Analysis: Bees cannot make dominance countpublished at 08:00 GMT 2 January
08:00 GMT 2 January
Emily Salley BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
After losing Thomas Frank to Tottenham in the summer, and with the departures of captain Christian Norgaard and star winger Bryan Mbeumo, there were fears of Brentford's future.
But new manager Keith Andrews and new signings have quietly gone about their business this season and ensured the Bees remain a difficult team to beat.
Brentford stifled Frank's team from the start, cutting out any Tottenham attacks early and piling on pressure with a determined press, but they were unable to make their dominance count.
A heavy touch from Kevin Schade scuppered his attempt at breaking the deadlock at the end of the first half, while Keane Lewis-Potter swiped and mishit a dangerous cross in from Igor Thiago - making it a simple save for Guglielmo Vicario.
Thiago - Brentford's top scorer this season with 11 goals - was unable to break his six-game streak without a goal when he skewed a close-range strike over the crossbar.
Brentford 0-0 Tottenham: What Andrews saidpublished at 07:49 GMT 2 January
07:49 GMT 2 January
Media caption,
Keith Andrews spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Brentford's draw against Tottenham: "Lovely to see Thomas [Frank], as always. [He's] somebody who I respect hugely. I enjoyed working with him last season. Tonight, I thought we edged it and if anybody was going to win the game it was probably us."
On Brentford's missed chances: "They beat us twice last season - they deserved to beat us 26 days ago at Spurs. Today was a completely different performance. We wanted it quick in the tempo in the second half and they tried to slow it down.
"Thomas is very aware of what this home crowd can do and how dangerous we can be. Their goalkeeper got booked for time wasting which pretty much says it all.
On Cristian Romero's challenge on Igor Thiago: "Two games in a row he has been very fortunate not to get red cards for tackles on Thiago.
"I don't think it's an easy one for the officials, I thought the one in the home game was a very easy one. I am always very respectful of the individuals and understanding of the job that they have to do - but I thought he was really fortunate.
"I thought the irony of us getting checked for a penalty and there was nothing around the challenge on Thiago which, having watched it back, was a blatant red card for me, so I would have been pretty aggrieved if they had gone up the other end and gone the other way.
"It is difficult for the officials. We are a very honest team in how we play the game. I don't want our teams looking for silly or cheap fouls - I want us to be a team that puts it on the opposition and plays the game in the right way. Our players won't fall to the ground. Unfortunately, Thiago was stopped from getting to the ball."
Did you know?
Brentford have played out their 12th goalless draw in the Premier League, with only Crystal Palace (17), Everton (14) and Brighton (13) having more since the Bees joined the division in 2021-22.
Brentford v Tottenham: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 12:04 GMT 1 January
12:04 GMT 1 January
Paul Birch BBC Sport journalist
On Thursday, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank returns to Gtech Community Stadium for the first time to face former side Brentford.
BBC Sport looks at the key talking points before the fixture.
For Tottenham fans, looking back and reflecting on 2025 must be a hard one to process. Ending their 17-year wait for a trophy with a Europa League triumph provoked delirious scenes, but either side of that epic night in Bilbao, it has been a glum and attritional year with positives at a premium.
Across the past 12 months Spurs managed a measly 11 league wins with both Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank struggling to get results. The only ever-present sides to win fewer Premier League points in 2025 than Tottenham's 39 were lowly Wolves (29) and West Ham (34).
Their gritty win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park at least saw Spurs end the year on a high and maintained their position on top of the Premier League's away form table with 17 points from nine matches.
They lost all four of their Premier League matches in January last season, with their past such win coming against a Brentford side managed by Thomas Frank in 2024.
This is a first return for the Dane to the club he managed with distinction for 278 league games between 2018 and 2025. However, he will put sentiment to one side as he looks to continue Spurs' excellent recent record against his former team.
