How Keith Andrews proved doubters wrong and hit the ground running at Brentford

Few Premier League stories this season have been as quietly impressive as Brentford’s seamless transition from Thomas Frank to Keith Andrews. What was supposed to be a turbulent, destabilising period — marked by the departure of a long-serving manager, key players leaving and staff moving on — has instead become a lesson in continuity, clarity and club-wide conviction.

After 11 games, Brentford sit on five wins, one draw and five defeats, mirroring exactly their start under Frank last season. But context matters. This time around they have lost their two main forwards, their captain, and appointed a manager with no previous senior managerial experience. And yet, the Bees remain defiantly competitive, coherent and tactically sharp.

The club always insisted the transition from Frank to Andrews would be evolutionary, not revolutionary. And so far, Brentford’s director of football Phil Giles appears vindicated. Andrews has refined the Danish coach’s foundations rather than discarded them — with results that place him firmly ahead of early-season expectations.

Frank’s departure triggered a mass summer exodus:

The scale of change made external recruitment a risk. Instead, Brentford chose a coach who already understood the culture, the data-driven framework, and the club’s obsession with marginal gains.

Andrews’ poor opening performance — a convincing defeat to Nottingham Forest — sparked doubts. But Brentford stuck to the plan. As Giles put it, looking externally would have been more of a gamble.

What followed proved the logic correct.

Brentford’s set-piece reputation remains intact, if not enhanced. Long throws, in particular, have returned as a major weapon — with four goals from long throws already this season. To other clubs it looks new; to Brentford, it’s simply the continuation of a system Andrews helped shape.

Even last season, Andrews masterminded a 2–1 win over Bournemouth with two set-piece goals, though Frank was clear that Andrews was “adding layers” rather than reinventing anything. That ethos defines this new era.

Brentford are conceding:

Centre-back pairing Nathan Collins and Sepp van den Berg have not missed a single minute, while new goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher has added calmness and elite distribution.

Despite losing Wissa and Mbeumo, Andrews has found a lean, direct attacking rhythm:

Brentford are younger too. With an average starting XI age of 25.1, the squad is becoming more dynamic and explosive — most notably through the development of 21-year-olds Michael Kayode and Yehor Yarmoliuk.

Kayode, signed permanently from Fiorentina, has become one of the Premier League’s most watchable full-backs. His long throws draw attention, but it’s his all-round game that stands out.

He leads Brentford in:

He is already attracting interest from higher up the table. Brentford’s recruitment team looks correct again.

Brentford have lost just one of their six home matches at the Gtech Community Stadium. Away from home, however, Andrews’ side are less assured — with their only victory coming against a struggling West Ham.

Depth remains an issue. Injuries derailed the Bees in each of Frank’s last two seasons, and Andrews has yet to experience similar strain. If they arrive, the club’s structural continuity will face its biggest test.

Having covered Brentford closely during Frank’s tenure, Andrews’ opening months feel like the natural continuation of the club’s philosophy rather than a gamble. In our view, he has benefited from a ready-made tactical framework, but that’s precisely the challenge: maintaining identity during upheaval is harder than imposing new ideas.

There is, however, a nuance that needs emphasising — Brentford’s improvements aren’t solely inherited. Their defensive numbers, efficiency on the break, and ruthless set-piece output show clear refinements. Andrews is not simply maintaining Frank’s legacy; he’s optimising it.

If Brentford continue this trajectory, the conversation will shift from “can he cope?” to “is he building something bigger than expected?”

The biggest advantage Andrews has is the freedom to operate without top-six expectations. Brentford are not judged on league position but on performance sustainability. That lack of existential pressure allows younger players like Kayode and Yarmoliuk to play with confidence, and allows Andrews to experiment without panic.

If that psychological advantage holds, Brentford could outperform more expensively built squads who feel the weight of every dropped point.

Brentford face a crucial December run that will reveal their depth and durability. If Andrews navigates the busy schedule without losing defensive stability, his excellent start may quickly evolve into a serious mid-table or European push.

👉 Brentford fans — has Andrews exceeded your expectations?