Brentford

Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Saturday's FA Cup game against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough Stadium (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Andrews said the club are "still dusting everything down" from the victory against Sunderland on Wednesday but the returning Dango Ouattara has been given an "extra couple of days off" as he recovers from the Africa Cup of Nations.

• On rotating his squad after a heavy schedule: "What I can guarantee is that we're taking the game seriously. We took the League Cup really seriously, we got to the quarter-finals and were beaten by Manchester City, and the same approach will be taken towards the FA Cup. It's a competition I have a lot of love for."

• Teenage winger Romelle Donovan is in with a shout of starting against the Championship strugglers: "Romelle's definitely in contention. He's training really well in the main and I like a lot of his qualities. He's probably been a little bit unlucky not to get Premier League minutes. I anticipate Romelle getting some minutes at the weekend."

• Andrews also suggested forward Reiss Nelson is fit again to start: "Reiss has come back from a knock during the December period. He's come back into the fold and probably hasn't been ready to start games, but he's edging closer with the minutes he's been getting. We'll get Reiss, and the team in general, back into a flow as the games become more week to week from this Saturday onwards. Reiss will certainly be involved at the weekend."

• With Igor Thiago's five goals in two games placing him second in the league top scorers, Andrews said his striker must be close to a first national call-up: "He's been immense with how he's taken our mantra of our number nine and how he's led the line by constantly evolving his game to become a complete centre-forward. He always gives defenders a tough outing. It's not for me to pick Carlo Ancelotti's squad [for Brazil]. He knows what he's doing but he's well aware of Thiago and his capabilities and if Thiago keeps going the way he is, it puts him in a really great position."

• The 24-year-old took a knock against Sunderland and embraced Andrews in a long hug as he was substituted: "[I told him] 'I need to look after you'. He's precious to us. This is the first time he's gone game, game, game, and in a short period of time. We've kind of looked after him and nurtured him as the season's gone on."

• He added: "So when he took that knock, it was always in my mind to look after him and take the edge off the full game. But when he's on two goals, he's obviously looking at back-to-back hat-tricks. And I know what way he's wired, so that was always a difficult dilemma. So I had to just make that decision, which obviously wasn't entirely popular with him. But I think he's understood it."

Listen to BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2 from 15:00 GMT on Saturday

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Igor Thiago is the man of the moment, but Brentford are not and have never been a one-man band.

While they had star players - Ivan Toney, Christian Eriksen, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa to name a few - under Thomas Frank, they were always seen as a team stronger than the sum of their parts.

The fear was that once the Dane left, that may not be the case, and that the sum of Brentford's parts alone might not be enough to stay up.

As a result, appointing Keith Andrews, with no previous managerial experience, and just a year at the club was seen by those outside the club as a huge risk.

A first managerial job is a challenge for anyone, let alone when it comes in the Premier League and having made the leap from set-piece coach to the top job.

But given that Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna was the only other option that Brentford looked at, they were clearly confident they had the right man.

So far, as often seems to be the case with the key decision-makers at Brentford, it looks as if they were spot on.

Andrews won just one of his first five league games in charge but big home victories against Manchester United, Liverpooland Newcastlehave followed.

Wins that, following their brilliant recent run, could prove all the more important in the race for Europe.

"We are in good form and playing really well. We are playing with courage and conviction in everything we do with and without the ball," Andrews added.

"We are happy with how we are going but we want to keep pushing."

In a league where fourth and 15th are currently separated by just eight points, they have no other option, because things could quickly look very different.

But, for now, Brentford are defying the odds. And the longer that lasts, the closer to reality those dreams of Europe will become.

Read the full piece

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Brentford and Sunderland.

Here are some of your comments:

Brentford fans

Chuck: Outstanding from start to finish, Brentford blew away an accomplished Sunderland, with Vitaly Janelt pulling the strings in midfield and Igor Thiago doing what he does best: dominating defences and scoring goals. To be fifth in the table at this stage of the season is a tremendous effort by all concerned. Long may Brentford's progress continue.