The Lilywhites secured a 2-0 win in the first 'Thomas Frank Derby' back in early December and are unbeaten in their four Premier League visits to Gtech Community Stadium. Overall, they have lost just one of nine meetings with Brentford since they were promoted to the top-flight.
Bees boosted by excellent home form
While Spurs boast the league's best away record this season, Brentford's home form has been superb under Keith Andrews.
They have lost just one of their nine home games this season (won six, drawn two and it has helped propel them up to ninth in the table. Tipped to struggle following Frank's departure, they are actually two points better off than they were at this stage of last season.
In their thumping 4-1 win over Bournemouth, Kevin Schade became the first player to score a 'perfect' hat-trick this season. A further milestone saw him become the first German player to score two Premier League trebles.
The 24-year-old scored 13 times in the top flight in 2025, more than any other Brentford player and six of them proved to be winning goals.
Who had the best 2025?published at 10:22 GMT 1 January
10:22 GMT 1 January
Nicola Pearson BBC Sport journalist
A normal Premier League season may run from August to May, but what happens if we stop the table now? What if it was only what happened in 2025 that counted?
With the calendar flicking over to 2026, this is the ideal time to check back on which teams have had an enjoyable 12 months and see who had a year to forget.
The top five is an accurate reflection of this season's top five (although it should be noted not all teams have played the same number of games).
Arsenal have led the way this campaign and, after coming up short last season, they will be striving to go one better to finally secure an elusive first Premier League trophy since 2004.
If looking just at the past 12 months, the title would be theirs, despite a number of draws early in 2025.
Having gone through their worst run of form under Pep Guardiola late in 2024 and early into 2025, alongside their initial poor start to this season, it may be surprising to find Manchester City so close at the top.
But a feature of this City side under Guardiola is their ability to recover from less than impressive starts and go on winning streaks - they are currently on a run of six wins in the league.
Aston Villa fans can look also back fondly on 2025, having experienced the return of Champions League football, secured more European football again this term and found themselves in a battle for the Premier League trophy.
They may have had a slow start this season but their general consistency in 2025 and a club record-equalling run of 11 straight wins in the final weeks catapults them into the top three.
Having won the title with ease last season, Liverpool fans can still revel in that achievement. But a drop-off at the end of 2024-25 and a poor run this time around leaves them fourth for the year.
Meanwhile, Chelsea made progress in 2025 under Enzo Maresca, with Champions League football and two bits of silverware, but a lack of consistency in a young team prevents them ascending higher than fifth.
When looking at the next five, there are perhaps some surprises.
With their FA Cup win, 2025 will go down in Crystal Palace's history, and their Premier League form has not been too shabby either as they compete with the teams that have occupied Champions League spots in recent seasons.
No Thomas Frank, Bryan Mbeumo or Yoane Wissa? No problem for Brentford. They may have had a summer of upheaval but that has not stopped the Bees buzzing as they continue to perform above expectations.
After a few years of struggles on and off the pitch, 2025 seems to be the one Everton fans can finally start to look up rather than down with the new stadium and return of David Moyes bringing much-needed stability.
Newcastle may have had a few ups and downs, but they have come good when needed and hold their own in the top six, while Brighton continue to establish themselves firmly in the top 10.
Find out how the bottom half of the table shapes up on the post below
Who struggled in 2025?published at 10:21 GMT 1 January
10:21 GMT 1 January
Now, what about those who may have had a less enjoyable 2025?
Manchester United continue to try to find their feet under Ruben Amorim. And while there have been glimmers of progress in recent weeks, a torrid first half of the year has left them with much room for improvement (and a draw with Wolves to end 2025 only added to the questions).
Bournemouth and Fulham both seem to have found consistency in their ability to be inconsistent.
There have been bursts of form from both, but also bouts of disappointment they might rather forget.
As for Nottingham Forest, 2025 may have been the year they returned to Europe for the first time in nearly three decades, but when it came to results in the league, particularly this season, it has been more of one to forget.
