Andrews finds flickers of positivity and pride as Forest blitz lays bare task ahead
ROUGH LANDING: Brentford manager Keith Andrews (left) and players applaud the fans after the final whistle following defeat in the Premier League match at the City Ground, Nottingham. Pic: Bradley Collyer/PA Wire
As an early gauge of Keith Andrews’ managerial potential, a game against Nottingham Forest should be about as good as it gets.
Visitors are not cowed into submission by the thought of an assignment at the City Ground. But Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, as their finishing position in the Premier League underlined last season, are still good enough to test the very best.
They were certainly too good for a Brentford side which has lost some of its most influential performers this summer. However, the manner in which his players conceded the game will cause Andrews more concern than the result, with Chris Wood twice taking advantage of some woeful defending and Dan Ndoye, Forest’s £36m signing from Bologna, heading home after easily escaping Rico Henry’s clutches in between.
“It was tough, that’s a fair assessment,” Andrews acknowledged after seeing Igor Thiago net Brentford’s late consolation from the penalty spot. “I stressed during the week that structure would be needed because of how Forest respectfully play the game.
“Also the ‘basics’ which is not the dirty word some people seem to think it is. Still, we showed pride after that which was positive and gives us something to build on.”
Beyond the confines of the Gtech Community Stadium, Andrews’ appointment as Thomas Frank’s successor came as something of a surprise. But the former Republic of Ireland international, who has remodelled himself as a coach following a period as a television analyst, commands the confidence of those who patrol its corridors of power.
The best measure of their belief in Andrews’ ability came on the eve of this fixture, when Dango Ouattara was signed from Bournemouth for a club record fee of £42m. Acquired too late to be available for selection in the east Midlands, Ouattara’s purchase nevertheless underlines owner Matthew Benham’s conviction that the Dubliner, despite his relative lack of experience, is the right man to replace the Dane.
“No, I didn’t, because everything was geared towards the result,” Andrews replied, when asked if he had enjoyed his debut as a top-flight manager. “I was asked during a staff question-and-answer session recently what my individual goals are and I stressed I didn’t have any. It’s all about the collective.
“It won’t take time, it’s not about imposing my philosophy. I’m not looking to rip things up.”
With goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher also being parachuted into a squad captained by Leixlip’s Nathan Collins, there is a strong Irish flavour to Brentford’s work this term. Unfortunately, as Wood demonstrated by outmuscling three defenders to poke home Elliot Anderson’s fifth-minute corner, there is a vulnerability too.
Andrews shook his head in dismay when replays of the strike were broadcast inside the stadium. It was exactly the kind of mistake which causes coaching staff sleepless nights. It also eroded Brentford’s faith in their ability to cause Forest a problem, with Nuno’s men laying siege to Kelleher’s area from that moment on. Yehor Yarmoliuk’s low drive, which was well saved by Matz Sels. provided some much needed respite. But nowhere near enough.
“It’s frustrating to be honest,” Collins admitted, absolving Andrews of any responsibility. “I think we put ourselves in danger and didn’t start the way we should have done.
“We were far too passive on the ball and that needs to be better. What we showed after half-time was much more positive, even though it’s not easy to come out here at 3-0 down.
“But we won the second-half and that’s a good step forward.”
Landing Ouattara is designed to compensate for the loss of Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United. With Yoane Wissa also absent as speculation rages about his future, Andrews could do little about Brentford’s lack of penetration. Nor the lapses in concentration which saw Ndoye open his account following Morgan Gibbs-White’s delightful assist before Wood latched onto Anderson’s pass to stretch Forest’s lead.
“Dango is really versatile and I see him as Bryan’s replacement,” Andrews said. “We didn’t know he was available and so when we discovered that he was I was pleased that the club could get that business done.”
Shorn of some influential talents and losing Mikkel Damsgaard ahead of kick-off - “His wife gave birth during the early hours so he was withdrawn,” Andrews revealed - there was inevitably a naivety about Brentford’s work. The introduction of Jordan Henderson, previously of Liverpool and Ajax, injected some much-needed authority. Andrews could be tempted to hand him a much more prominent role moving forward, with his entrance coinciding with the visitors' best spell of the game.
Thiago converted after Ibrahim Sangare handled in the box but the Brazilian’s otherwise forgettable contribution means Quattara is also likely to be immediately drafted in when Brentford host Aston Villa on Saturday.
“We controlled the game and that is what you want as a coach,” Nuno said. “That’s always the aspiration.”
M Sels, O Aina, N Milenkovic, Murillo, N Williams, I Sangare, E Anderson, D Ndoye (J Silva 78), M Gibbs-White (J Yates 84), C Hudson-Odoi, C Wood (I Jesus 78). A Gunn, Morato, T Awoniyi, Jair, W Boly, Z Abbott.
C Kelleher, M Kayode, N Collins, S van den Berg, R Henry (A Hickey 88), Y Yarmoliuk, M Jensen (J Henderson 68), K Lewis-Potter (F Onyeka 68), A Milambo (K Schade 46), F Carvalho, I Thiago. Valdimarsson, K Ajer, M Peart-Harris, M Roerslev, B Arthur.
Peter Bankes
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