Keith: Dominated most of the game. Lots of confidence in the team. Not sure Keith Andrews should have started without Mikkel Damsgaard or Jordan Henderson. To me they are similar players and we play better if one of them is on the pitch.

Richard: Absolutely brilliant. Brentford fought for every ball and everyone was worried at the start of the season. Thomas Frank, you made a big mistake.

Michael: Brilliant display by the Bees. Is Caoimhin Kelleher the coolest keeper in the Premier League? He seems unfazed, no matter the situation.

Sunderland fans

Rob: A tired performance from a depleted squad; nothing to panic about, we will bounce back. We can forgive Enzo le Fee with that penalty miss as he has been superb all season.

Andrew: At some point we had to have a poor performance. The penalty miss drained our energy and it could have been more than three goals from Brentford. We learn from the experience and move on. Let's remember, we still have 30 points and the Afcon players are coming back. Still proud of the season's achievements so far.

Colin: Sunderland were poor all over the park. We've got nothing to complain about as we got exactly what we deserved - there is no excusing that performance.

Alan: In football, one team loses so another wins. Penalties get missed or saved. The lads were beaten by a very good workmanlike team. Move on!

Image source, PA Media

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie praised Brentford's rise to fifth under boss Keith Andrews after a difficult summer at Gtech Stadium:

"There was some scepticism [at the start of the season]. It wasn't just because Keith Andrews took charge - they lost Thomas Frank and a number of key players, and a lot of people thought Brentford would potentially be a team down in the relegation zone.

"Sometimes it's easier to take on a role where there's less pressure to start, where you back yourself. He did back himself and he's proven it."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

Pundits Danny Murphy and Stephen Warnock are on hand to bring you the action and talking points from the nine Premier League fixtures so far this week.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

Brentford manager Keith Andrews, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We are in good form and playing really well. We are playing with courage and conviction in everything we do with and without the ball."

On Igor Thiago: "The recruitment team deserve a lot of praise for the type of players they bring in and personalities. It is really impressive. He is a really special person who has fitted into life very nicely. He has had to earn this path. He has earned his journey and grafted.

"He has got serious grit about his personality. He is developing his skill set constantly and we are learning more and more about him. He is a pretty complete centre-forward."

On league position: "We are happy with how we are going but we want to keep pushing."

Did you know?

• Brentford have 33 points from their opening 21 league matches this season (W10 D3 L8). It is the the Bees' joint-best return at this stage of a Premier League campaign alongside 2022-23.

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

There has been no shortage of fantastic Brazilian players who have excelled in the Premier League over the years.

From Juninho at Middlesbrough to Roberto Firmino at Liverpool and plenty more between, you can now add the name Igor Thiago.

And Brentford's 24-year-old frontman has now achieved something none of his countrymen has ever achieved.

After a torrid, injury-hit first season in England, Igor Thiago has been superb in his second and put in another dazzling display against Sunderland.

He began slowly but soon warmed to his task and after firing one warning shot just wide, raced on Vitaly Janelt's through ball and showed all his composure to round the keeper and roll the ball into an empty net.

From that moment until he was replaced eight minutes from time, the striker did not give Sunderland's centre-backs a moment of peace as he showed the all-round game - pace, power, clever link-up play - that has so impressed this year.

Kevin Schade should have scored from an Igor Thiago pass, hitting the bar with just the goalkeeper to beat, but moments later the German was rising to head to ball back towards the Bees' number nine, who guided his header into the bottom corner.

That was the goal that moved him past Firmino, Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha to become Brazil's most prolific scorer in a season with 16.

Quite the achievement - and if he keeps playing like this, there are sure to be more to come. In a wide-open Premier League, his contribution has put Brentford into a battle for Champions League qualification.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brentford's performance

What did you make of Sunderland's display?

Come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies

Keith Andrews makes two changes to the Brentford side that started their 4-2 victory at Everton on Sunday.

