Brentford vs Crystal Palace. Premier League.
Gtech Community StadiumAttendance16,997.
Report and free match highlights as Joachim Andersen rescued a 1-1 draw for Crystal Palace at Brentford; the defender poked home with 14 minutes to play as Palace improved after half-time; Kevin Schade's stunning goal put the Bees in front on 18 minutes
Saturday 26 August 2023 19:25, UK
Roy Hodgson branded Joachim Andersen a "colossus" after the Crystal Palace defender rescued a 1-1 draw at Brentford with a late, scrappy equaliser.
Andersen poked home past goalkeeper Mark Flekken with 14 minutes to play after Kevin Schade gave a dominant Brentford a deserved first-half lead by whipping in a glorious finish from inside the left channel.
After being dominated by Brentford in the first half, Palace improved after the break but were left frustrated as Flekken denied Jefferson Lerma, Jordan Ayew and Odsonne Edouard with smart second-half stops.
Palace manager Hodgson described Andersen as the best player on the pitch and that it was fitting that the defender got the goal for his overall play.
"I thought he was a colossus [on Saturday]," Hodgson said. "He won every header at every end of the field, every challenge. He was a leader figure.
"He drove the team forwards and wasn't afraid to come more than midway in the opponent's half. He was spraying balls around 20 to 25 yards from goal. He took responsibility. It was fitting he got the goal."
Brentford started the game on the front foot, dominating possession and trying to break down the Palace defence.
But it was the visitors who had the first half-chance of the game as Edouard broke clear on the break, but a last-ditch challenge from Ethan Pinnock denied him from getting a shot away.
The home side got their act together and Yoane Wissa headed over from Christian Norgaard's cross in a decent break down the right, but it was not long until the Bees had their deserved lead.
Christian Norgaard played Schade in down the left flank, with the 21-year-old German cutting inside before rifling an effort into the far corner past Sam Johnstone.
The heavens then opened in west London which led to a lull in play. Palace only half-threatened before the interval with tame efforts from Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze, while Wissa and Nathan Collins headed over good chances at the other end.
Palace changed tactics at half-time with Eze moved to the left flank Jeffrey Schlupp had been occupying. The Palace winger got on the ball more and took on defenders, with the visitors a bigger threat after the break.
They had to wait until 68 minutes for their first meaningful effort as Edouard's free-kick was palmed over by Flekken. From the resulting corner, the German saved Lerma's header from point blank range, then got up to deny Ayew on the line.
But eventually Palace's pressure told as Ayew clipped a ball to Andersen down the right of the box. The central defender just beat Flekken to the ball, with Aaron Hickey unable to deny the effort from going over the line.
Palace could have won it as Ayew flashed an effort on the volley wide of goal as despite some end to end action in the final moments, the points were shared.
The result means the last five encounters between Brentford and Palace have all resulted in draws - a statistic which Brentford manager Thomas Frank cannot explain.
"For whatever reason I can't figure it out why these games end in draws," he said. "In the five games, the amount of chances they and us created were limited.
"I would love to create more. But we lacked the final pass and action. From open play, that situation is so tight. This was a game we should have won 1-0. That's the most irritating thing."
Frank also rued the manner in which the two points were dropped against Palace, via the bizarre goal Andersen scored.
"The first half we were on top, without playing fantastic," Frank said. "We were the better team, but I feel we have more to come. We could have put more pressure with energy, we tried to add tempo and intensity to the game.
"In the second half, we talked about how important it was to keep going and get the 2-0. We couldn't, and Palace is a good team and obviously they wanted to equalise.
"We were okay in control defensively, we gave that double chance away on the corner when Mark made the top save. Besides that, there was nothing really dangerous. Then there was that strange goal which was a bit irritating.
"It was a strange situation for a goalkeeper and defender to be in when the ball was in the middle. It was probably a bit more disappointing for us, but a draw was fair."
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson hailed the point as a good one for his side given how well Brentford played in the opening 45 minutes.
"Brentford were really good in first half, they play a brand of football that they have mastered and brought to a high level," he said. "They match that with a lot of physicality.
"In the second half we came to terms much better with the game. Our performance in the second half was a good one and merited the fact we got a point.
"It wasn't a 5-4 game but for people who watch football every week, they will appreciate a lot to admire about it."
Sky Sports' Sam Blitz at the Gtech Community Stadium:
When Kevin Schade rolled in a wonderful curling effort to put Brentford 1-0 up against Crystal Palace, Brentford's need for a striker late in the window was lessening.
But as Palace grew into the game and with only Kean Lewis-Potter available to come off the bench and impact a game which the Bees ended up drawing, you could see why they have put in club-record bids for Nottingham Forest's Brennan Johnson and Fiorentina's Nicolas Gonzalez in recent weeks.
"It would be good. That extra little more offensive option we lack," said Frank at full-time when asked about new additions next week, after seeing the normally reliable Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo fail to create or convert chances against Palace.
The same could well be said for Crystal Palace's front line. "Like every team, we're looking for options,'" Roy Hodgson said even before the Brentford game. The Eagles have now scored twice in three games and none for Odsonne Edouard.
Both teams currently resemble teams in a mid-table mesh where they are neither looking towards the top seven, nor in threat of relegation. What happens to their striker department in the final days of the summer window could define which direction - up or down - their progress goes this season.
Brentford turn their focus to the Carabao Cup as they visit League Two side Newport County on Tuesday night, kick-off 7.45pm. The Bees then have another Premier League home game against Bournemouth next Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
Crystal Palace go to Plymouth Argyle for their Carabao Cup second-round match on Tuesday night, kick-off 7.45pm.
The Eagles' next Premier League game sees them host Wolves live on Sky Sports' Super Sunday next weekend, kick-off 2pm.
