Keith Andrews has admitted that Brentford’s derby day defeat to Fulham was “disappointing”, with the Bees throwing away another lead in the Premier League. The Irish coach, speaking after a frustrating 3-1 loss at Craven Cottage, highlighted sloppy errors and a lack of focus on fundamentals as key reasons why his side left empty-handed.
Brentford have been competitive after a slow opening day of the season, but wastefulness in crucial moments is costing them dearly. No top-flight side has dropped more points from winning positions than the Bees, who have already lost eight this way. Their struggles away to Fulham followed similar collapses against Sunderland and Chelsea, fuelling concerns that concentration and discipline are becoming recurring issues.
Andrews was frank in his assessment, insisting that while Kevin Schade and Igor Thiago impressed when supplied with quality, the team’s inability to manage key situations remains a major weakness. He stressed that “basics” like defending throw-ins, set pieces, and second balls cannot be ignored.
Brentford had taken the lead early through Mikkel Damsgaard, but a quick response from Alex Iwobi shifted the momentum before Harry Wilson and an Ethan Pinnock own goal sealed defeat. For Andrews, the frustrating part wasn’t just conceding, but the manner in which it happened – simple situations, poorly defended. The Bees’ boss knows such lapses must be addressed swiftly with a tricky run of fixtures ahead. Can Brentford find the resilience needed to turn spirited starts into complete performances?
Keith Andrews frustrated with Brentford’s basics
The head coach emphasised his disappointment at the way his players let their rivals back into the game.
“Basics of the game are really important to me. Set pieces are the basis and that includes throw-ins: matching players, the intensity in which they run, running off our players, and then ultimately getting into an area from deep in their half to score a relatively simple goal.” — Keith Andrews
Andrews also underlined that clean sheets must return as a priority, acknowledging that performances have lacked quality and consistency.
Dropping points from winning positions costing Brentford
So far this season, Brentford have thrown away leads in three different matches, including Sunderland away and Chelsea at home. Against Fulham, once again, a strong opening gave way to lapses in organisation and concentration.
| Stat (2025/26) | Brentford |
|---|---|
| Games played | — |
| Points dropped from winning positions | 8 |
| Clean sheets | — |
| Goals conceded | — |
source: sofascore match data – 21 September 2025
The figures underline a worrying pattern: Brentford start brightly but cannot sustain control over 90 minutes. Tightening up late-game concentration could be the difference between mid-table safety and a relegation battle.
Analyst verdict
FootballPlace analyst John William believes Andrews is right to focus on fundamentals. “Brentford’s attacking options are strong enough to hurt teams, but the lack of defensive discipline undermines their good work. When you’re conceding from throw-ins and second phases, it isn’t about talent – it’s about focus. Andrews knows if they fix those areas, results will follow.”
He also highlighted that Fulham’s win came largely from exploiting lapses in organisation rather than carving Brentford open with sustained pressure. That should give the Bees confidence that improvements can come quickly if concentration is sharpened.
Key insights
- Keith Andrews branded Brentford’s derby mistakes “disappointing”.
- The Bees have dropped eight points from winning positions this season.
- Errors from set pieces and throw-ins are frustrating the coach.
- Fulham punished lapses with goals from Iwobi, Wilson and an own goal.
- Andrews insists clean sheets and basics must become a priority.
What’s next for Brentford?
The Bees will need a swift response with fixtures against [Chelsea] and [West Ham] looming. Both sides have shown attacking bite this season, meaning Brentford cannot afford further errors if they want to stay competitive in mid-table.
Andrews’ honesty may sting, but it is exactly what his players need to hear before a pivotal run of matches.
👉 Do you agree with Keith Andrews – are Brentford’s struggles simply down to poor basics, or is there a deeper issue in the squad?
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