Keith Andrews: How Brentford have evolved under new manager

Andrews’ side have been hitting teams on the break, with their average number of fast breaks more than double what they were under Frank.

And their four league goals on the counter-attack has already matched the tally throughout last season, with only Bournemouth scoring more so far in 2025-26.

Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Kevin Schade scored a combined 50 goals last season, and while few would expect that total to be challenged this campaign there are promising signs their new-look attack might be very effective.

In Saturday’s brilliant win over Liverpool, Dango Ouattara, Thiago and Schade all scored in the same game for the first time.

Thiago, whose first season at the club was wrecked by injury, has scored six goals to give fans hope that he will follow in the footsteps of the prolific Ivan Toney, Mbeumo and Wissa.

“His heart is huge. His spirit, his courage, the adversity he faced last year around his injury, settling into a new country and culture,” said Andrews.

“I think what he got here was real support and a real belief in him. As a person he really settled into this club.

“I speak pretty much every day about his game and how we can improve him. He’s a nightmare to play against – that’s the reality of the way he plays the game with such hunger. Sometimes you have to calm him down slightly. He’s proving to be a major player for us, which we thought he would be.”

Brentford have proudly never been in the bottom three at the end of a Premier League matchweek since they were promoted, a statistic Andrews has made a good start in maintaining.