Opposition briefing: Everything you need to know about Brentford

Match previews

26 Oct 2024

Crystal Palace will be looking to extend our strong start to 2025 when Brentford make the short journey to South London on Sunday, 26th January (14:00 GMT). Here's everything you need to know about the Bees...

Factfile

Manager: Thomas Frank
Position: 11th
Nickname: The Bees
Ground: Gtech Community Stadium
Founded: 1889 (135 years ago)

What’s the story?

Brentford have retained their fortress feeling around their own stadium with one of the best home records in the division, as they continue to solidify their status as a stable Premier League club.

This season going into matchweek 23, only Arsenal have taken more points on their own patch in the top-flight that Thomas Frank's side.

Away from West London results have proved tougher to come by - although a recent 5-0 win at Southampton shows the Bees have plenty of attacking threat, whether at home or away.

This represents a progression for the team who finished 16th last season, albeit without being in any serious relegation peril.

It has also all been achieved without Ivan Toney. The former Brentford star striker departed for the Saudi Pro League last summer following a successful Euro 2024 with England.

Many expected issues may lie in attack with Toney's absence, but Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo have stepped up magnificently, scoring 24 goals between them so far.

The boss

Danish coach Thomas Frank has established a reputation as one of the most highly-rated young managers in the Premier League in recent seasons.

Taking charge midway through the 2018-19 season after Dean Smith's departure, Frank led Brentford to a stable mid-table finish before narrowly losing out on promotion in the play-off final the following season after a 2-1 defeat to West London rivals Fulham.

The following season Brentford went one better, with Frank becoming only the second manager to lead them into the top-flight. Performances in the years since have seen the Dane loved and lauded by Bees supporters and further afield, becoming one of the most popular coaches in the league.

Tactically flexible, with a proven record for improving the players he has, Frank has become one of Brentford's most prized assets.

Boot in both camps

Palace’s current No.15 Jeffrey Schlupp had a brief loan spell at Brentford back in 2011. While with the Bees, Schlupp hit a rich vein of goalscoring form, with six goals in nine appearances while regularly deployed as a forward.

Former Eagles striker Clinton Morrison also featured for Brentford on-loan, where he made eight League One appearances in 2012.

Going back further, John Salako may have spent the majority of his career at Selhurst Park, but did also have a spell at Brentford towards the end of his celebrated playing days - making 35 appearances for the Bees in the 2004/05 EFL League One season.

In addition, current full-back Tyrick Mitchell, was briefly a part of Brentford’s youth set-up before his graduation from the Crystal Palace Academy.

Record against Palace

Palace's first game of this season ended in a disappointing defeat to the Bees; despite entering the final 15 minutes level at 1-1 after Ethan Pinnock's own goal, Yoane Wissa managed to hit a late winner.

However, that was the Eagles first defeat against Brentford since the latter's promotion to the top-flight in 2021. The two sides played out a pair of goalless draws in their first Premier League season together, followed by three consecutive 1-1 draws.

Palace then broke that run of stalemates with a memorable 3-1 win last season thanks to a brilliant Michael Olise double, his second a stunning solo effort. Overall, Palace have the upper-hand in the historical record between the sides, winning 18 games - with the Bees managing 15.

2 minute highlights: Crystal Palace 3-1 Brentford

Did you know?

Brentford's former home for over 100 years, Griffin Park, was the only football stadium in England to have a pub on each of its four corners. But the name of the stadium itself is also beer-related.

The 'Griffin' refers to the griffin featured in the logo of Fuller's Brewery, which at one point owned the orchard on which the stadium was built. One of the pubs was also called The Griffin and was used as a location in the 2005 football hooligan film Green Street.

Brentford set an English football record at Griffin Park, when the club won all 21 home games during the 1929–30 Third Division South season. Despite this phenomenal home record, they still finished second behind Plymouth Argyle, who coincidentally knocked the Bees out of the FA Cup a fortnight ago, and missed out on promotion.

Griffin Park hosted it's final game in 2020, when Brentford moved to the Gtech Community Stadium during the coronavirus pandemic. Re-development plans for the old site include 149 mixed-tenure homes and new landscaping.

Match details

Sunday, 26th January
14:00 GMT
Selhurst Park
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+

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