Category: Football, Sports

Brentford Quick Goals: The Unbelievable Premier League Record

Turning up late to watch Brentford in the Premier League is definitely not recommended. The Bees have achieved an incredible feat—scoring in the opening 40 seconds in each of their last three Premier League fixtures.

It all started on 14th September against Manchester City when Yoane Wissa scored after just 22 seconds. Bryan Mbeumo continued the trend, finding the back of the net after 23 seconds against Tottenham and again after 37 seconds against West Ham.

“I can’t tell you the secret,” Brentford manager Thomas Frank said after their 1-1 draw with West Ham. “Is it just the Premier League? There are lots of leagues. I need to know if it’s a world record or not. It must be a world record—three games in a row under 40 seconds. It’s unbelievable.”

Frank, like many others, wanted to know if Brentford’s rapid-fire starts had set a world record. While it’s hard to say definitively, Brentford is the first team in Premier League history to score within the opening minute in three consecutive games. Additionally, they are only the second team in Premier League history to score in the first minute in three different matches in a single season—after Everton in 1998-99.

How Brentford Scored Their Record-Breaking Goals

14th September – Yoane Wissa (22 seconds) vs Manchester City
From the kick-off, Brentford played the ball back to goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who sent it long towards the Manchester City box. Brentford players fought for the loose balls and worked the ball to Kristoffer Ajer on the right. Ajer’s cross to Keane Lewis-Potter was headed back across the face of goal, and with a touch of fortune, Wissa was there to head in after a missed clearance by John Stones.

21st September – Bryan Mbeumo (23 seconds) vs Tottenham
As they did against City, Brentford played the ball back to Flekken from the kick-off, and he again sent it long as teammates pushed forward. Winning the loose ball, Brentford worked it to the left, where Lewis-Potter delivered a cross for Mbeumo, who volleyed it in.

28th September – Bryan Mbeumo (37 seconds) vs West Ham
In this match, Brentford kicked off but played the ball only as far back as a defender before hitting it long towards the West Ham box. A header by Fabio Carvalho found Mbeumo, who volleyed the ball in after the Hammers struggled to clear.

Kick-Off Strategy or Just Luck?

So, is Brentford’s success down to strategy or pure luck? Thomas Frank suggested it’s a bit of both. “Of course, there is planning that goes into it,” Frank said. “We have a kick-off strategy, and we tweak it from game to game. Our mindset is to get straight on the front foot and be positive.”

Frank also credited his coaching staff and players for executing the strategy. “There are some margins going our way, of course, but I want to give credit to the coaching staff and the players,” he said.

After witnessing Brentford’s early goals against Manchester City and Tottenham, West Ham was prepared for a similar start but still conceded early.

“We have to be embarrassed,” said West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek. “We all prepared well for it, and we still conceded.”

Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott noted the unique approach Brentford takes during kick-offs. “We talk about quick starts; it is like a rugby start. They commit numbers forward, and what’s important is how they pick up the second balls. You can see the whole team moving up the field,” Walcott said.

Conclusion

Brentford’s remarkable achievement of scoring early in three consecutive Premier League games is a testament to their kick-off strategy and execution. It may be part luck, but there’s clearly a well-planned and positive approach behind it. With their quick starts, the Bees are making history in the Premier League, leaving their opponents stunned before they can even settle into the game.