The present worldwide break affords us time to take inventory of Brentford’s begin to the 2024/25 marketing campaign and, going by the variety of constructive statistics the Bees have piled up, there may be loads of cheer for Thomas Frank and his facet as they head into the festive season.In typical Bees vogue, we are going to kick off with Brentford’s headline stat from the season up to now: early targets.
Even when blanket media protection has presumably dulled its lustre a tad, three targets within the opening minute of three consecutive Premier League video games (towards Manchester Metropolis, Tottenham and West Ham) was a merely jaw-dropping achievement from Frank’s facet – and it’s wonderful to contemplate that Nathan Collins’ opener within the following 5-3 win over Wolves was a mere 17 seconds shy of extending the run to 4 straight video games!
Previous to Brentford’s trio of quicksilver strikes, Manchester Metropolis had been the one staff to have scored within the first minute in consecutive Premier League video games – Sergio Agüero nabbing a purpose after 24 seconds towards Newcastle on 29 January 2019, earlier than netting versus Arsenal 5 days later after solely 46 seconds.
Each Brentford fan is aware of that statistic – so the Bees sitting eleventh within the Premier League after 11 video games, listed below are 10 extra stats of the season up to now that supporters will not be conscious of!
Brentford have a shot conversion charge of 17.9 per cent within the Premier League this season – the very best by a staff in a top-flight marketing campaign since Opta data started in 2003/04
This pearler of a stat, very similar to a Russian Matryoshka doll, stacks various different improbable insights inside it – all of which relate to the Bees’ medical taking pictures this time period.
Chief amongst these insights is that Brentford have hit the goal with a better share of their photographs than some other Premier League staff this season. In whole, the Bees have fired off 123 photographs (34 from exterior the field) and 59 have been on the right track, which suggests a whopping 48 per cent of their efforts have made keepers work or have hit the again of the online.
To present that context, the second-best SoT% within the Premier League belongs to Liverpool at 41 per cent. It could be a bit unsustainable over the course of the season, however the accuracy of Brentford’s taking pictures has been distinctive, significantly that of… Ethan Pinnock!
Pinnock (75 per cent) at present has the third-best shot-on-target share within the prime flight, though the likes of Yoane Wissa (60), Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter and Bryan Mbeumo (all 50) usually are not far behind the imposing centre-half.
Brentford (22) rank joint-second within the Premier League this season for targets scored
Final season the Bees had been the eleventh most prolific facet within the prime flight, their 56 league targets arriving at a mean of 1.47 targets per recreation.
This season, nevertheless, Frank’s facet have been in explosive kind in entrance of purpose – significantly at residence – and at present solely Tottenham (23) have out-scored Brentford (22) within the prime tier.
Frank’s facet impressively averages a purpose each 45 minutes this season, and their sky-high shot accuracy and purpose conversion may properly have one thing to do with the positions the Bees shoot from and the standard of the alternatives they create.
Final season, Brentford took their photographs from a mean of 15.6 yards from purpose – the shortest distance within the division – they usually have inched even nearer to the body this time period.
In 2024/25, on common, solely Arsenal (14.9 yards) have taken their photographs from nearer to purpose than Brentford (15.3 yards). Six of the Bees’ targets have come from contained in the six-yard field, and their skill to constantly hit harmful areas within the field is an undoubted energy.
Brentford have the second-best anticipated targets differential within the Premier League this season (+1.95 xG)
Brentford’s efficiency, in relation to their xG, improved steadily over final season, however the west Londoners nonetheless completed the earlier marketing campaign with an xG differential of -11.17 (which suggests they scored 54 targets when the more and more influential metric recommended they need to have scored 65.17).
This season has been a distinct story, nevertheless, because the Bees at present have an xG of 20.05. With 22 targets to their identify, meaning Brentford are +1.95 xG forward of the curve.
Lengthy could it proceed!
Mark Flekken (55) has made extra saves than some other goalkeeper in Europe’s prime 5 leagues this season
After delving into Brentford’s taking pictures stats, it’s time to flip the script and deal with Mark Flekken’s sturdy begin to the marketing campaign on the different finish of the pitch.
The Dutch stopper is averaging 5 saves a recreation up to now this season, with Brentford really permitting extra photographs on their very own purpose (18.5) than any staff in Europe’s prime 5 divisions so far.
