'Villa Park is a happy hunting ground for Brentford'published at 10:15 BST
10:15 BST
Media caption,
Brentford content creator Mike Johnston "is confident" the Bees can maintain their unbeaten start to the season when they travel to Aston Villa on Saturday.
"Villa Park is a happy hunting ground for Brentford as Unai Emery has never beaten Keith Andrews," said Mike on BBC Radio London. "I don't think you can ever go to Villa Park confident of getting a result in the Emery era, but I do think we are capable of winning there.
"Villa's weakest metrics supplement Brentford's strongest quite nicely. Villa have made a lot of errors leading to shots this season and have lost possession in their own third more than any other side in the Premier League.
"While Brentford have had nine shots from turnovers, which is the most in the league.
"I also think we can hurt Villa from set pieces as Ezri Konsa is a big miss for them at the back. We're a threat with Kevin Schade and Anthony, and Jannik Schuster could cause them issues."
Listen to Mike's assessment of the international break and full Aston Villa preview by pressing the play button above, or on BBC Sounds here
How similar will the table look at the end of the season?published at 07:00 BST
07:00 BST
Chris Collinson BBC Sport statistician
Just five games in, it might seem a bit early to pay much attention to the Premier League table - but it's probably more settled than you think.
If we look at the Premier League after five games last season and where teams ultimately ended up, the final table was already starting to take shape as 13 of the 20 sides finished within four places of where they sat even at this early stage (65%).
Eventual champions Arsenal were second, Sunderland were already seventh - where they finished eight months later - and two of the three sides that were relegated were already in the bottom three.
The eventual champions have been in the top two at this point in the past four campaigns, suggesting - potential punishments aside - it will be Manchester City or Arsenal that lifts the trophy.
The top end of the table overall has sometimes settled surprisingly quickly in recent years. The top eight after five games in 2024-25 finished as the top eight at the end of that season (although not in the same order), while the top six in 2019-20 and top seven in 2016-17 were also in place at this early stage.
While being top after five games has not meant much in recent seasons, being bottom certainly has.
Tottenham could well be in trouble once again as the side bottom of the Premier League after five games has been relegated in six of the past seven seasons.
Being bottom this early did not used to be such a bad omen. Between 2013-14 and 2018-19, only one of the six sides that were propping up the table after five games ended up going down - Newcastle in 2015-16 - while Crystal Palace finished as high as 11th in 2017-18.
Looking at the relegation battle more broadly, at least one of the teams in the bottom three at this stage has been relegated in the past eight seasons - so one of Tottenham, Fulham and Coventry City are very likely to be heading to the Championship in May.
The pool of contestants for this season's relegation battle may already be decided too because the three sides that ultimately went down in the past three seasons were all in the bottom six after five games, which would add Bournemouth, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace to the mix.
The last sides to be outside the bottom six at this point but relegated were Leeds United and Southampton in 2022-23, who were both in the top half (seventh and ninth). With their teams currently in eighth and 11th place, Hull City and Ipswich Town fans will hope that is still the case at the end of this campaign.
While the season may well have barely begun, the Premier League table is already starting to take shape.
'Keep underestimating us'published at 11:15 BST 8 October
11:15 BST 8 October
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Brentford fan Craig Tillier from the Ealing Road Podcast hopes fans of rival Premier League sides "keep underestimating us" as the Bees look to punch above their weight once again this season.
So far in the campaign Keith Andrews' side have handed out heavy defeats to Tottenham and Chelsea - both by three goals - and have drawn their other three fixtures. This sees them return from the lengthy international break unbeaten and sitting in the Champions League places.
And they will be hoping to continue this fine form on Saturday when they face Aston Villa at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Speaking to BBC Radio London, Tillier said: "For as long as we can stay under the radar and people underrate us, that's exactly where I, as a Brentford fan, want to be. If you think you're going to come to the Gtech and roll us over when in five seasons it has probably happened once or twice, you're going to be sorry, I'm afraid.
"Every team, one season or another, will come and get battered but keep underestimating us. I don't mind."
