Brentford boss Keith Andrews delivers glowing Sunderland and Régis Le Bris verdict before referee complaint
Brentford boss Keith Andrews praised Sunderland and Régis Le Bris before questioning the officiating during the 1-1 draw
Keith Andrews praised Sunderland and Régis Le Bris following an “enthralling” tactical battle at Brentford but admitted he was unimpressed with the officiating during the 1-1 draw.
Sunderland produced arguably their best football of the season during the first half at the Gtech Community Stadium and were unfortunate not to enter the break ahead. Dan Ballard had an excellent finish ruled out following a VAR review, while Enzo Le Fée struck the post and Thomas Meunier saw a good opportunity blocked.
Andrews responded by making three substitutions at half-time, with Aaron Hickey, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Jaidon Anthony introduced. Brentford improved and took the lead through Vitaly Janelt’s powerful strike before Le Fée equalised from the penalty spot after Wilson Isidor was fouled.
Brentford’s players and supporters were left furious by referee Thomas Bramall’s decision to award Sunderland the penalty, but Andrews felt his side had been below their usual standards before the interval and credited Le Bris for devising an effective plan.
“I thought it was a proper game,” Andrews said. “We’ll have areas where we’re not happy, which I’ve already discussed, but if I’m in the stand or watching that game from afar, I think it’s a proper game of football. It’s what the Premier League is all about.
“What you’re alluding to is what makes me feel alive: our players going toe-to-toe with a really good team and a good coach, the way he sets them up and the way all those things unfold. Every different aspect of the game was there, from what you do with the ball and without it to everything in between and set-pieces. I thought it was an enthralling game that had so much in it. Yes, I do enjoy that side of it.”
Keith Andrews praises Régis Le Bris and Sunderland plan
Le Bris made one change from Sunderland’s win over Fulham, handing deadline-day signing Kevin Danso his debut in place of Trai Hume. The selection initially appeared to point towards a back five, but Meunier operated on the right of Sunderland’s attack as Le Bris devised a flexible system which changed depending on whether his side had possession.
Sunderland regularly found space down Brentford’s right during the opening period, with Nilson Angulo producing his best half since joining the club. Andrews felt the approach was similar to the one used by Le Bris in previous meetings but praised the Sunderland head coach’s attention to detail.
“I didn’t quite see it like that in terms of what they did today,” Andrews said. “I thought it was similar to what they did before, just with different personnel. They flipped in and out of possession, with different structures and shapes, especially with the substitutions they made.
“As I alluded to before the game, Régis is a coach who is very diligent in his work, and he’ll always come up with a plan to try to outdo you. That’s the game, isn’t it? After what happened last season, I knew it would be a very, very difficult game because I know how I would be wired.”
“They were very respectful of the way we’ve been playing with the system and personnel they went with,” he added. “We were a little bit off it ourselves. In the second half, I thought we did the basics very well, which allowed us control and a little bit more territory. We just looked more like us, which I really liked, and we got ourselves in front.”
Brentford changes transform Sunderland contest
Andrews’ decision to make three changes at the interval represented a clear admission that Brentford’s first-half performance had not been good enough. The hosts played with greater intensity after the restart and forced Robin Roefs into his first meaningful save before Janelt opened the scoring in the 57th minute.
Sunderland then responded through changes of their own. Isidor and Hume replaced Meunier and Angulo before Malick Fofana was handed his debut, with Isidor’s direct running eventually earning the visitors their penalty. Andrews insisted there would have been a response even without the substitutions but felt fresh energy was required.
“Easy in hindsight,” he said. “I think if we had played the same 11 in the second half, there would have been a reaction. But that’s why we have a squad and why we’ve added. As I’ve discussed previously, sometimes the decisions over who starts and who doesn’t are so fine. I just felt like we needed that renewed energy, personality and the opportunity for players to come on and utilise the squad because, as I’ve already alluded to, I was disappointed with some of our play in the first half.”
Keith Andrews questions referee after Sunderland penalty
Le Fée converted Sunderland’s penalty with 11 minutes remaining, banishing the memory of his missed Panenka against Caoimhín Kelleher at the same ground last season.
“I must say, I wasn’t bowled over by some of the officiating today, which, as you know, I rarely say,” Andrews said. “On that particular one, I felt we could have done better. As you’re aware, because you’re in a lot of these press conferences, I don’t tend to go on about the officials too much,” he said.
“I’m certainly not going to discuss them much more than I already have because I’ll talk myself into trouble. I didn’t like the flow of the game today. I thought there were incidents where it wasn’t quite under control and some of the decisions weren’t right for me.”