Brentford: Bryan Mbeumo injury compounds woes with Ivan Toney suspended but Thomas Frank has still improved Bees
Brentford sit 11th in Premier League table with eight key players unavailable due to injuries or suspension; top scorer and workhorse Bryan Mbeumo is not expected to return until late January, when Ivan Toney's suspension ends; Bees have improved across a raft of metrics this season
News Editor @SkySportsLyall
Thursday 14 December 2023 09:10, UK
Bryan Mbeumo's injury is undoubtedly a blow for Brentford. His substantial step into the breach for Ivan Toney has been a huge part of their improvement this season.
Because, although it might not seem like it, Brentford have improved. They may be roughly in the same league position as last term — currently 11th — but the team have improved across almost every metric.
They have scored more goals in open play per game, have a better xG, created more chances, had more shots, and completed more passes, with better accuracy. It is conceding more goals that has let them down so far.
This improvement yet again is all the more impressive when you consider the raft of key players that have been missing, and it bodes well for their capacity to cope without the injured Mbuemo.
As well as Toney's ban, Rico Henry, Kevin Schade, Mathias Jensen, Josh Dasilva, Aaron Hickey, Kristoffer Ajer and Nathan Collins have all been out with substantial injuries, and they have only just recovered Ben Mee and Keane Lewis-Potter.
They have been playing their star defensive-midfielder Vitaly Janelt at left-back. Attacking-midfielder Saman Ghoddos played at right-back against Sheffield United. And now 29 goals from last season and seven from this are missing.
Yet all these issues have gone relatively unnoticed outside of the club and their supporters because results have barely suffered. They beat West Ham
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