Keith Andrews believes Brentford are in a stronger position than during their last trip to Elland Road, pointing to increased depth and continuity.
Brentford may have left Elland Road with the same result as last time, but Keith Andrews is convinced the team is still moving forward.
Back in March, the Bees also took a point from their trip to West Yorkshire, but Andrews is quick to point out just how different the circumstances were this time around, despite the 1-1 draw.
This time, Brentford arrived with wider squad depth and a squad that is clearly benefiting from little change and a stronger sense of continuity heading into the new campaign.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Andrews used the Bees' previous trip to Leeds as the comparison for Brentford's growth.
"Yeah, we're growing all the time," he said.
"It's probably the difference between our nil nil draw here in March where we have to play in a very different way, very different feel to the game and definitely very different feel to what was pretty similar result with the draw.
"So, yeah, we're happy with the depth that we have at the moment, and we'll need that as the season goes."
Although the Bees ultimately came away with the same result and scoreline, their approach was anything but the cautious one they took in March, with Andrews taking particular satisfaction from the way his side controlled the first half, capped by Kevin Schade’s goal just before the break.
Leeds shifted the momentum after the interval, drawing level through Dominic Calvert-Lewin. Even so, Brentford had chances to snatch the lead back, with Igor Thiago going close almost straight after the equaliser.
Brentford Depth Gives Andrews More Options
Perhaps the most striking change between the two trips to Elland Road is just how many options Andrews now has at his disposal.
That was evident even before Sunday's game.
In midweek, Andrews made eight changes for the 6-1 Carabao Cup win over Birmingham City, yet Brentford barely missed a beat. Against Leeds, he reverted to a more familiar Premier League line-up.
The strength on the bench gave Andrews the freedom to tweak his side as the game unfolded.
Yehor Yarmoliuk came on in the second half, Dango Ouattara added another attacking option, and late on, Callum Wilson, Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry all joined the fray as Brentford chased a winner.
That sort of flexibility is something Andrews has praised since the start of the season.
After the opening-day win over Tottenham, he called Brentford’s squad depth the best it’s ever been, pointing to the energy and quality he can now call on beyond his starting eleven.
It’s not just about new signings, either.
Keeping Brentford's Core Has Also Helped
Brentford did bring in new faces over the summer, but Andrews has made it clear how important it was to keep hold of the core group that impressed last season.
He again returned to that point when discussing the direction of the team.
"I think naturally with the age profile of the group and the fact that we've kept the vast majority together that we wanted to, we've added real quality in different positions where we felt we needed to add a little bit of depth," Andrews said.
That sense of continuity has left Brentford in a very different position to the one they found themselves in last year when Andrews took over as head coach.
The established players already know what’s expected, and the summer signings have slotted into a team with a clear structure, not one starting from zero.
Andrews made a similar point following the Tottenham win, explaining that the most recent pre-season had "flowed a lot easier" and that there was now "a real trust about how we work" after what had been built during his first year.
Similar Result, Different Brentford
Of course, there are still clear areas where Brentford can improve.
Brentford struggled to keep control once Leeds turned up the pressure after half-time, and Andrews admitted his side could have managed those frantic spells better.
But the bigger picture is of a team now equipped with more ways to respond when the game shifts.
Andrews can rotate without completely reshaping his side, or the quality within it. Andrews now has experienced options on the bench to call upon to push for a win.
The depth doesn't guarantee Brentford will improve on last year's 9th place finish, particularly after only two league games.
It does, however, explain what Andrews meant when he described the club as "growing all the time".
Another draw at Elland Road might look familiar on paper, but the options available to the Bees and the way they were able to approach the game offered Andrews evidence that the team behind the result has moved on.