Under their third head coach of the season, they will hope 2026 does not bring the return of Championship football.
Like Forest, Tottenham's 12 months has been memorable for both the good and the bad.
A first trophy in 17 years was secured in the Europa League, but it has been far from impressive in the Premier League, managing just 11 wins from 37 matches and some pressure already building on boss Thomas Frank.
One of the most notable things about the bottom end of the calendar year table is the presence of all three promoted teams, despite two of the three having played a game less than the relegated clubs of last season.
With Leeds nine points better off and Sunderland 17, it highlights the disparity in how well this year's promoted sides have done in comparison to the previous three.
For the Black Cats, it has been a dream return to the top flight, including a recent win over Tyne-Wear rivals Newcastle, and in this season's table they find themselves just two points off fifth.
After overcoming a difficult patch, Leeds are also enjoying their return to the top table, slowly pulling themselves away from the danger spots.
It has been more of a struggle for Scott Parker's Burnley, but they will not lose hope with still half a campaign to go.
After recent successes with European football, domestically things have become a harder watch for West Ham supporters as they struggle to find the balance between good football and much-needed results
Then there is Wolves - and fans may want to look away.
Despite playing 20 Premier League games more, the West Midlands side accumulated only one point more than Sunderland across the year.
A win this term still eludes them and safety in 2026 appears a distant dream.
Check out how the top half of the table looked in the post above
Sutton's predictions: Brentford v Tottenhampublished at 09:43 GMT 1 January
09:43 GMT 1 January
Tottenham have got the best away record in the Premier League again, thanks to their win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, but Brentford are absolutely flying at home too.
So, how do I call this one? Let's be honest, Spurs are not an attractive team to watch at the moment, and they are very stuffy and scrappy whether they win or not.
Their form on the road will probably give Thomas Frank a bit of confidence going back to his old club. He will get a good reception there, I'm sure of that.
But Brentford have snuck up to ninth after taking seven points from their past three games, and they won't lack belief either.
Anyone can beat anyone in this part of the table, which doesn't help me when it comes to making a prediction. I can't pick a winner here so I'm going for a draw.
'We can overcome almost anything' - review of 2025published at 15:34 GMT 31 December 2025
15:34 GMT 31 December 2025
Ian Westbrook Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
Best memory and why?
The 3-2 win over Liverpool in October. Brentford were written off by many in the summer because of our many departures and appointment of the untried Keith Andrews.
But this deserved victory over the reigning Premier League champions showed once again that we can overcome almost anything.
Worst moment and why?
How Yoane Wissa left. As Brentford fans, we know we develop players and sell them on for big money - and that's fine. All we ask in return is 100% during their stay and that they leave the club in the right way - as Bryan Mbeumo did.
Wissa, who provided us with so many memorable moments and genuinely seemed to enjoy playing for us, betrayed us by seemingly downing tools and allegedly refusing to play.
I felt totally let down by someone I had always admired and loved watching.
If I could drink a New Year's brew with one member of our squad/management it would be...
Owner Matthew Benham and I would thank him for what he's done for us. Becoming an established Premier League side in a brand new stadium is all down to him.
The thing that's infuriated me in 2025 is...
The constant referral in the media to the inexperience of Andrews and how surprising it is that we are not struggling.
He was even asked after the superb win over Bournemouth if he was pleased to be proving people wrong. This is old news. Andrews has so far more than proved his worth, we are not going down, as I said in August, and we are halfway through the season. Time to look forwards, not back.
My gut tells me 2026 will bring...
Comfortable mid-table safety and some genius summer signings to give us a potential chance of a special sixth Premier League season.
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Andrews on team news, Schade and Frank published at 16:43 GMT 30 December 2025
16:43 GMT 30 December 2025
Karan Vinod BBC Sport journalist
Brentford boss Keith Andrews has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur at Gtech Community Stadium (kick-off 20:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news: "[Igor] Thiago had a bit of an issue, but nothing to do with his injury last season at all. This time of the year, you pick up bits and bobs, games are coming quite frequently and we are still a couple of days out, but we will see how everybody is tomorrow before we make any concrete decisions."