Tillier also touched on the improved start Andrews has had this season compared to last, saying: "Let's not forget last season we started 3-0 down at half-time to [Nottingham] Forest and this year we won 3-0 at home to Spurs, so it couldn't have got much worse than the first 45 minutes we had last season.
"He's surpassing and exceeding every expectation from everybody that isn't a Brentford fan. Every Brentford fan trusts the process of internal hires."
Rival clubs want range of punishments for Man Citypublished at 07:09 BST 7 October
07:09 BST 7 October
Image source, Getty Images
A number of Premier League clubs want Manchester City to be hit with both "retrospective punishments" and sanctions for the future for their mass financial rule-breaking, sources have told BBC Sport.
An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
City have appealed against the verdict, while the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is poised to look at the findings to see if there may be any suggestions of potential misconduct.
However, there is said to be a consensus among a group of top-flight club executives that if City's appeal is unsuccessful, the sanctions should make reparations for the period when they broke the rules, while also limiting their powers in future.
There is also a feeling from at least four Premier League boardrooms that a "one-hit" points deduction resulting in relegation to the Championship would be an insufficient punishment given the severity of City's wrongdoing.
The 26-year-old was then absent for Sunday's win in Wales after leaving the camp.
Speaking after the decision to send Damsgaard home, Denmark boss Brian Riemer said: "It is a blow, which has turned out to be a bigger injury. That means we have called up Mathias Kvistgaarden from Norwich, who arrives later today."
The Brentford attacking midfielder had scored and assisted in the defeat by Portugal and found the net against Norway in the first game of this international break.
He has featured in all of the Bees' seven games in all competitions so far this season, starting three from five in the Premier League and playing the full 90 in each of their their two Carabao Cup wins.
Keith Andrews' side travel to Aston Villa for their first game after the international break on Saturday before hosting Liverpool the following weekend.
The data behind Brentford's startpublished at 16:10 BST 2 October
16:10 BST 2 October
Tom McCoy BBC Sport journalist
Brentford have made an impressive start to their second season under Keith Andrews and are unbeaten in their opening five top-flight games for the first time, including big home wins over Tottenham and Chelsea.
The Bees' strengths are by now well known and it is no surprise they rank as the league's most effective side in the air, leading the way in cross success rate, headers on goal and aerial duels won.
Club record signing Mamadou Sangare caught the eye against Spurs on the opening weekend, but it is fellow midfielder Vitaly Janelt who has been one of their unsung heroes.
The 28-year-old has made 16 interceptions, more than any other Premier League player, while only Crystal Palace's Anan Khalaili has attempted more tackles.
The German has captained the side in the past two matches and leads by example with his work-rate. He has covered 58.8km, the third-highest total in the top flight, and ranks joint third when it comes to tracking off-the-ball runs by opponents.
He is also contributing going forward. No Brentford player has recorded more successful crosses, while his two goals equal his combined league tally from the previous two seasons.
Not bad for a player signed for a six-figure fee in 2020 when the club were still in the Championship.
Andrews impressing with sub choicespublished at 19:14 BST 1 October
19:14 BST 1 October
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport Brentford contributor and content creator Michael Johnston has given his verdict on the season so far, telling BBC Sounds: "Spurs at home was a game I don't think could have gone much better for Brentford.
"Leeds, I always look forward to Elland Road, one of the best fixtures in the Premier League. They couldn't get near us for 60 minutes and Elland road was quiet. Part of me thinks we should have come out with three points.
"Two back to back draws with Sunderland and Bournemouth - the less said about these games the better. Bad days at the office but valuable points gained.
"Chelsea was one of my favourite nights of being in the Premier League for a number of reasons. While Jordan Henderson's stint in West London was important for him and for us, getting one over on him after his antics at Liverpool on the last day of the season in May was sweet.
"I'm not going to pretend like Chelsea care about 'little old Brentford', but the game is what it is. A West London derby between a bus stop in Hounslow and the perennial winning machine that is, or was, I should say, Chelsea Football Club, and who knows, maybe the necessary spark to ignite a rivalry of sorts was this game.
