowse was let free in the penalty area by Salisu’s long ball forward, but his cross-curve shot missed the far post.
Although Toney and Mbeumo both had half-chance shots in the area blocked and missed, respectively, Brentford’s pressure eventually resulted in the net finally humming. The Bees took a short corner, and Mbuemo’s right-footed cross found Mee approaching the box. Mee then headed the ball into the top corner while squaring off with Salisu. Following Mee’s treatment, Brentford immediately scored a second goal. Dasilva released Wissa on the left with an excellent outside-of-the-boot pass after the great Mbeumo and Dasilva combined on the right.
Mbeumo received a pass from Wissa and finished easily past Bazunu for two goals in four minutes. At halftime, Southampton manager Jones replied by introducing newcomers Sulemana and Onuachu to strengthen the front line. The former displayed fine footwork before testing David Raya’s gloves with a straightforward long-range effort. The enraged Saints fans who were in attendance at the game began mockingly singing, “We’ve had a shot!” as a result of the incident.
As Brentford attempted to extend their lead, Mee missed with a header from Dasilva’s cross, and Toney had a close-range drive blocked by Salisu after Mbuemo’s rapid free kick. Theo Walcott, a substitution for Southampton, was stopped by Ethan Pinnock at a corner, and the same Saints player also saw a one-on-one with Raya blocked before Che Adams headed the rebound wide. Southampton also had a shot saved off the line. The decisive third goal, however, would come from Brentford as new signing Kevin Schade set up Henry, who then whipped in for Jensen to nod in from close range. The remaining Southampton supporters continued their anti-Jones shouts as the departing supporters left.
“I’ve had a lot of success playing a really fluid style, and I attempted to employ it at Stoke, but it didn’t [work] for a variety of reasons,” Southampton manager Nathan Jones said. “Then I returned to Luton to a genuine, combative, and front-footed side. In terms of aggression, clean sheets, protecting the box, balls in the box, xG – all those things – there weren’t many in Europe. Because we were generating so much for so little money, we were the best pound for pound. I’ve moved on from that. Perhaps it has to do with the Premier League or how people appear, such as footballers, foreigners, and other things. I’ve had to make some compromises, but I won’t do it again.”
“I am aware that we have gone nine games without a loss. We are sixth, which pleases me. But we are aware that it is simply a snapshot. The major evaluation occurs after 38 games. An interesting place we are in. But up to this point, we’ve done well, and I’m glad we’re in this stretch of the form where nearly every player is in great shape,” Brentford boss Thomas Frank said. “We can never take it for granted that we are winning in the Premier League, I just told my players. Our situation is favorable. We think we can compete there and prevail. At the Emirates, I believe we can lose to Arsenal 4-0 if we are not focused. They have been outstanding.”
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