Andrews praised Thiago's "courage" for putting "the team before himself" and said "there's nothing too much to worry about" regarding his injury.
On Kevin Schade: "He is crucial; he has grown as time has gone on since he has been at the club. We witnessed it last season once he got into the flow and rhythm of his game. Most players tend to relish that and the consistency of selection and the confidence can grow from that, but the attributes he has and the calmness he showed in front of goal - the perfect hat-trick - coaching staff had been mentioning for his quality of finishing in training. It was a brilliant performance from him."
Andrews also said that he was "impressed" with Mathias Jensen's performances and noted his ability to make an impression "off the bench, and I tend to think that if you do that consistently, then you'll get your reward and he's got just that".
On losing players in the January transfer window: "No, maybe that is naivety, I am not sure. We have got some extremely talented players that are on many clubs' radar and the nature of the business that we are in. But we are in a good position on that front to not have to do that type of business unless it's silly season in terms of numbers, I would suggest."
On facing Thomas Frank: "It's a special day for Thomas, his fingerprints are all over the football club and what was achieved and rightly so because he played such a big part in it. The close proximity of the two games means it is a nice opportunity for us to see familiar faces again, but more importantly, perform better, I would suggest. It'll be nice to see them, but I am looking forward to the game."
On making changes from the reverse fixture defeat: "Difficult opponents, clearly. So many individuals they have, very talented, very good attributes that nullify certain threats that teams have. But I think it is the overall performance for me, we need to individually and collectively do better than we did on that day."
Brentford has 'a special place in my heart' - Frankpublished at 16:34 GMT 30 December 2025
16:34 GMT 30 December 2025
Image source, Getty Images
Former Brentford boss Thomas Frank says it will be "special" to return to Gtech Community Stadium for the first time since he left to join Tottenham, on New Year's Day.
The 52-year-old made the move from west to north London in the summer to replace Ange Postecoglou after spending nine years with the Bees, seven of them as head coach.
In that time he won promotion from the Championship to end the club's 74-year absence from the top flight, before establishing them as a competitive Premier League side, recording 13th, ninth, 16th and 10th-place finishes.
It will be the first time he has returned to Brentford's home stadium when he brings his Spurs side on Thursday night.
"That one cannot be business as usual. That is special," he said at his Tottenham news conference.
"I'm actually happy that I have those emotions because that means it meant something to me.
"The nine years I spent at Brentford, almost seven as a head coach, Brentford Football Club, the fans, and especially the people that I work closely with have a special place in my heart.
"That's the longest time I've ever been in a club and we achieved incredible things together, so that is very, very special.
"First and foremost, I need to be extremely focused to go right instead of going left when I come out to the stadium."
Despite the loss of Frank, a number of coaching staff and star players including Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, Brentford have continued to perform well and find themselves above Spurs in the table this season.
"They're such a top example to follow for a lot of football people [with] what they have created," he said.
"[It is] super good that they perform, but I'm happy for that, because when you leave something you want to make sure that hopefully the impact you had is sustainable.
"The bit we build together, me and a lot of other people, not only about me, build a very strong culture. Very strong organisation, very strong structure, so they could hire from within an unexperienced head coach, but a good person and good football person in Keith [Andrews].
"Basically take me, four staff members, something like that, four key players and they are still performing in the most competitive league in the world.
"That is very, very remarkable. That's unbelievable."
Haaland the most prolific - but not the most lethal in 2025published at 17:56 GMT 29 December 2025
17:56 GMT 29 December 2025
Henry Cowling BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
As the Christmas leftovers run out and planning for New Year's Eve parties reaches its peak, it is almost time to say goodbye to 2025.