"A goal from a corner and a first Premier League goal for Jadon Anthony, who's been solid since signing for us. Igor Thiago is off the mark, which was very much needed, and we saw Fabio Carvalho's first goal since returning from an ACL injury.
"We're unbeaten, we're fourth in the league, and looking really good. What's impressed me the most about Andrews this year is his willingness to make substitutions, which was a big part of the frustrations last season. Triple subs, changes at half-time, music to my ears."
Boxed into a corner?published at 09:17 BST 30 September
09:17 BST 30 September
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
The Premier League has opened a Pandora's box of problems which cannot be closed. However well-intentioned, however morally upright they mean to be, the way the product is perceived around the planet by fans will be negatively affected.
This looks like a gigantic mess, but could also become a bit of a joke, especially if they attempt to rewrite history, and change the winners' names on the Premier League and cup trophies over these past 15 years. I wouldn't want the engraver's job.
I believe financial rules brought in to prioritise financial sustainability were also aimed at limiting the money being spent by the clubs, especially the staggering, ever-inflating sums spent on sometimes fairly average players. It could lead to a de facto salary cap, which many fans would approve of.
The long-term problem for the league is easy to see here: if the top players are then offered significantly more money to play elsewhere, they will be off before you can say 'man on'.
I always thought the Premier League had taken a huge risk going down this regulatory road. As with Manchester City's future, nobody knows what the real long-term ramifications will be.
I have a suspicion it could end up being the greatest own goal in the sport's entire history.
The big take: If City are cast out of England's top leagues, what might the owners do – hang around the lower reaches, or find something else? Wasn't there the idea of a Super League? Keep that thought in the back of your mind.
Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.
International break can take your mind away from a bad defeatpublished at 08:42 BST 30 September
08:42 BST 30 September
Pat Nevin Former footballer and presenter
Image source, Getty Images
Most of the time it is not that big a deal if you go into the international break having just lost a club game if I am honest, as teams lose games frequently.
That is just the life of a professional footballer. You have to be able to cope with disappointment as an individual and as a team.
Admittedly, players will sometimes say that they want another domestic game quickly, but it is almost always specifically after a 'bad' defeat as opposed to just a run-of-the-mill loss.
However, if the team has genuinely played terribly, or lost a game they were expected to win comfortably, you will commonly hear the phrase "we want to have a chance to get back out there and put it right quickly".
Players who have had a stinker, even if their team won, might also want to get out again as soon as possible to put it right in front of their fans, or 'reset'. The 'reset' argument is just current football jargon to say, "we will try to get it right next time, and we blew it this week, sorry".
The international break can also have the beneficial effect of taking your mind away from a bad defeat. This is not to say that you don't care, it is just that you must compartmentalise your thoughts and feelings. Footballers are among the best at this.
You simply cannot go to play for your national team and spend the time brooding about what happened against Brentford last week. That way lies madness and another poor performance, only this time in front of the entire nation.
Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.
Brentford in talks with Schadepublished at 11:37 BST 28 September
11:37 BST 28 September
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Brentford are in talks with forward Kevin Schade over a new contract on improved terms after his positive start to the season.
The 24-year-old Germany international has scored three goals in five Premier League matches and started both of Jurgen Klopp's first two games as national team manager.
Schade is understood to be open to extending his stay, although talks remain at an early stage and are not expected to progress quickly.
The situation is complicated by the fact his current contract has less than two years left to run as it expires in 2028.
The attacker joined the Bees for a then club-record £22m from Freiburg after an initial loan move was made permanent in 2023.
'The dream of Europe is on'published at 12:06 BST 24 September
12:06 BST 24 September
Image source, Getty Images
We asked you to rate Brentford's start to the Premier League season and tell us what Keith Andrews should be focusing on during the extended international break.
Here are some of your comments:
Ruby: The mighty Brentford have had an excellent start to the season. Keith Andrews has phenomenally built upon last season and it's great to have Schade back in form. If we can start to build momentum and be more clinical to beat mid- to lower-table teams then the dream of Europe is on. 8/10. COYB.
