‘Naive’ Brentford add to concerns for new boss Andrews

In terms of first impressions, Keith Andrews’ debut as head coach was like saying your name or pouring red wine on your carpet.

Following Thomas Frank’s departure to Tottenham Hotspur in June, the former Wolves and Blackburn midfielder assumed control.

The 44-year-old Andrews, who was set-piece coach under the Frank regime, took a big step up.

The former Republic of Ireland international took the lead when Brentford wanted to appoint someone from within, just as they did when Frank took the place of Dean Smith in 2018.

In the fifth minute of his first Premier League game in charge, Brentford conceded the first of three goals to Nottingham Forest after being appointed their set-piece coach.

On the opening day of the Premier League, Chris Wood capitalized on slack defending to thump home Forest’s opening goal, which put them on their way to a comfortable 3-1 victory. Andrews couldn’t help but be in awe of this.

After a mistake by goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and captain Nathan Collins, the goalkeeper conceded it from a needless corner. Wood opened his account for the campaign with a three Brentford players encircling him from the final set-piece but neither of them dealt with either man or ball.

Despite Igor Thiago scoring a penalty for the Bees’ first defeat on the opening day of their Premier League campaign since their promotion in 2021, it set the tone for a lacklustre first-half display.

For the first time in League One history, Brentford conceded three goals on the opening day, with a 3-1 defeat at Chesterfield in 2004-05.

When speaking to BBC Match of the Day afterwards, Andrews was open about Brentford’s need to improve as fans were concerned about a season of struggle.

He claimed that while it was always going to be challenging, we made it even more difficult for ourselves. We were aware of both their advantages and the issues they would raise. Set pieces were always going to pose a threat.

Return to the fundamentals. Basics in the game can sometimes be offensive, but you must have an edge, exhibit the ugly side, and work as a team. We didn’t, in my opinion, do that.

Fans will be more concerned by the nature of this defeat, in which Brentford only created 0.46 xG from open play.

With Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson dictating the proceedings, the Bees were chasing shadows all the way through.

Additionally, it raises doubts about Andrews’ ability to lead the Premier League. He has never previously led a team, and his coaching career hasn’t been particularly successful.

In 2015-16, Milton Keynes Dons were relegated from the Championship, but he took on Karl Robinson’s assistant role. Andrews previously had top-flight experience at Sheffield United under Chris Wilder, who finished bottom from 2023 to 2024, and he also collaborated with Stephen Kenny during his disastrous tenure as Republic of Ireland manager.

After that, he relocated to Brentford, where Andrews was benefited by their affinity for succession planning.

Former Brentford defender Ben Mee told BBC 5 Live that “Keith Andrews was in and around the coaching, but his main focus was set-pieces.”

“I thought appointing Andrews was a point where the club would stay in tact.” He’s worked with a few coaches as an assistant, and I think he’ll do well.

It was the wise choice for the club, they said. There are some slightly different things Brentford like to do there.

Even the most experienced coaches at Brentford would have a difficult task in Andrews’ defense after a summer where much of their quality and experience has been sacrificed.

All players were sold, including first-choice keeper Mark Flekken, captain Christian Norgaard, and star forward Bryan Mbeumo. With the Newcastle target being excluded from the squad on Sunday, Striker Yoane Wissa appears to be leaving as well.

According to Andrews, “It’s a day-by-day one in terms of Wiss.” Nothing else has occurred as far as I am aware right now.

German forward Kevin Schade was unable to play in place of midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard due to his wife’s pregnancy, which further hindered Brentford.

Andrews’ initial XI was unexperienced, and the team eventually became known. This was the first time this happened in a Brentford Premier League game with three players under the age of 21.

The team’s average age in the Premier League was 24 years, 98 days, which was also the youngest.

Antoni Milambo, a 20-year-old attacking midfielder for Feyenoord, was one of their most expensive summer signings thus far, signing for £17 million.

The Dutchman had a poor debut, was ineffective, and was well controlled by Anderson, and he had a chance to score a penalty after handling a free-kick, but the video assistant referee saved it.

Schade replaced Milambo at half-time, while the Bees improved with the addition of 35-year-old midfielder Jordan Henderson.

In his 432nd top-flight appearance, the England international, who has since made a return to the Premier League after stints at Al-Ettaq in Saudi Arabia and Ajax, delivered much-needed aggression and reassuring presence.

On the basis of this evidence, Brentford won’t be able to escape a relegation fight by itself, though.

No team performs at its best on the opening weekend, according to former Scotland international Rachel Corsie, who spent time building that familiarity and intensity.

Although Brentford have some concessions, I did feel that they were primitive and needed to learn quickly.