With nostalgia rife at this time of year, let's take a look at some of the statistical feats for this year.
No prizes for guessing who tops the Premier League goalscoring charts in 2025. Manchester City's Erling Haaland has amassed 27 league goals in that time, 10 clear of second-placed Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Haaland averages a goal every 96 minutes – no other player with 13 goals or more is less than140 minutes.
However, Haaland is not the most lethal finisher of 2025 in the Premier League despite an impressive shot conversion rate of 27.8%.
Neither is Brentford forward Igor Thiago, who has converted 28.9% of his chances – the best of any player with 10 goals or more across the calendar year.
The players with a better conversion rate – Brennan Johnson, Junior Kroupi and Jack Hinshelwood – have all scored five or six goals. Tottenham's Johnson leads the way overall with a conversion rate of 33.3%.
Kev: The first half was the best I've seen us play. 4-0 would have been fair at half-time. Bournemouth were always going to have some moments and were good in the second half but the damage had been done. Great first half of season for Keith Andrews.
Ian: That was something special at the Gtech. The team played as a unit from the first minute. Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade tormented the Bournemouth defence in the air and on the deck. The midfield of Mathias Jensen, Yehor Yarmoluik and Vitaly Janelt supplied the passes to create the chances while Michael Kayode, Kristoffer Ajer, Nathan Collins and Rico Henry kept their shape against the Bournemouth attacks, especially in the second half! Keith Andrews and the backroom staff take a bow.
Tim: The most complete Bees performance of the season so far. Yarmo was immense; Schade and Thiago worked their socks off and Jensen seemed invigorated by his more forward role. More like this please!
Matt: Magnificent. Looked threatening from the off, weathered the pressure that Bournemouth put us under in the second half, and deserved the three points. Schade is unstoppable when he is confident and finally we have a song for Yehor Yarmoliuk! His progress this season has been amazing and is fast becoming a linchpin in the side. Ajer and Collins put their bodies on the line with tackles and blocks too - an all-round great performance.
Bournemouth fans
Simon: It breaks my heart to see the Cherries play like this. It can't be a coincidence that with all the noise about Antoine Semenyo, Marcos Senesi and Andoni Iraola leaving the club this season, we look lost at sea. I hope the club has a plan B in place.
Charl: Not surprised by this result at all. Massive hole in midfield. No protection in front of a poor defence and if we let Senesi go we are going to struggle. We are missing Tyler Adams, David Brooks and Ryan Christie. What's happened to Marcus Tavernier and Justin Kluivert? They're not the same players.
Sid: Defensively, Bournemouth are never going to be able to compete with the physicality and speed of Brentford or any similar team. Although he couldn't be faulted with the goals today, the nervousness and poor performances of Djordje Petrovic this season has drained the confidence of the back four. Why did we not try and bring Aaron Ramsdale back in the summer?
Thomas: Iraola needs to start to be questioned. Poor performance after poor performance.
'Schade follows Lewis-Potter in finally getting what they deserve'published at 12:08 GMT 28 December 2025
12:08 GMT 28 December 2025
John Bennett Final Score reporter at the Gtech Community Stadium
Image source, Getty Images
You don't always get what you deserve in the Premier League but, according to Brentford defender Nathan Collins, Saturday was an example of a team-mate finally getting rewarded for his selflessness and his 100% effort week in, week out.
Kevin Schade had gone six games without a goal going into the match against Bournemouth and Collins told us on BBC Final Score that it was about time that the floodgates opened for the German forward.
"I think there's been some frustration this season [for Schade] that he's not got his rewards from how hard he works but [on Saturday] he got his reward," Collins said.
"He puts in some big shifts, up and down the line, he's winning battles, so he deserves everything he gets."
For me, Schade's first goal of the hat-trick was the most impressive of the three and a big indicator of the 24 year-old's huge potential. It was a lovely through ball to find him, by Igor Thiago, but he still had plenty of work left to do; shoulder-barging a defender before a very calm and composed low finish that any striker would be proud of.
