Thomas Frank articulated what everyone in attendance at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday night had been thinking as he sat erect in his press conference following Brentford’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
“I don’t know how we’re not winning that game, thirty-one shots.” To be fair, he was perplexed.
It transpired that the narrative around Brentford’s season continued unabated despite the international break.
Throughout the season, the Bees have been able to overcome their injury issues and create opportunities at will; however, seizing those opportunities is another story.
The league table doesn’t lie, even though Frank might refer to his team’s appalling injury record this season and the fact that they are “a bit unlucky.”
In 15th place, five points above the relegation zone, Brentford is quickly running out of games to accumulate the much-needed points.
The 2-2 draw against Chelsea was the only point the Bees had gained in their previous six games, which included five losses. They were coming into the United match empty-handed. However, they were superb, and throughout the match, midfielders Vitaly Janelt and Yehor Yarmoliuk outplayed Kobbie Mainoo and Scott McTominay.
Frank’s team and the outside world both seem to agree that the team’s overall performance has not been particularly poor this season, and that their 27 points from 30 games would and should be greater if they possessed a stronger clinical edge.
Similar to the 4-1 home loss to Liverpool on February 17, when both teams had 15 shots but the Reds took home the crucial three points, Saturday’s game was just another example.