Bracketed regularly together, holding the same ambition of European football for the first time, Brentford continue to hold the advantage. The chase may come down to one of them and Bournemouth were left frustrated by a 13th drawn game of the season.
On a midweek night when the Premier League resembled Prem Rugby – all hustle, grappling, kicking for territory and physicality usually closing off creativity – Brentford toughed it out. Following the final whistle the tension spilled over. Keith Andrews was at the centre of proceedings, though claimed to have “no idea” what started a ruck that involved Jordan Henderson and the Bournemouth assistant Shaun Cooper.
Andoni Iraola played peace envoy, saying: “I think we stopped the confrontation quite early before anything big happens.” Brentford remain the only Premier League team the Cherries have never beaten.
Facing Brentford’s brawn, Iraola had beefed up his starting lineup with Ryan Christie and Evanilson, forgoing the grace of Eli Junior Kroupi and David Brooks. The well-drilled bogey team held Bournemouth at bay. “One of our best performances but somehow we haven’t scored,” Iraola said, another victory left on the table.
Andrews was much the happier manager, though sidestepped the question of European qualification. “I don’t think it’s right to start talking about what might happen in nine games,” he said. “It would be extremely naive. Maybe even a little bit arrogant with the level of teams that are around us. What makes us a really good club is humility.”
Down one flank, fighting out a breathless duel with Adrien Truffert, Dango Ouattara made his return to the Vitality Stadium, his £42.5m fee softening the welcome from a club accustomed to farewells.
Down the other flank, Andrews had not doubled up on Rayan in the fashion of Sunderland’s Régis Le Bris on Saturday. The starting left-back Rico Henry’s hamstring gave out, and he did not last beyond 20 minutes, replaced by Kristoffer Ajer. The substitute, more naturally a centre-back, despite a couple of hairy moments, saw out his task. Rayan, bred as a central striker, appears more comfortable when coming inside but Iraola continues to nurse along the teenager’s development out wide, withdrawing him with 15 minutes to play.
Marcus Tavernier’s shot wide triggered a series of first-half opportunities for Bournemouth, Alex Scott firing over, James Hill failing to keep his header down. Christie did all the hard work in jinking beyond Caoimhín Kelleher, only to lose composure at the moment of truth. “He was in control, had both options,” Iraola said. Christie refused to watch it back, such was his embarrassment.
Half-time did not halt Bournemouth’s momentum and Kelleher was beaten by Evanilson’s slide towards a crossed ball, only for the post to rescue Brentford’s keeper. Andrews’ answer was to implore his team to bide their time. Henderson, showing all his experience during an accomplished 60 minutes, mirrored his manager by asking for a go‑slow.
Michael Kayode, far more than a throw-in specialist, a proper athlete, made Brentford’s most threatening incursions into Bournemouth territory in a second half where the ball refused to drop for either team’s forward line. Igor Thiago was starved of chances, Hill sticking tightly to the visitors’ leading threat.
Sepp van den Berg’s header asked Djordje Petrovic to make only his second proper save of the evening but the better late half-chances fell the hosts’ way. When Tavernier hit the outside of the post, he concurrently claimed a penalty. “I felt a pull of my arm and then a kick on my achilles,” the Bournemouth man said of Kayode’s challenge on him.
Both teams took to the skies in search of victory, Kayode’s and Hill’s throwing arms in full commission. Kroupi, on for Rayan, failed to make clean contact from Tavernier’s cross before another substitute, Enes Unal, flailed at a similar chance, concluding a contest where gristle had prevailed over inspiration.
