- Brentford ensured Wolves’ winless run this Premier League season continued
- The two sides delivered plenty of entertainment with six goals in the first half
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For anyone who has a ticket to watch Brentford this season, the message is simple – do not turn up late.
Having opened the scoring in the first minute of each of their last three Premier League matches, Thomas Frank’s side took a little longer to get going as they took the lead just 76 seconds in here.
No side has ever scored four first-minute goals in a Premier League season but at this rate, Brentford will shatter that record.
After ultimately dropping eight points in those three games however, they backed up their electric start with four goals in a scintillating first-half display to heap the pressure on Wolves and Gary O’Neil.
Without a win in any of their seven games, it is Wolves’ worst start to a top-flight campaign since 1964 and with the visit of Manchester City and a trip to Brighton after the international break, it looks ominous right now for O’Neil, who signed a four-year contract in August.
Brentford prevailed in a thrilling six-goal encounter over Wolverhampton Wanderers
Bees centre-back Ethan Pinnock celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth of the afternoon
Bryan Mbeumo continued his excellent goalscoring form when he slotted home a penalty
Brentford boss Thomas Frank applauds the home side’s supporters after their victory
His side won the coin toss and wisely chose to kick-off to a backdrop of ‘We’re going to score in a minute’ from the home support but just over a minute in, Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross found centre-half Nathan Collins, who headed past Sam Johnstone. It was scarcely believable.
Yet two minutes later, Wolves were level when Nelsen Semedo picked out Matheus Cunha, who side-footed into the corner.
At this stage, Frank would have feared the same fate that befell Brentford in each of their last three games where they failed to score again and dropped points after taking the lead but on the 20-minute mark, the home side were back in front.
Mario Lemina had his arms all over Collins in the box and after a VAR check, Andy Madley pointed to the spot and Bryan Mbeumo sent Johnstone the wrong way. That’s now six out of six from the spot for Mbeumo in the Premier League. Who needs Ivan Toney?
Wolves hit back again and levelled six minutes later when Rayan Ait-Nouri’s cross was cleverly finished by Jorgen Strand Larsen but less than 90 seconds after the equaliser, Brentford restored their advantage.
O’Neil’s side carelessly lost the ball deep in their own half and Vitaly Janelt teed up Christian Norgaard, who took a touch and finished wonderfully into the bottom corner.
The home side really should have doubled their lead minutes later but Kevin Schade’s header was kept out by Johnstone and Wolves were punished in added time when Ethan Pinnock was unmarked and headed in from Damsgaard’s corner.
On the touchline, O’Neil was furious but refused to make any half-time changes and when he did make a change just before the hour mark, putting Hwang Hee-Chan on for Andre, the travelling Wolves support responded with chants of ‘You don’t know what you’re doing,’ followed by chants of ‘We want Fosun out’ in reference to the owners.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil gives instructions to his side during their 5-3 loss to Brentford
The loss to the Bees ensures Wolves will go into the international break without a win
Wolves also remain dead last on the Premier League ladder and have shipped 21 goals
Brentford were simply too good for the Midlands outfit as they won their third game this season
They never once looked like making it a nervy finish for Brentford, who made it five through substitute Fabio Carvalho in the 90th minute before Ait-Nouri pulled one back in added time.
Wolves remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League and to put things into context, have now won just one of their last 17 Premier League games.
O’Neil is correct to point out that his side have faced the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Newcastle already this season, but this was a performance to forget.
As for Frank, three points here were a welcome relief, having dropped a league-high 38 points from winning positions since the start of last season.