Meanwhile the next two goals were all about being in the right place at the right time, which suggests that he's got the instincts to come up with some impressive numbers by the end of the season, if Brentford can build on the impressive performance versus Bournemouth.
Keith Andrews's side are now going into their New Year's Day fixture against Tottenham after back-to-back victories for only the second time this season and importantly it's also back-to-back goalscoring heroes.
There was an argument earlier this season that Brentford were too reliant on Thiago finding the back of the net, so it feels significant that at Wolves it was Keane Lewis-Potter who stepped up to score twice and against Bournemouth it was Schade celebrating a hat-trick.
So that's two players finally getting what they deserve after so much hard work this season and two players who'll now be full of confidence against Spurs, as the Bees look to continue their upturn in form during this festive period.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 11:34 GMT 28 December 2025
11:34 GMT 28 December 2025
Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.
Brentford analysis: Bees overpower and outwork Cherriespublished at 19:42 GMT 27 December 2025
19:42 GMT 27 December 2025
Steve Sutcliffe BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Moments before Kevin Schade's opening goal, Igor Thiago twice overpowered visiting defenders to provide an early indicator of a profitable afternoon for Brentford's attack.
And the Bees, who had not struck four goals in a Premier League game since 4 May against Manchester United, duly took advantage of a lifeless first-half performance from Bournemouth to lay the platform for a handsome win.
In truth, Andrews' team could and should have been out of sight before the break.
Kristoffer Ajer and Schade both went close to providing a more emphatic advantage at the interval.
Yehor Yarmoliuk, Keane Lewis-Potter and Mathias Jensen exploited every opportunity to run off their opponents, with Schade the main beneficiary.
And Brentford's final goal - with intelligent movement between substitutes Jordan Henderson and Mikkel Damsgaard - was just a continuation of a theme that worked so well for them all afternoon.
Brentford 4-1 Bournemouth: What Andrews & Schade saidpublished at 19:36 GMT 27 December 2025
19:36 GMT 27 December 2025
Media caption,
Brentford manager Keith Andrews spoke to BBC Match of the Day after his side's victory against Bournemouth: "I thought we were really good, particularly in the first half, the way we controlled the game. People talk about them not being in form, but I really think they're tricky opponents. So to control it the way we did was really impressive.
"I was so glad to get into half-time at 2-0 because 1-0 wouldn't have been a fair reflection. Overall we're pretty pleased with the afternoon's work."
On Kevin Schade's hat-trick: "I feel like that's been coming for Kev, the goals. The way he attacks the back post, the areas he gets into, the way he finishes in training. today he really took those opportunities well, he was outstanding."
On Igor Thiago: "He's played through some pain in the past couple of weeks. He's sacrificed himself for the team. The way he leads the line, he was immense.
On proving the doubters wrong: "I don't really feel people doubting me is a reason to be motivated, it's not the reason why I've got to this stage in my life. I just focus on what I can control on a day to day basis."
Brentford's hat-trick hero Schade also spoke to BBC MOTD: "Very tough, there were many counters and set-pieces, but I think in the end, it was very deserved for us.
"It was a very intense game, but there was strength from us."
On team-mate Igor Thiago's quality: "I think especially today you could see it. Everything into him is his. I try to be around him for either the flick on or the bounce.
"In the beginning I just focused on the defender to get him out, after it was a clam finish. The second one was so quick I didn't think, I just took my shot. The third one, Damsy always has an eye for me, or Igor, I just hoped he'd cross it, and he did.
"Our culture, our fans, everyone knows it's hard to play us at our home ground. Everything together makes us so strong."
Did you know?
Kevin Schade became the first ever German player to score 2+ Premier League hat-tricks, while it's the fourth hat-trick by a Brentford player in the competition, with both Schade and Ivan Toney sharing two each.
Image source, Getty Images
