Stat Attack – Brentford v AFC Bournemouth

The Brentford game’s xG is shown here. Since I was travelling, I only saw a few highlights and heard radio reports

sporadically. Senesi had a great chance to shoot it over the bar from very close range (68%) then Brentford scored

a goal with a bad back pass that Evanilson grabbed, sitting Flekken down before dribbling around him for a tap-in

(97%). We dominated the first 20 minutes. Wissa headed well into the far corner (1 in 7) as Brentford re-engaged

with a set piece and, predictably, a long throw-in after two tough aerial fights. Between here and halftime, not

much occurred, with Brentford 0.34 and AFCB 1.90 as the xG at interval.

Two fast goals opened the second half. Cook passed Kluivert through to score at the near post (1 in 8) in the 49th

minute after a well-executed AFCB corner (see out Kerkez’s block). Brentford responded right away, and since

AFCB was disorganised, Mbeumo gave Damsgard the opportunity to beat Kepa at his near post and Senesi’s block.

(1 out of 20). With Bournemouth producing little, Brentford had more opportunities. Schade had a great chance,

but his header was blocked (1 in 4). AFCB did generate several opportunities during injury time, as Semenyo’s shot

was blocked just before the end (1 in. ), and Huijsen’s header (22%) clipped Unal and struck the bar. 7). We hadn’t

created enough in the second half. The final xG was Brentford 1.48 AFCB 2.61 with understat having it slightly it

closer with Brentford 1.56 and AFCB 2.49.

The squad that defeated Man City had two changes. Kepa took Travers’ place in goal, while Adams replaced

Tavernier, pushing Christie (and Cook, if the forum is to be believed) forward. The rest appeared to be a blobby

mess, probably because players were switching positions, with the exception of the back four, which was as

expected but, interestingly, Smith (15) and Kerkez (3) were similarly high. In the 67th minute, Cook (4) moved

back and made a straight swap with Huijsen (2) in place of Senesi (5), while Tavernier (16) replaced Adams (12) by

dropping into CAM. Christie (10 was replaced by Brooks (7) in the 75th minute, and Kluivert (19 was replaced by

Unal 26). I’m not sure who was where because I didn’t follow the game, especially in centre midfield where Adams

and Christie had been substituted. Smith, who had just been booked, was replaced by Araujo in the 84th minute.