No need for distress flares just yet at Bournemouth. Trust the process, though with new frontiers of European football beckoning, 2,000 fans travelling to San Sebastián next week, there are grounds for concern on the home front. Winning positions have been surrendered in Marco Rose’s four Premier League matches. An unwanted carry-over from Andoni Iraola’s tenure cannot be allowed to worsen.
“They scored two goals with two shots on target and we scored two goals with 10 shots on target,” said Rose, ruefully running the numbers. “Two very honest teams who do things really well that can cause you problems,” was Keith Andrews’s far more satisfied summation.
Panic will not help. Brentford, still unbeaten, show the benefits of stability, sensible decision-making and familiarity, though in central defence, Andrews replaced the absent Nathan Collins with Jannik Schuster, a 20-year-old from the same Red Bull stable as Rose.
A mark of football in 2026 is that Bournemouth and Brentford both feature a member of Brazil’s World Cup squad. Rayan, over 289 minutes, made a much greater impression in North America than the 63 minutes Igor Thiago received, but they continue to scratch around for form. Another Brazilian, Evanilson, was far more impressive.
“A tricky customer” by Andrews’ description, he gave Schuster a severe test on his first league start. “Not everything was perfect for me with Jannik, but his character, his heart, is one thing I would absolutely never question,” said his manager.
Antonio Silva missing an early golden chance, heading wide a Marcus Tavernier free-kick with the goal gaping, was the first of many such moments for Bournemouth.
On the sidelines, Andrews was in constant, terse dialogue with his assistants. “That was as calm as I get,” he said, with a smile. If Bournemouth’s high press is difficult to deal with, so too is Brentford’s brawn. With intensity levels high, first-half quality remained low, including an exchange of goals, both scruffy. First, Yehor Yarmoliuk faded a cross into the area for Kevin Schade to head in; Djordje Petrovic only able to deflect the ball off a post.
Bournemouth continued their miserable record against Brentford, a single win in 12 years, that the first leg of a Championship playoff semi-final which they eventually lost. Luck and precision were lacking, Rayan missing a verifiable sitter after Caoimhín Kelleher palmed the ball into his path. It was left to Justin Kluivert to equalise, capitalising on chaotic defending and a flat-footed Kelleher.
Alex Scott, usually so silky, blasting the ball into the car park suggested a second half of more thud and blunder only for Bournemouth to find genuine inspiration. Evanilson’s superlative control and layoff laid up Tavernier’s drilled finish. “The way he works for the team,” said an approving Rose of his No 9, “he gives us so many things.”
Then came calamity, another lead squandered, James Hill’s back-pass to Petrovic scuffed straight to Schade, keeping his cool while others had lost theirs with a measured chip. “He’s taking his game to a new level in terms of the goals he’s scoring and the way he’s looking in the final third,” said Andrews of his two-goal striker.
With Ryan Christie introduced to match up Mamadou Sangaré in midfield, Bournemouth pushed on, Brentford far less inclined to gamble for victory. Tyler Adams’ shot forced a fine save from Kelleher, the American soon after dropping to the turf in agony when, after Scott’s flick, Rayan somehow curled the ball wide after the angle had opened up.
Rayan was soon subbed. Like Thiago, he must wait to break his Premier League duck for the season. Like Iraola’s, Rose’s approach demands plenty from his players, sustaining such wattage an issue for a small squad. “We played again well and we have to keep this level, this effort,” said Rose, determined to trust his own process.
Ben Gannon-Doak’s introduction as part of a triple change added further vigour, but the margins went against Bournemouth in a frenzied conclusion. David Brooks, another substitute, tripped over the ball when in prime position to strike on goal. Lastly, Gannon-Doak’s deflected shot smashed off a post, another opportunity sliding by in a season already full of them.
