It’s Important to Strike First, a Recipe for Brentford’s Goal Scoring Success
Finishing ninth in the English Premier League last season, Brentford FC had high hopes coming into the 2024-2025 campaign. Through seven matches so far, what has been the most impressive this year has been their ability to score goals. This aspect of Brentford’s attack was questioned in the offseason, as former Striker Ivan Toney left to join Saudi Pro League team Al-Ahli. Toney finished last season with 20 goals, ranking third amongst all Premier League players behind only Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. Despite their loss in production, this year’s Brentford squad hasn’t had any problem finding the back of the net.
After seven matches played despite sitting in 11th place, Brentford FC is tied for fifth in goals scored at 13. This total ties Brighton and current league leaders Liverpool. What makes these goals more impressive, is their early nature. In Brentford’s last four Premier League matches, they have scored a goal within the first two minutes of playing time. Considering a match often lasts 100 minutes after stoppage time, this is quite remarkable. Many teams would consider themselves lucky to score so early maybe once or twice in a season let alone in four consecutive matches. In these four instances, Brentford has scored in the first minute three times, while scoring in the second minute once.
This impressive goal-scoring run to start the year has come behind Bryan Mbeumo who has scored six of Brentford’s 13 goals. Although Mbeumo is no Ballon d’Or candidate, his early season heroics tie him for second in goals with Chelsea star Cole Palmer, trailing only Erling Haaland. The Right winger/Striker has often found himself in the right place at the right time for Brentford scoring rebound opportunities in many matches. Currently representing his country Cameroon during the international break, Mbeumo has scored once in two matches. Brentford will need to improve defensively, in order for their many goals to result in points, having conceded as many goals as they have scored this season. With a fixture against Manchester United at Old Trafford this Saturday, Mbeumo will look to add his name to the score sheet and Brentford will hope to suppress their attackers in order to claim victory versus the Red Devils.