Stephen: Solid start. The wins over Spurs and Chelsea will grab the headlines, but the most important performances were against Sunderland and Bournemouth. They were the better teams and we got a point. That kept our momentum going.
Steve: We've made a great start to be sitting fourth at this stage in an incredibly competitive league. What's really amazing is that we could and maybe should be riding even higher. We've thrown away a couple of winning positions to draw a few and the brilliant performance against Chelsea turned what could have been a frustrating start into a great one. It shows what a fantastic job Andrews is doing that it feels like we can improve on fourth. Schade looks sharp again, Igor has opened his account and the midfield look like they can outplay any team on their day, so I'd just say keep doing what you're doing, Keith, and the sky's the limit!
Conor: How should I put this? Brentford's start has been nothing but amazing. Apart from the Sunderland and Bournemouth games we have looked so strong, despite losing Jensen and Collins to injury. The Carabao Cup will be ours to win. Schade and, most recently, Carvalho are looking bright for the rest of the season, and Thiago is off the mark also. Who says Brentford can't get Europe? Let's prove all our doubters wrong!
Alex: On the whole, very pleased. Good results, tactically adaptive and playing as a team. If anything, we do seem to have a 'wobble' and give the opposition a sniff of getting back into the game at times, but that's inevitable playing on the counter-attack, I guess. We do, however, look like scoring on every attack. One very happyBees fan!
The three little Bs, who I wrote about more than once last season, are at it again, fearlessly going for blood against the big dogs.
Both Brighton and Brentford will sit in the top four for the three weeks of the international break, with Bournemouth finding their feet under a new manager.
Their success should now not be surprising. In the last four seasons Brighton have averaged an eighth-place league finish - astonishing for a smaller provincial club outwith the major cities.
Arsenal's three-goal capitulation was initially a shock, but should it still be a surprise down at Brighton?
This season, the Seagulls have also scored three against Chelsea and Manchester United, four against Tromso and Aston Villa while slapping Coventry with five.
This does not look like a lucky run of form or a purple patch on the pitch; this looks like who they are now.
Bournemouth were sixth last season and I think Brighton could do even better than that this time round.
The likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Villa are each capable of getting their acts together after early stumbles, but the chance of reaching the Champions League has never seemed so achievable for the more pocket-sized Premier League clubs.
During the second half of the recent Carabao Cup demolition of Manchester United at Old Trafford, I started to think "this team is very special".
The Reds had a few youngsters playing that night, but after going 2-0 down Fabian Hurzeler's men played some of the cleverest, quickest, most intricate passing football I have seen in years.
The incredible pace with which they pressed the opposition only added to the heady, unstoppable mix.
Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.
How high can Brighton and Brentford finish?published at 11:51 BST 22 September
11:51 BST 22 September
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BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton says "it will be really interesting to see how far" Brighton and Brentford can challenge for a top-six finish in the Premier League.
Brighton and Brentford sit third and fourth in the Premier League table respectively following strong starts to the 2026-27 season.
"If you look at the start Brighton have had, the depth they have and the way they play then it will be really interesting to see how far they go," said Sutton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
"I am slightly reluctant about Brentford because I don't think they've done as much business as Brighton and had a big influx of players.
"That means they have to be on the right side of injuries like they were last season. That's a big deal because you need the strength and depth to really go deep and long into a season."
The Observer's Rory Smith added: "Brighton have said that because they are in Europe they set out to have a deeper squad than normal this season. Brentford just missed out on Europe so that might be the explanation for why one is busier [in the market] than the other.
"I think their models are different. Brentford aren't really about signing players to sell them on as much as Brighton are.
"Bryan Mbeumo was a big one, but it's not their priority.
"I'm sure Mamadou Sangare will go for a huge sum of money in the next year or two, and Igor Thiago if he can keep his scoring ratio up, but the market they shop in shows their priority isn't reselling like Brighton."
Brentford's remaining players given week offpublished at 08:41 BST 22 September
08:41 BST 22 September
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Most squads in the Premier League these days are packed with international players, and Brentford are no different.