The excessive variety of photographs conceded could partially be by design, as Brentford are glorious at limiting opponents to low-quality taking pictures alternatives, usually from distance, and Flekken’s excessive save statistics are probably associated to this truth.
Nathan Collins ranks first within the Premier League this season for photographs blocked
The Bees’ Irish centre-back has been in imperious kind and he has elevated the act of blocking photographs to one thing of an artwork kind this season.
Collins’ anticipation and mobility have enabled him to thwart a complete of 24 photographs this time period, which places him six blocks away from any of his Premier League friends.
When you consider that Collins additionally ranks third for aerials gained within the division, seventh for clearances made and nineteenth for correct passes, it’s clear that the previous Burnley and Wolves defender has made a barnstorming begin.
Brentford have picked up fewer bookings than any staff within the Premier League this time period
Typically lauded for his or her innovation and flexibility, Brentford’s self-discipline is maybe generally ignored.
The Bees have solely picked up 17 bookings throughout the opening 11 video games this time period, and are but to obtain a pink card.
What is maybe much more spectacular is how few free-kicks Brentford concede. Final season, solely Man Metropolis (289) and Fulham (384) gave away fewer fouls than the Bees (385) – and, in 2024/25, no staff has conceded fewer free-kicks than the west Londoners (76).
The Bees are prime within the Premier League this season for aerials gained (198)
There are many top-flight groups who lose extra aerial duels than they win (Arsenal, Manchester Metropolis, Manchester United and Chelsea are amongst them this time period) – however Brentford are firmly on the different finish of the spectrum.
The Bees have gained 198 (57 per cent) of the 349 headed duels they’ve contested in 2024/25, they usually at present prime the pile with regards to aerial supremacy.
Given this collective prowess, it’s maybe unsurprising that three Brentford defenders – Collins, Pinnock and Sepp van den Berg – rank within the prime 10 Premier League gamers for aerials gained up to now this season.
Brentford are the one staff within the Premier League to take over 1000 touches in their very own penalty field up to now this season
One of many spectacular aspects of the Bees’ play this season, and an instance of lately, has been Brentford’s skill to change between a low block in their very own half and a excessive press of their opponents’.
The statistics illustrate the Bees’ capability to do each issues properly and, at present, Frank’s facet have taken extra touches (1067) in their very own field than some other staff within the Premier League.
Flekken has taken over 100 extra touches in his space than some other participant within the division.
Then again, Brentford’s tackling stats underline their effectiveness in regaining the ball excessive up the pitch – solely Tottenham (41), Arsenal and United (each 40) have gained extra tackles within the attacking third of the pitch than the Bees this season.
With 15 Premier League targets between them, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa are the highest flight’s most prolific duo this season
Brentford’s two African internationals have been in sensational kind up to now this season – and their showings in entrance of purpose have actually helped soften the blow dealt to the Bees by Igor Thiago’s pre-season knee damage.
Mbeumo has notched eight targets so far in 2024/25 and Wissa, with seven, is sizzling on his strike companion’s heels regardless of lacking various video games by damage himself.
At present, Mbeumo and Wissa are the most well liked strike duo within the prime flight, with the likes of Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson (13 mixed) and Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Luis Díaz (additionally 13) of their slipstream.
Throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues, solely Actual Madrid (18) have gained extra factors at residence this season than Brentford (16)
At present considered one of solely 4 groups unbeaten on their very own patch within the Premier League (alongside Arsenal, Brighton and Metropolis), Brentford have been in very good kind at Gtech Neighborhood Stadium this season – successful 5 and drawing as soon as so far.
Additionally probably the most prolific staff within the Premier League at residence this season, the Bees have plundered 18 targets in entrance of their very own followers; solely Serie A facet Atalanta (20) have scored extra throughout the continent’s prime leagues in the meanwhile.
Earlier this 12 months, Frank acknowledged that his purpose was to show Gtech Neighborhood Stadium right into a “fortress” – and he’s on the right track to understand that goal.
Metropolis, Liverpool and Newcastle are the one groups to beat the Bees on their very own turf throughout all competitions in 2024, and their sturdy residence document has laid the foundations for what’s shaping as much as be an excellent season.