Brentford's Neal Maupay celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at the Gtech Community Stadium, London. Picture date: Saturday December 2, 2023.
JAMES ROBSON writes how, as impressive as the club’s victory was, this is a team that is yet to reach its peak
Brentford 3-1 Luton
by Kadeem Simmonds
at Brentford Community Stadium
THERE was something magical about Luton Town’s trip to Brentford on Saturday in the Premier League.
It wasn’t the result, as the home side ran out comfortable winners 3-1 despite a few moments of nerves at 2-1.
Second-half strikes from Neal Maupay, Ben Mee and Shandon Baptiste ensured Jacob Brown’s strike in-between Maupay and Mee’s finishes was just a consolation.
Both Brentford and Luton made their way from the depths of the football pyramid to the lofty heights of the Premier League, defying all logic to get there.
Meeting in the top flight, on a freezing cold December afternoon, a traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off, felt fitting for the occasion.
The football in the opening 45 minutes, however, was better suited for their earlier match-ups lower down the leagues when the only action of note was Hatters goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski being shown a yellow card for time-wasting.
Things improved after the break, with Thomas Frank’s side showing why they have survived at this level since their promotion in 2021 and why they are in no danger of tumbling back to the Championship anytime soon.
Should Rob Edwards’ side do the improbable and stay up this season, they will need to cut out the mistakes and bad luck that saw every second-ball and mis-timed clearance fall into the path of a Bees player.
Their top-flight survival does not hinge on results away to established sides like Brentford, nor will it depend on getting results in their next two matches — at home to current league leaders Arsenal tomorrow and in the same venue for reigning champions Man City on Sunday.
But they will need to be more street smart at this level and learn how to adapt to the rigours of the Premier League.
It may have been a magical meeting between a pair of teams who would not have imagined squaring off in the top-flight when they last met in January 2021.
Should Luton want this to be a regular occurrence in the Premier League, they will need to conjure up a spell to find some wins and find them quickly.