Left-back Rico Henry and winger Keane Lewis-Potter come in with Aaron Hickey and Mikkel Damsgaard dropping to the bench.

Brentford XI: Kelleher, Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Henry, Yarmoliuk, Janelt, Jensen, Lewis-Potter, Schade, Igor Thiago.

Subs: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Van den Berg, Pinnock, Henderson, Nelson, Damsgaard, Peart-Harris, Donovan.

There are also two changes to the Sunderland team from their draw at Tottenham as Dan Ballard returns to the starting XI after injury.

Regis Le Bris also brings Chris Rigg into the line-up with Dennis Cirkin and Eliezer Mayenda among the substitutes.

Sunderland XI: Roefs, Mukiele, Ballard, Alderete, Geertruida, Hume, Xhaka, Le Fee, Adingra, Rigg, Brobbey.

Subs: Patterson, Cirkin, Neil, Mayenda, O'Nien, Mundle, Hjelde, Jones, Tutierov.

There are eight games in the Premier League on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Bournemouth v Tottenham

• Brentford v Sunderland

• Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

• Everton v Wolves

• Fulham v Chelsea

• Manchester City v Brighton

• Burnley v Manchester United (20:15)

• Newcastle v Leeds (20:15)

Kick-off times 19:30 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Brentford's thumping 4-2 win at Everton meant they reached 30 points after 20 games, making it their joint-best start to a Premier League season.

If the Bees avoid defeat against Sunderland it will also equal their Premier League club record of six matches without defeat, achieved on three previous occasions.

It is a run that has propelled them to within four points of the top four and has put the pre-season relegation candidates firmly in the mix for Europe, given what a topsy-turvy top-flight campaign it has been so far.

They had lost seven of their nine away games this season going into their game at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but thrashed the Toffees thanks to a finishing masterclass from hat-trick hero Igor Thiago.

It took his tally to 14 league goals, a figure only be surpassed in Europe's big-five leagues by Erling Haaland (19), Harry Kane (19) and Kylian Mbappe (18).

With 18 league fixtures still to go, he will be favoured to score the two goals that would see him break the record for the most by a Brazilian in a Premier League season of 15, currently held by Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Martinelli and Matheus Cunha.

It has been a remarkable season so far for a player who managed just 168 league minutes in a debut campaign that was wrecked by injuries.

Keith Andrews is rightly thrilled with his displays but he would probably like the goals to be shared out around his side more equally. Thiago is responsible for 43.8% of their total, a top-flight high.

Sunderland looking to turn draws into wins

Like Brentford, Sunderland come into this game on 30 points and on a five-match unbeaten run. The Black Cats may have only won two of their past 11, but they have also only lost two, in a stretch that has cemented their reputation as draw specialists.

A point at Tottenham made it a league-leading nine for the season and was their fourth match in a row to end all square. A fifth would make them the first Premier League side to do so for five years.

While Regis le Bris is rightly thrilled with his team's displays, especially with their current absentees at the Africa Cup of Nations, he will be striving for his side to score more away from home. Brian Brobbey's excellent strike at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was only their fifth goal in 10 league games on the road this season.

However, it will be a tough ask against a Brentford side that boast the fourth-best home record in the top flight this campaign, having lost just one of 10. They have also won 34 points from a possible 39 at home against promoted clubs in the Premier League.

If anyone had suggested before a ball was kicked at the start of the season that come January, and after 20 games, this match would be seventh versus eighth, they would have been laughed at.

Many people were expecting Brentford to struggle when Thomas Frank left for Tottenham in the summer, but Keith Andrews keeps proving them wrong.

Fair play to Bees striker Igor Thiago for his first Premier League hat-trick [against Everton on Sunday] because not many of us have managed one of those.

I remember going to Goodison Park with Norwich back in 1993-94 and winning 5-1 so Brentford did not quite hit those heights at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but their 4-2 victory was still an impressive one.