Most of the Bees' squad are away, but Callum Wilson and Igor Thiago are among about 12 players left at their training facility, including five who are coming back from injury.
Brentford have a longer break than almost every other team, given they hosted Chelsea on Friday.
Boss Keith Andrews has given his first-team players a week off with individual training programmes to follow. Those players will not have restrictions on leaving the country, but it is unlikely long-haul flights would be sanctioned.
The squad will reconvene on Saturday, 26 September to begin training again, before playing a behind-closed-doors game against another English club on the weekend of 3 October.
That friendly could potentially give the likes of Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg a chance to return to action, with the rest of the squad made up of under-21 players.
The second international break will look very different, with the Bees playing Brighton on Sunday, 8 November and back in action against Everton on Saturday, 21 November.
Players may be given the odd day off, but in general it will be a normal training programme with no friendly before the usual preparation for the fixture against the Toffees.
"Benji's picked up a stress fracture in his back unfortunately; a massive blow to Benji, a massive blow to us as well," manager John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent.
"That's going to be one that keeps him out for quite a few weeks - we're probably looking at at least 12."
Brentford 3-0 Chelsea - the fans' verdictpublished at 12:59 BST 19 September
12:59 BST 19 September
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We asked for your thoughts after Friday's Premier League game between Brentford and Chelsea.
Here are some of your comments:
Brentford fans
Campbell: Fantastic win; Damsgaard outstanding, Keane Lewis-Potter was also very good. Took on and beat Chelsea in midfield and never reverted to a low block; a clear sign of the development of the team under Andrews.
Vivek: Brilliant game from the Bees. I think that we had conviction and shut down Chelsea really well and when we did, we found gaps and space for counters which is a strong point for us. Brilliant game and evening if you're a Brentford fan and I hope we see more.
Conor: Wow, wow, wow, just wow!! What a beautiful game of football. Schade on form is massive to see, Thiago's first league goal, incredible and Carvalho. Who says Brentford are the only team yet to get to Europe? The season is only getting started. My blood pressure has shot through the roof.
Sampson: Absolutely incredible performance last night. A deserved win, with most players having a great game, especially Damsgaard, Schade and Schuster. Bring on Villa!
Chelsea fans
Richard: All I have heard of the last three years is about the process, fed up with it tbh. When is this going to be sorted? We need to be braver going forward, and not be bullied like we were in the second half. I couldn't believe that second-half performance, so many players weren't at it. We had a decent first half to be fair. It needs to be sorted, and that's down to the management to get it right - no more excuses.
Alan: This was just about the worst match I've seen this season. The defence was a total unorganised mess with no leader. Lacroix was hopeless and Colwill ran circles round himself. As for Martinez, you can see why he was cheap to buy. Henderson played well for his first game back after injury, but where was James? It was a poor night for Palmer. He will need to be better than this to keep his England place. If we are going to win anything, a major sort out at the back is needed.
David: Chelsea were shown on the night the difference between a team of players that play with heart and a desire to win and a team of so-called skilful individuals who were second best and bullied off every ball. We are easy to beat.
Ash: So poor and zero cutting edge. The fact we are playing old men showed and these should be subs, not starters. Alonso needs to get a grip on the defence as they are easily the worst in the Premier League. The break actually helps somewhat as something needs to change and they can work on it.
