Andrews: Bees must grow more streetwise

Brentford’s 2‑0 defeat at Brighton on Sunday leaves the Bees eighth in the Premier League with 14 points as they head into the international break, and head coach Keith Andrews says the squad must become more streetwise to cope with perceived provocation.

The Bees faced an uphill battle at the Amex Stadium when striker Igor Thiago was sent off in the 23rd minute after raising an arm towards the face of Albion midfielder Chema Andres during an altercation.

Brentford trailed to Diego Gomez’s stunning strike at that stage and were left with little way back after Pascal Gross converted a penalty following Keane Lewis-Potter’s shirt tug on Luka Vuskovic.

Previous league setback

The Bees’ only other top‑flight defeat this term was last month’s 2‑1 home loss to Liverpool, in which Yehor Yarmoliuk was dismissed for headbutting Jeremy Jacquet as the pair grappled at a corner.

"We need to grow as a group, react in better ways," Andrews told Brentford’s website.

Pascal Gross and Fabian Hurzeler earn top Premier League honours from pundits after stunning start.

"We obviously gave them a leg‑up with the sending‑off and the penalty. It then becomes very difficult."

"I do have sympathy for our players at times. I think we play the game in such an honest way. A really honest way. And we play on the edge and I like us on that edge."

"Other teams clearly are targeting ways of doing things, and you see it within the game now: they antagonise situations, they provoke, and then they react and then there’s subsequently decisions for the officials to make that too often I feel that they’re not gauging the situation in the right way. It’s certainly something that we need to address."

Brentford failed to register an attempt on target in Sussex and go into the international break sitting eighth in the table on 14 points ahead of hosting Everton on Monday, 23 November.