Nørgaard wins it for Brentford to dent Bournemouth’s European hopes | Premier League

A time when the clubs were old Third Division mainstays may be a distant, chintzy memory now both are upwardly mobile, model organisations but Bournemouth have still not beaten Brentford in the Premier League. For a club with now very different horizons, this was a most costly defeat.

If Thomas Frank’s hopes of taking his team into Europe rely on a collision of coefficients, coincidences and collapses then Bournemouth’s fade is coming at a bad time. Andoni Iraola’s team lost their early flow to be sunk by the set-piece expertise that brought goals to Yoane Wissa and Christian Nørgaard. And a fourth defeat in six.

An untimely loss, too. Bill Foley, Bournemouth’s owner, had been speaking of planning for continental competitions and a confidence in the club’s profitability and sustainability situation. There was also the declaration that he will not stand in the way of players wanting to leave. “We can compete salary-wise with just about anybody”, written in the matchday programme, was clearly aimed at circling Big Six vultures. Foley’s aim is to be part of that sextet but should Bournemouth fall short this season, there will be difficult conversations ahead.

Brentford were unchanged from a defeat to Aston Villa where contentious officiating had played its part. Illia Zabarnyi’s return to Bournemouth’s defence after his red card against Wolves was Iraola’s sole change.

Though both teams are known for fast starts, it was Bournemouth who began playing Total football, Dorset style. The much-coveted Milos Kerkez, previous mullet close-cropped, poked in an early shot and Dean Huijsen strode forward from defence, his shot deflected behind.

The home fans were soon accusing Brentford of slowing play. Not that there is a lack of grit within Bournemouth. They entered the weekend third-placed on yellow cards collected, having committed the most fouls of any Premier League team. The tactical foul is no stranger.

Brentford, second-bottom in fouls, last for yellow cards, are committed – and fully – to attack. Keane Lewis-Potter’s left-hand partnership with Kevin Schade was used as an overload, with Bryan Mbeumo cutting in from the right.

Soft-centred defending has cost Brentford all season. Bournemouth’s first-half goal came easily, by Brentford’s own hand, the shoulder of Vitaly Janelt to be precise, after Antoine Semenyo had released Kerkez on the underlap to fire in a cross.

Brentford’s Premier League legacy has been their part in the return to prominence of set-piece football. It was Keith Andrews, their current set-piece coach, who Wissa celebrated with after nodding the equaliser from Mbeumo’s arrowing corner. Kepa Arrizabalaga’s failure to punch clear, to drop the ball on Wissa’s forehead played its full part, too.

If Bournemouth continued to struggle under the crossed ball, Arrizabalaga unconvincing before Janelt missed a sitter, they pushed on in attack. Evanilson forced a clawing save from Mark Flekken. Justin Kluivert made his trademark runs across the front, opening up a chance to claim a half-time lead that Evanilson dragged wide.

Semenyo crashed a header against the crossbar from Kluivert’s cross as soon as the second half began. Such urgency reflected Bournemouth’s was the greater need, Iraola wishing to avoid recent slips like defeats to Wolves and Brighton and last week’s two-goal comeback from Tottenham. Without those, ambitions would be set yet higher. And life easier.

This season has brought pressures novel to club, fans and players. There were frustrations whenever a wildcat attack broke down, when Brentford blocked off passages to goal or played for time. Groans when Evanilson beat Lewis-Potter only for Flekken to read the cross, and Marcus Tavernier could not keep his shot down. Fatigue among a squad that has ridden out an injury crisis and the nervous energy associated with new pressures was having its lag effect. Tavernier picked up a yellow for one of those tactical fouls when hauling back Wissa.

Then came the setback that some wobbly defending – and Brentford’s away form, this being their fifth successive road victory – had suggested was possible. With Andrews again advising from the sideline, Schade launched a throw. Bournemouth defenders dithered as the ball bounced dangerously. Nørgaard crashed home to puncture a hole in Bournemouth’s hopes and expectation.