Brentford 3-0 Chelsea: How the players ratedpublished at 23:11 BST 18 September
23:11 BST 18 September
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Brentford starting XI:
Caoimhin Kelleher: An accomplished display, although he was never required to make any outstanding saves. 6
Michael Kayode: Played a couple of sloppy passes and rarely ventured forward. 6
Kristoffer Ajer: A sizeable presence at the back despite coming under significant pressure from crosses in open play and from set-pieces. 7
Jannik Schuster: The young defender excelled in his own box but looked nervous in possession on a few occasions, including an overhit backpass that could have led to an own goal. He then set up the winner. 7
Keane Lewis-Potter: A poor clearance led to a Neto chance in the 10th minute, but he was impressive on the counter-attack. That perhaps owed something to his experience of learning the left-back role after previously playing as an attacker. 6
Yehor Yarmoliuk: On his 100th appearance, he threatened with a powerful long-range effort in the 37th minute and created Brentford's best chance shortly after half-time. 7
Vitaly Janelt: Did just enough to halt a Cole Palmer dribble early on, although he risked conceding a penalty. He provided a physical presence in midfield, with a potential Germany debut on the horizon under new manager Jurgen Klopp. 7
Mikkel Damsgaard: The Dane was not at his usual level from set-pieces or with his shooting from distance until he delivered an incredible whipped corner that led to the opening goal. 6
Kevin Schade: The in-form forward produced several pressure-relieving dribbles and had a shot blocked in the first half. Played a part in the final two goals. 7
Igor Thiago: The Brazil international was on a four-game goalless run before kick-off and worked hard but struggled in front of goal. He eventually delivered with a late strike to seal victory and his celebration looked like a weight then lifted off his shoulders, along with his Brentford shirt. 7
Jaidon Anthony: After a quiet first half, he missed his side's best chance early in the second half but responded well to score the opener. 7
Brentford substitutes:
Mamadou Sangare (on 72, Yarmoliuk): Did his combative duties well. 7
Aaron Hickey (on 72, Kayode): A steady presence. 6
El Hadji Malick Diouf (on 81, Lewis-Potter): N/A
Dango Ouattara (on 81, Anthony): N/A
Fabio Carvalho (on 87, Damsgaard): Ghosted in nicely to add a goal late on in a very short spell on the pitch. 7
Subs not used: Ballcombe, Henry, Wilson, Frederick
Brentford 3-0 Chelsea: What Andrews and Schuster saidpublished at 23:05 BST 18 September
23:05 BST 18 September
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Brentford manager Keith Andrews speaking to MOTD after his side's 3-0 win: "I feel like I have played. It was a really good evening, it's important that you enjoy evenings like this because you work so hard and there are so many tough days in this game and when you play against a west London rival, and you build up to a game and you go on a bit of a journey with the team, there are always bumps along the way, but we were in a really good place and it's nice to see it come into fruition tonight."
On Brentford's versatility: "The second goal was crucial obviously. The first goal was from a set piece. I think with the way we play that we are unpredictable, and we can score and play in different ways. When we are in control of games, in possession we can look to create and cause chaos for the opposition, but even from defending deep from certain situations we have serious counter attacking threat so I like a lot of what we do."
On Chelsea: "I thought Chelsea set up in a really respectful way. They paid a lot of attention to our strengths. Igor Thiago being one of them. He found it difficult to get space at times in the first half. You have to be patience and do the right thing. With the boys habits and the values we have as a club and a team, I think it all comes out consistently, and you can start to see that now where we are as a team."
On a good start to the season: "It's amazing the way one game dictates if it's an okay start or a really good start, but yeah, it's been a good start. We have been competitive, we have had to dig deep, we have had to show loads of different traits in the opening weeks of the season which is what you always have to do in this league. We can have a little reflection now of the opening few weeks as the boys go off in their different directions."
Fabio Carvalho scoring in consecutive games after injury: "The worst part of being a footballer is when you're injured and he's been unbelievable in his approach to it, in his professionalism, and he's comeback really seamlessly into the fold. He looks really sharp, really strong. To get that important goal tonight was nice for him and really special."
Brentford defender Jannik Schuster speaking to Sky Sports: "I think when the second half began we played it more directly forward and we scored after that so I'm just happy.
On being player of the match: "I don't care about my performance. I just want to help the team, get the clean sheet and the three points. Hopefully I get many more minutes."
On the assist for the first goal: "They always tell me I have a potential on set pieces but there wasn't a lot of outcome on this until now. Hopefully I can score next time."
Did you know?
Brentford have played seven Premier League games on a Friday and won six of them, conceding just one goal in the process. Their points-per-game average of 2.71 on Fridays is the best of any side to play 3+ games on a specific day of the week in the competition's history.
Brentford have won three of their last four London derbies in the Premier League, as many as their previous 21 beforehand.
