Brentford were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, dropping points late for the second week running. Enzo Le Fee's 82nd-minute penalty cancelled out Vitaly Janelt's 57th-minute opener in a match filled with contentious decisions, as reported by BBC Sport Football.
Keith Andrews' side moved into fifth place in the Premier League with the point, remaining unbeaten after two games. They sit sixth in the table with four points from a win and a draw, having scored four goals and conceded just one so far this season. That leaves them two points behind early leaders Manchester City.
How did the penalty decision unfold?
The key moment arrived late in the game. Keane Lewis-Potter was adjudged to have held Wilson Isidor inside the Brentford penalty area. Referee Thomas Bramall pointed to the spot after seeing Lewis-Potter with both hands on the opponent, making no attempt to play the ball in what was deemed sustained holding. The Video Assistant Referee confirmed the decision after a review.
Enzo Le Fee stepped up and dispatched the penalty low into the bottom right corner, earning Sunderland a share of the spoils. The French midfielder had struck the post with a fierce long-range effort earlier in the match. He also missed a panenka spot-kick at the Gtech last season, making his successful conversion this time a measure of redemption.
What was the reaction from the managers?
Brentford boss Keith Andrews expressed frustration with the officiating. "I wasn't bowled over with the officiating today, though, which I rarely say," Andrews stated. "I don't tend to go on about officials too much."
He also reflected on his team's performance. "We can do better, I always look at us," Andrews said. "In the first half, we didn't hit the levels we had. The way they played was very good."
Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris was left frustrated by a disallowed goal for his side in the first half. Dan Ballard thought he had scored, but the effort was ruled out because debutant Kevin Danso was in an offside position. "If you need four and a half minutes to make a decision, it means you are hesitating," Le Bris commented on the VAR process.
How did the match play out?
Sunderland set up with a back five, making it a difficult tactical battle. Brentford made three changes at half-time, bringing on Aaron Hickey, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Anthony for Michael Kayode, Mamadou Sangare and Dango Ouattara. The hosts improved after the break and took the lead when Janelt found the net.
Nathan Collins was forced off with a calf strain after a clash with Noah Sadiki, adding to Brentford's injury concerns. The club's current injuries list already includes Antoni Milambo, Sepp van den Berg, Josh Dasilva and Mathias Jensen.
Sunderland also had an Anthony tap-in ruled out for a foul on Marko Roefs. The match was a physical encounter, with Andrews acknowledging its intensity. "I knew it would be a very difficult game today. It was a proper game." he said.
What's next for Brentford?
The Bees must quickly regroup after conceding late equalisers against Leeds and now Sunderland. Their focus shifts to the next fixture, an away trip to face Bournemouth on September 12th. Bournemouth currently sit 14th in the standings. Andrews will hope to have more players available from the treatment room as his squad navigates a busy period. Fans can track the team's upcoming schedule on the official fixtures page.
