Brentford 4-1 Bournemouth: Schade hat-trick overwhelms Cherries

Kevin Schade enjoyed the finest afternoon of his Brentford career as his first-ever hat-trick powered the Bees to a dominant 4-1 Premier League victory over Bournemouth at the Gtech Community Stadium.

With transfer speculation swirling around Antoine Semenyo ahead of kick-off, it was the Brentford winger who stole the headlines, delivering a ruthless attacking display that Bournemouth never truly recovered from.

Brentford made a fast start and were rewarded inside seven minutes. Leading scorer Igor Thiago turned provider, slipping Schade through on goal, and the German showed composure to hold off Bafodé Diakité before guiding a low finish into the corner.

It ended a seven-game goal drought for Schade — and set the tone for what followed.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, struggled to settle. Michael Kayode’s long throws caused repeated issues, Yehor Yarmoliuk dragged a presentable chance wide, and Kristoffer Ajer later headed off target when well placed.

Despite some effort from Bournemouth, Brentford always looked sharper. The hosts doubled their lead in unfortunate circumstances shortly before the break.

Thiago’s deflected effort was initially cleared off the line by Diakité, but the defender’s desperate intervention ricocheted off his own goalkeeper, Djordje Petrović, and into the net for a comical own goal.

It summed up a difficult half for Andoni Iraola’s side, whose winless run stretched on.

Iraola responded with a triple substitution at half-time, introducing David Brooks, Justin Kluivert and Evanilson, and Bournemouth briefly threatened to swing momentum their way.

But Brentford struck again in classic counter-attacking fashion.

After a Bournemouth cross was cleared, Schade burst forward and finished calmly from Yarmoliuk’s delivery to make it 3-0 in the 51st minute — effectively ending the contest.

Bournemouth did not down tools. Brooks was denied by Caoimhín Kelleher, Kluivert saw a shot blocked before hitting the post, and pressure finally told when Alejandro Jiménez’s cross was deftly back-heeled home by Antoine Semenyo from close range.

Any faint hopes of a comeback were extinguished in stoppage time. After Keane Lewis-Potter missed an open goal moments earlier, Schade completed his hat-trick by heading in Mikkel Damsgaard’s pinpoint cross.

It capped a commanding performance and ensured Keith Andrews’ side claimed their sixth home win of the Premier League season.

For Brentford, this was a statement performance — aggressive, efficient and decisive. Having followed the Bees closely this season, their home form continues to be the foundation of their campaign.

For Bournemouth, the problems deepen. Iraola’s side are now winless in nine matches, and defensive fragility combined with poor fortune continues to undermine their efforts.

Even Is Kevin Schade’s hat-trick the spark Brentford need to kick on — and how concerned should Bournemouth be by this slide?