Keith Andrews had sensed a Brentford performance was coming before his side produced a 3-0 Premier League victory over Chelsea.
Keith Andrews believes Brentford showed “exactly what we are” as they produced a second-half performance to beat Chelsea 3-0.
The Bees had to wait until the 61st minute to make the breakthrough at the Gtech Community Stadium, when Jaidon Anthony converted from a set-piece. Igor Thiago added the second with 10 minutes remaining before Fábio Carvalho completed the scoring in stoppage time.
It gave Brentford nine points from their opening five Premier League games, their best return at this stage of a season since promotion to the top flight.
Andrews had sensed something from his players before Chelsea arrived.
“I felt there was a performance bubbling,” he said after the game. “Just could see it in the players' eyes over the last couple of days. I think the approach has been really focused and I thought in the second half in particular we showed exactly what we are.”
The Bees have already had to find a few different ways through games this so far this season.
Their opening home win over Tottenham was described by Andrews as “exhilarating”, while Sunderland caused his side far more problems in the first half of their next game at the Gtech. Chelsea did not come to play Brentford in quite the same way either.
Andrews felt there was clear respect in how the visitors approached the game, particularly towards a Brentford attack which opponents are increasingly trying to contain.
“I think we've shown different kind of attributes in the last few weeks where we've had to dig deep, show real grit, resilience,” he said.
“Opposition are setting up in a very respectful way, I feel, to try and nullify what we do. And then it's on us and the onus on us to try and overcome that.”
Chelsea managed to contain the Bees in front of goal for the an hour. Brentford had threatened without finding the goal during that period, but the breakthrough eventually came from an area Andrews and his staff have continued to pay particular attention to.
Mikkel Damsgaard delivered the corner with Schuster arriving at the back post to head it back across goal where Anthony was there to finish from close range. Asked afterwards whether the routine had been prepared specifically for Chelsea, Andrews confirmed set-pieces had been an area where Brentford thought they might find some joy.
“Every set piece is worked on,” Andrews said. “Sometimes you might get a stroke of luck if it doesn't go in the right area, someone pops up.
“But yeah, it's obviously something we pay close attention to and we felt there was an opportunity tonight. If it was going to be the difference and a game decided on set pieces, we wanted it to be on our side.”
The next two goals came from open play, and Kevin Schade was heavily involved in both.
His effort was saved before Thiago converted the rebound for Brentford's second, while his low ball across the Chelsea box eventually reached Carvalho for the third.
Andrews was just as pleased with what Schade did off the ball, and not for the first time in recent weeks.
He described the German as a “pressing machine”, with the forward repeatedly making the runs Andrews expects from his attacking players when Brentford are trying to win possession back.
“His work rate is outstanding,” Andrews said. “I think it's something that we have to have even from our attacking players. We have to have a desire to do the ugly side of the game, the basics of the game, the hard work, the hard yards.
“And I think Kevin consistently does that. I don't think he gets the recognition that he deserves, but he's in a really good rhythm of his game now.”
Schade's performance was one example of what Andrews had been talking about when he described the different qualities Brentford have needed. Chelsea tried to limit the Bees. The first goal had to come from a rehearsed set-piece, but Brentford still had plenty of work to do without the ball. Once the game began to move their way, they took advantage.
Their home form has given Andrews another reason to feel encouraged, with Brentford now unbeaten in eight Premier League games at the Gtech stretching back to last season, and Andrews believes something is growing between his players and the people watching them.
“I just think there's a really nice connection at the moment between the fans and the players and the club in general,” he said.
“I think that it's growing all the time. I think everyone's enjoying the journey that we're on, especially me. I just love watching us play. I love being here. I love feeling that energy from the crowd and the way we play.”
Brentford are unbeaten at the Gtech this season, but Andrews’ point after Chelsea was about more than protecting that record. Tottenham, Sunderland and Chelsea have all asked different questions of his team, and he wants the Bees to keep finding the answers while making sure the qualities he saw in the second half on Friday remain part of what they are.
