Keith Andrews said Brentford were “punished” after losing control of a match they led 2-0 against Wolves, with the Bees left frustrated by a second-half display that damaged their European push
Keith Andrews admitted Brentford were punished for failing to do the basics properly after his side let a two-goal lead slip in Monday night’s 2-2 draw with Wolves. The Bees looked on course for an important win after first-half goals from Michael Kayode and Igor Thiago, but Adam Armstrong’s strike before the break changed the mood and Tolu Arokodare’s second-half equaliser left Brentford with only a point.
Andrews frustrated by Brentford’s drop-off
The Brentford head coach made clear afterwards that the result felt like a missed opportunity. “I’m frustrated that we didn’t get the win,” Andrews said. “We were in control of the game, 2-0 up.” He felt the home side had done much of the hard work in the first half, but not enough to put the contest beyond Wolves.
Andrews added: “We played really well in the first half, and it felt like we could have produced more opportunities and moments if we had a bit more of a clinical edge.” That was the central regret in his post-match assessment. Brentford had Wolves under pressure for long spells and Thiago even hit the woodwork, but the game stayed alive long enough for the visitors to respond.
Goal before half-time changed the game
The manager pointed to Wolves’ first goal as a key turning point. “The goal before half-time was frustrating,” Andrews said, before offering a blunter verdict on what followed. “In the second half, we didn’t have control of the game anywhere near as much as we would’ve liked. We didn’t do the basics well and we were punished for it.”
Andrews said Brentford “didn’t have control” after the break and that even in transitional moments his side “didn’t look in control at any stage really”. He added: “We were huffing and puffing. I didn’t like the second half.” The numbers reflected that shift. Brentford created the better openings before the interval, but Wolves were the more dangerous side after the restart and went close to winning it late on.
What it means for Brentford’s run-in
The draw leaves Brentford seventh on 45 points from 30 matches, still in the European conversation but with a chance missed to make up more ground on the teams above them. Andrews acknowledged that context too, while insisting the main focus should stay on Brentford’s own level rather than the table. “The reality is we could’ve produced more, and I think we need to be honest with that and look at ourselves and the second-half display and why we produced that,” he said.
He also offered a straightforward message for the weeks ahead. “If we produce a second-half performance again, we will struggle. If we produce first-half performances of that level, then we will have a good end to the season.” That neatly captured the frustration of the night for Brentford. For 45 minutes they looked sharp, aggressive and in control. For the next 45, they lost their grip on the game and paid for it.
Damsgaard concern to monitor
There was also a fitness issue for Brentford to assess after Mikkel Damsgaard was forced off. Andrews said: “I think it’s his knee. He picked up a knock a few weeks ago against Nottingham Forest.” With the run-in tightening and Brentford still pushing for a strong finish, that is another concern the club will now have to monitor.