A Premier League-record third opening-minute goal in as many games was not enough for Brentford to beat West Ham as Tomas Soucek earned the Hammers a 1-1 draw.
Bryan Mbeumo’s acrobatic finish after 41 seconds added to a 22-second opener at Tottenham last Saturday and Yoane Wissa’s 23-second goal at Manchester City a week before, and was the pick of the bunch as he hooked home an acrobatic volley.
It was another nightmare start for West Ham, who already came into this London derby after shipping five at Liverpool in midweek and losing 3-0 at Chelsea last weekend.
“Of course, there’s planning to it,” Brentford manager Thomas Frank said. “We have a kick-off strategy and tweak it from game to game.
“We train on it and then as a mindset and philosophy, we like to keep it up there and get on the front foot, be positive. Produce a cross, try to land a second ball and get a shot away. That’s exactly what we did.”
Tomas Soucek celebrates his equaliser at Brentford
West Ham improved from that early setback but not enough to avoid Julen Lopetegui sending his players back out early after the interval and making two half-time changes.
It was three of his starters who combined to bring them level nine minutes after the break as Soucek and Jarrod Bowen teed up Michail Antonio, whose scuffed shot acted as the perfect assist for the former to bundle home at the near post.
West Ham rarely looked like completing the turnaround but did keep their unbeaten away record in tact, after a second-half performance still lacking in quality but with sufficient grit to avoid the pressure rising any further on Lopetegui’s side.
Frank: Mbeumo may move on to better things
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank:
“Bryan Mbeumo is on fire. He’s very good.
“I’m convinced one day Bryan will play for a bigger club. I’d definitely buy him if I was at one. He was the biggest miss last year for four months, of course i still wanted Ivan [Toney] to be there, but because we so suddenly missed our key player.
“He’s added another layer this year. Five in six is incredible, he’s still creating chances and opportunities and working so hard for the team.
Bryan Mbeumo celebrates scoring his team’s first goal
“He’s very happy here, maybe some players need to leave us some day but a lot of them are very happy here because we have a top, top environment.”
Brilliant Mbeumo is dealing with carrying Brentford attack
Sky Sports‘ Ron Walker:
“By any logic Brentford should be struggling after losing both Ivan Toney and his replacement Igor Thiago, as well as Yoane Wissa. Bryan Mbeumo carries the weight of the entire Bees attack on his shoulders.
“Kevin Schade is as close as they come to another recognised striker but Mbeumo is the main man through the middle, and is thriving.
“Thomas Frank is as big a cheerleader as Premier League managers come but he meant it when he said Mbeumo was more of a loss to the team last season during his four-month injury absence than Ivan Toney – at the moment he was ruled out, he was on for a 15-goal season.
“This time around, he might just manage it. Five in six is a trajectory he almost certainly can’t continue on but he is a far better finisher than when Brentford were promoted.
“In their first Premier League season he scored less than half the goals his xG tally suggested – from a small sample size this season, he’s outperforming it by more than double.”
Hammers avoid a hammering – but issues still remain
Tomas Soucek celebrates his equaliser at Brentford
Sky Sports’ Ron Walker:
“When you’re in a bad run of form and you concede with 41 seconds on the clock, you fear the worst. In that context, the way West Ham bounced back to earn a point at Brentford is a positive.
“But that’s still as good as it gets. For a team with the depth and quality of this Hammers side, the lack of memorable moments they produced is still a concern.
“The Hammers’ defending has been a major cause for concern but their attacking return is an even greater worry when Julen Lopetegui was tasked with delivering a more expansive style.
“That will take time but with an expected goals tally lower than Southampton despite Lucas Paqueta, Mohamed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen featuring in every game, even their individual quality should be enough to produce more than this.
“Paqueta is a particular oddity in an anonymous showing at the Gtech, and after shuffling over to the touchline when substituted shook his head in frustration as he reached the substitutes’ bench.
“Something is not right with the Brazilian, but he is far from the only issue.”
