Frank stays positive but slide continues
THOMAS FRANK gave his Brentford players a Churchillian rallying call after their worrying slide continued.
A 12th defeat in 15 Premier League games leaves the Bees only four points above the drop zone with fixtures against Manchester United, Brighton and Aston Villa to come after the international break.
But manager Frank was encouraged by the fighting spirit his team showed after being reduced to 10 men by Sergio Reguilon’s ninth-minute red card — the earliest dismissal in the league this season.
‘I got everyone together, players and staff, in a huddle after the game and said I was very proud of the performance and the mentality,’ he said. ‘We played with 10 men for more than a 100 minutes and came close to a point. How do we get out of this run? Win the next game, it’s very simple.’ Burnley boss Vincent Kompany’s decision to drop James Trafford and recall No 2 keeper Arijanet Muric paid off as the Kosovan made several vital saves.
His performance leaves Trafford facing a big fight to regain his place in the side.
But Kompany was quick to reassure the 21-year-old that his time will come. ‘It is one of the positions where I have the luxury of two very good players,’ said the Belgian. ‘We have one who will be a great English goalkeeper and the other who is a top keeper in his own right. It was not a difficult decision. I have to do what’s best for the team.’ Despite Jacob Bruun Larsen’s early penalty and David Datro Fofana’s goal, Burnley were left hanging on after Kristoffer Ajer’s late header.
BURNLEY (4-4-2): Muric 7; Assignon 7, O’Shea 6, Esteve 7, Taylor 7; Vitinho 7, Cullen 7, BERGE 8, Larsen 7 (Amdouni 6 min, 5; Brownhill 0); Fofana 7 (Foster 88), Odobert 7. Scorers: Larsen 10, Fofana 62. Booked: Taylor, Amdouni.
Manager: Vincent Kompany 7. BRENTFORD (3-5-2): Flekken 7; Zanka 7, Ajer 8, Collins 7; Roerslev 6 (Yarmolyuk 5 , 6), Onyeka 5 (Lewis-Potter 5 , 6), Jensen 6 (Maupay 80), Janelt 6 (Baptiste 80), Reguilon; Toney 6, Wissa 5 (Mbuemo 80). Scorer: Ajer 83.
Booked: Janelt, Ajer, Toney, Baptiste.
Sent off: Reguilon.
Manager: Thomas Frank 6.
Referee: Darren Bond 6.
Attendance: 20,431.