Their home record is strong too, but Sunderland just have this steel about them and only Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded fewer goals in this campaign.

Black Cats boss Regis le Bris is a clever and cagey manager, but they have such a nice balance to their team and even losing a few players to the Africa Cup of Nations has not affected them.

They have got real resilience, and I am backing them to get another draw here, which would be their fifth in a row.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Melissa Edwards
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Premier League game against Sunderland at Gtech Community Stadium (kick-off 19:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There is "nothing new to report" regarding team news, with the same squad from the 4-2 victory over Everton on Sunday expected to be available.

• On Igor Thiago, who scored his first Premier League hat-trick for the club in that game: "He plays a pivotal role in the team. The goals are what everyone speaks about, especially after the goals against Everton, but he's still evolving and improving the areas of his game - he's insatiable. I love working with players like that, they're the best players to work with. It was going to come and it came in a pretty spectacular fashion against Everton."

• Vitaly Janelt registered two assists in the win at the weekend and Andrews believes the midfielder makes his players better: "He's been a very consistent player. I watched him from afar and felt he was probably underrated. Those types of players, in my experience, can feel like that. They're not always the shiny toys; they're the ones who go a little bit under the radar. Vitaly has a habit of allowing other players to play better. He has a lot of trust from his team-mates."

• He added: "In recent weeks he's provided real solidity and calmness to our play, which I really like. His performance levels have been impressive."

• Brentford lost the reverse fixture at Stadium of Light in August but Andrews believes his side are much changed since then: "The team has taken big steps forward over the last few months. The understanding and the connected nature in which we play the game now, with and without the ball - we're a far better team now than we were then, for sure. [Sunderland] also had a lot of time together to build those relationships and they've played in different ways over the last few months to find themselves in a really healthy position in the league."

• He continued: "Everyone was talking about us in the summer with a little bit of scepticism, understandably. But we just gone on with our business. In the main, we've taken steps in the right direction. You have to take hits along the way; that's just the nature of the league we're in. To be sat here in seventh, we're not taking that for granted, for sure. We're pretty content."

Follow all of Tuesday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Why can't Brentford win away from home? Why can't we score from corners? Why isn't Mikkel Damsgaard in the team? Why has Igor Thiago stopped scoring?

All these questions have been asked by Bees fans in recent weeks - all were answered emphatically in our first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday.

While Thiago will deservedly get the headlines for his brilliant hat-trick, Damsgaard ran the show in his first start since our woeful performance and result at Tottenham.

Since then we are unbeaten in five Premier League games and Sunday was our best away win and performance of the season, given that the other two were at strugglers West Ham and Wolves.

Thiago took all his goals in true centre-forward style. He is such fun to watch - someone who genuinely seems to love what he is doing and to care about the club. His celebration after his second goal of climbing into the away end to celebrate with fans summed up what he is about.

Nathan Collins also finally ended our Premier League goal drought from corners when he headed in the second - a carbon copy of his Carabao Cup goal at Grimsby.

A word too for long-serving Vitaly Janelt, who became the first player to reach 150 Premier League appearances for Brentford, against Spurs.

Janelt is one of those players every club needs - solid and unspectacular but also skilful and totally reliable.

After only playing a bit-part early on this season, he has now started six of the past seven games and again showed his worth. His pass for Thiago's first goal on Sunday was superb and it was also his corner from which Collins headed home.

Janelt is one of three players from our Championship days who is out of contract this summer - Mathias Jensen and Rico Henry are the others - and I would dearly love him, in fact all of them, to stay.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League match between Everton and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

Everton fans

Simon: Everton lacked any real idea going forward, playing out wide and getting nowhere. Seemed to have no nerve in playing forward quickly and instead clung on to the ball, lost it and got caught out. Brentford seemed more willing to be more direct and take the gamble. Good to see Beto and Barry score.

