IT’S NOT ALL HONEY, BEES
Zanka admits: We get angry at throwing away lots of points.. ..we’re human
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STEVE JUDGE BRENTFORD may well be known for their astute use of data but some of the numbers they have generated have had an understandably negative impact on their players.
Defender Zanka admitted the Bees’ Premier League-worst 30 points coughed up from winning positions has raised anxiety levels at the business end of games.
So much so, that when Mikkel Damsgaard had what looked like a legitimate second goal disallowed against Sheffield United on Saturday, the fear that a run of nine games without a win could become ten was real.
Those lost points have also provoked some angry discussions among a group of players who were still in the hunt for a place in Europe this time last season.
But Zanka insisted the squad never stopped believing in themselves.
The Dane said: “We are humans so thoughts like that go through your head.
“We know the Premier League is competitive no matter who you play.
“We felt that we were the better team and once we got 1-0 ahead we were committed to keep playing to make it 2-0 and
3-0 to put this game away.
“I am proud
of the team for doing that because as has been alluded to, it is a very normal reaction to start to get a little bit nervous when it has been a while since you have won a game.
“When we have given points away the way we have this season, we’ve kind of been unlucky in some games, and in others we have been bad in giving that lead away.
“It is something that we talk about. We are human. We have feelings. We get angry at each other.
“But we have never lost the belief we are a good football team.”
The Bees needed a slice of fortune to set them on their way as Blades’ midfielder Oliver Arblaster (below) deflected Damsgaard’s 63rd-minute cross into his own goal.
Zanka had already had a goal chalked off for offside then Damsgaard had his stunning 18yard volley (above) ruled out when VAR decided Nathan Collins had impeded Oli Mcburnie off the ball.
“If you start taking away goals like that, there will not be a lot scored in set-pieces any more,” reflected Zanka.
Sub Frank Onyeka sealed the points in stoppage time when he slotted the ball past Blades keeper Ivo Grbic for his first goal since joining Brentford in July 2021.
Despite the victory, the Bees still have 15 fewer points than they did after 33 games last season.
No doubt, the fact star strikers Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney have not started alongside each other since last May has played a part in that.
A hip injury saw Toney confined to the bench against the Blades but the deadly duo are expected to start this weekend at Luton, where Brentford can all but confirm their Premier League status with a win.
Zanka said: “We are all hoping to have Bryan and Ivan back together. “They are amazing players and play well together so we are hoping they remain fit for the remainder of the season and score goals for us.
“We are getting players back now that are going to strengthen the team and give us a better chance to close out the season in the manner that we want to.” BRENTFORD (4-3-3): Flekken 7; Roerslev 6, Zanka 8, Collins 6, Reguilon 6; Jensen 7 (Onyeka 90), Janelt 7, Damsgaard 7 (Yarmolyuk 79); Mbeumo 7 (Schade 90), Maupay 6 (Lewis-potter 79), Wissa 6 (Pinnock 90)
SHEFF UNITED: Grbic 7; Holgate 6 (Slimane 90), Ahmedhodzic 6, Trusty 7; Bogle 6 (Archer 76), Hamer 6, Arblaster 6, Osbourn 6, Larouci 6 (Mcatee 58, 6); Brereton Diaz 6, Mcburnie 6