Enzo Le Fee scored a late penalty to earn Sunderland a 1-1 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Vitaly Janelt had given the hosts the lead early in the second half with a well-struck half-volley. But Sunderland, who dominated the first half, finally got their reward when Wilson Isidor won an 82nd-minute penalty. Le Fee sent goalkeeper Robin Roefs the wrong way to level the score, earning personal redemption after missing a panenka at the same ground last season.
The visitors were excellent in the opening period and were unlucky not to be ahead at the break. Dan Ballard thought he had scored, but a VAR review ruled it out for offside against debutant Kevin Danso. Anthony also put the ball in the net, but the effort was disallowed for taking it from Roefs's hands. Brentford manager Keith Andrews gambled with three half-time changes, a move that paid off when Janelt struck shortly after the restart.
Brentford captain Nathan Collins was forced off after a clash with Noah Sadiki, adding to the home side's concerns. Sunderland continued to press, with Caoimhin Kelleher saving a Wilson Isidor free-kick and Nilson Angulo making dangerous runs in behind. The Bees clung on more by luck than design before the decisive penalty incident, which involved Keane Lewis-Potter.
Keith Andrews acknowledged his team's slow start. "The first half we didn’t hit the levels we have," he said. "Second half I thought we did the basics very well, allowed us control and a little bit more territory."
Sunderland boss Régis Le Bris was left to rue missed opportunities. "We were dominant but didn’t score, which is a shame when you come away somewhere like this," he stated.
The draw means Brentford have now taken five points from a possible nine this season, scoring five goals and conceding just two. They are four points behind early leaders Manchester City. The club's data-led model, which helped them narrowly miss out on Europe last season, will be tested as they look to maintain this solid start.
Next up is a trip to face Bournemouth on September 12th. Andrews will hope Collins's injury is not serious, with defensive resources already being examined. The team's ability to fix different problems with their personnel, a point of confidence highlighted in the match report, will be key. For now, the focus shifts to preparation for the Bournemouth game.