Andy: Grealish was good and I'm pleased to see Beto and Barry score - but for some reason our defence was punch drunk and we lacked something in midfield. Pat on the back for the Forest win - kick up the backside for this.

Chris: What is there to say? We seem not to be able to stop conceding at our new stadium and appear to have a better away record. Well done to the two forwards for doing what they should have been doing for the past 20 games. Pity the defence were lacking. Kiss Europe goodbye for this season and concentrate on getting the 40 points needed to avoid relegation.

Andy: Reckless overconfidence, leaving defence wide open repeatedly, Everton got the result that they deserved as a consequence. We need someone to effectively boss and keep our defence organised. Weak on attack as ever, new forwards and Jarrad Branthwaite back from injury is desperately needed.

Brentford fans

Tim: Is the real Keith Andrews version of the Bees starting to emerge? Battling for every ball with willing runners all across the park. Damsgaard the Wizard controlling midfield, Thiago and Schade playing off each other superbly, Collins bossing the backline.

Rowan: An excellent performance from Thiago. Kelleher once again made some fantastic saves that helped maintain the Bees' dominance in this match. We switched off a couple of times, but these were the only glitches in what was a really good performance from the Bees. Andrews has got the Bees knocking on the door of a European place - and deservedly so!

David: Igor Thiago, take a bow - clearly man of the match. But, honestly, every single Brentford player deserves at least an 8/10. We were good against Bournemouth, but to back it up like that after so many recent games, and to do it away from home, was absolutely exceptional. Massive performance. Europe, here we come!

Rowan: An excellent performance from Thiago today. Kelleher, once again, made some fantastic saves that helped maintain the Bee's dominance in this match. We switched off a couple of times, but these were the only glitches in what was a really good performance from the Bee's today. Keith Andrews has got the Bees knocking on the door of a European place - and deservedly so!

Pundits Shay Given and Gary O'Neil join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Fulham 2-2 Liverpool

• Tottenham 1-1 Sunderland

• Everton 2-4 Brentford

• Newcastle 2-0 Crystal Palace

• Manchester City 1-1 Chelsea

Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Igor Thiago scored his first Premier League hat-trick to end his mini-goal drought in style in Brentford's 4-2 win at Everton on Sunday.

The 24-year-old had failed to hit the back of the net since a 3-1 win against Burnley back on 29 November, going six games without a goal after scoring 11 in his first 13 games of the season.

He now has 14 goals in the English top flight - with only Manchester City's Erling Haaland, with 19 goals, in front of him.

In Europe's top five leagues, only Haaland, Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe and Bayern Munich's England captain Harry Kane have scored more than the Brazilian this campaign.

And he needs just two more goals to become the highest-scoring Brazilian in a single Premier League campaign.

Thiago's return to scoring from will come as a huge boost for Keith Andrews and his Brentford side who moved to seventh place with a rare away win and can dream of qualification for European competition.

The Bees had lost seven of their nine games on the road previously, collecting just six of their 27 points in away games.

But Andrews will hope an emphatic display at Hill Dickinson Stadium will spark the confidence needed to sustain a push for European football.

Keith Andrews spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Brentford's victory against Everton: "We were excellent. Personality, conviction, energy, spirit. At a very difficult ground."

On Igor Thiago's hat-trick: "Strikers live and breathe [goals] and get a lot of confidence from it. He's played well without scoring recently. His performance today was sensational. He deserves the accolades.

"It's about consistency. I feel the team and squad and club have taken good steps forward in the last few weeks. They have earned that, to play in this way.

"We are very respectul of each game. We just keep working hard. A real appetite to improve all the time and push each other and see where we go."

Igor Thiago told Sky Sports: "I knew I was going to score that [third] goal."

Captain Nathan Collins added: "He's one of the hardest working men I've ever seen and he deserves everything he gets."

Did you know?

Brentford scored their first goal from a corner in the Premier League with what was their 96th corner, becoming the last of the 20 sides to net this way in the competition this season.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Everton's performance

What did you make of Brentford's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies