-myKhel Team

Brentford missed a major chance to tighten their Premier League grip on European places, surrendering a 2-0 lead in a 2-2 home draw with bottom club Wolves, as Keith Andrews voiced clear dissatisfaction with a flat second-half display that allowed the visitors back into a match Brentford had controlled for long spells.

Michael Kayode opened the scoring at Gtech Community Stadium before Igor Thiago, fresh from a first Brazil squad call-up, doubled the lead, yet Adam Armstrong struck before half-time and Tolu Arokodare’s second-half header completed Wolves’ comeback, with Arokodare later hitting the bar and Reiss Nelson heading narrowly wide during a tense closing spell.

Advanced numbers underlined the shift in momentum for Brentford against Wolves, as the hosts produced seven first-half shots worth 2.33 expected goals, but then managed only three attempts after the break, valued at 0.23, while Wolves generated 1.01 expected goals in that period, reflecting how control moved away from Brentford as the game wore on.

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“Yeah, very frustrated. The first half I thought we played well,” Andrews told Sky Sports. “I thought we could’ve been more clinical in moments of decision-making. We had to make more of what was a pretty controlled half, although they had moments. They’re always going to cause that because they’re a well-organised team filled with really talented individuals and in the second half we didn’t have control. Even when it was in transitional moments and phases, we didn’t look in control at any stage really. We were huffing and puffing. I didn’t like the second half.”

The draw also ended a long Brentford habit of closing out Premier League wins after building strong leads, as this was the first time in 37 league matches that Brentford failed to win when two or more goals ahead, having last dropped points from such a position in December 2022 against Tottenham in a 2-2 result.

Despite the setback against Wolves, Brentford moved to 45 points and now sit four behind fifth-placed Liverpool, who drew with struggling Spurs at Anfield on Sunday, while Chelsea in sixth lost to Newcastle United and Everton were beaten by league leaders Arsenal, leaving a tight contest developing for European qualification spots.

Opta’s supercomputer currently assigns Brentford a 2.7% chance of finishing in the Premier League top four, but with fifth place likely to secure Champions League football next season, that probability rises to 8.9%, and Brentford are projected to end the campaign inside the top seven in 48.8% of simulations, which could bring a UEFA Europa Conference League berth.

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“I think when you’re talking about us in the same breath as Chelsea, that’s obviously pretty good considering there’s only eight games left of the season,” Andrews added. “But the reality is we could’ve produced more, and I think we need to be honest with that and look at ourselves and the second half display and why we produced that.”

Andrews was also clear about the standard Brentford must reach in the final eight Premier League fixtures, stating: “I think it’s really simple. If we produce a second half performance again, we will struggle. If we produce first-half performances of that level, then we will have a good end to the season.” That message leaves Brentford knowing consistent intensity will decide their European hopes.

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