(Football news) In their most recent games, both teams had leads only to lose heartbreakingly; the visitors were crushed 4-1 by Chelsea, and the Bees suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 loss at Manchester United.
Prior to their match at Old Trafford two Saturdays ago, neither Man United nor Brentford were particularly impressive in the Premier League. However, the Bees supporters were momentarily transported to a fantasy country at the Theatre of Dreams when Mathias Jensen opened the scoring in the first half.
No attacker for the Red Devils was able to penetrate Thomas Frank’s defense, but Erik ten Hag’s fifth and final roll of the replacement die saw him bring on Scott McTominay in the 87th minute. The flying Scotsman then produced two amazing injury-time goals to doom Brentford to loss.
Frank was left to lament the “brutal” reality of professional football as his side’s worrying losing streak extended. McTominay’s header in the 97th minute was hardly the most vicious effort, but the ball soared over Thomas Strakosha’s pointless reach and created euphoria for the home crowd.
Having lost three and drawn three Premier League games in the past six, Brentford is now six games without a victory. They are currently in 15th place, three points behind their opponents in 18th place this weekend, and are slowly but surely heading into the drop zone.
Brentford hasn’t triumphed in a competitive match since defeating Newport County on penalties in August’s EFL Cup tie. Although they have scored goals in every Premier League game at the Gtech in 2023, they are among the five teams in the division that haven’t won at home this season, so Burnley can sympathise.
Burnley lost their sixth game of the season to Chelsea at Turf Moor a fortnight ago after failing to capitalise on an early lead, much as they did against Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the season when Lyle Foster’s goal in the first half set up a Lilywhites onslaught.
Raheem Sterling’s masterclass quickly overcame the Clarets, as Ameen Al-Dakhil turned the Englishman’s cross into his own net before winning a penalty that Cole Palmer converted. The winger’s well-deserved goal came in the 65th minute to ensure that the victory was certain.
Burnley’s return to the major leagues has been nothing short of a wild ride; going into the break with just four points out of a possible twenty-four, the squad was in the relegation zone in 18th place. Nicolas Jackson’s late attempt compounded the damage for Vincent Kompany’s team.
Though Burnley’s 20 goals conceded this season is only better than basement team Sheffield United, who have allowed 22 goals to fly past them, they are still only one goal ahead of 17th-placed Luton Town, whom they defeated away from home on October 3 for their first top-flight victory of the season.
Burnley defeated Brentford 3-1 in their Premier League debut match at Turf Moor during Sean Dyche’s final season in charge. However, five months later, Frank’s team achieved their retribution, triumphing 2-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium thanks to a late Ivan Toney double.
Also read: Manchester United to face Sheffield United in Premier League
