The Build-Up
For just the third time this season, fans were allowed inside Vitality Stadium for the first leg of Bournemouth's Championship Playoff Semifinal against Brentford.
Well-partitioned, socially-distanced pods of mask-wearing Cherries fans dotted the stands like freshly planted plots of seeds in a garden, and while they only numbered about 2,000, the Bournemouth supporters came ready to make some noise.
Brentford came into the match on the ascendency, having out-scored opponents 12-2 since manager Thomas Frank switched to a back three in early April. The Bees earned four wins and two draws from those matches. Brentford also swept the Cherries during the campaign, both one-goal victories — including a 1-0 scoreline just three matches earlier. Meanwhile, Bournemouth entered Monday's fixture having lost its last three contests, including a defeat against relegated Wycombe.
Despite Bournemouth's recent form, this matchup included what many believed to be the two most talented clubs in the playoffs. Brentford, led by the league record 30-goal total of Ivan Toney, finished the season with the most potent attack in the league and was coming off a narrow defeat in last year's playoff final, while Bournemouth still possessed the core from its multi-year stay in the Premier League.
The game started with the Bees in their newly-established back three, but with one surprise, as the eight goals and 10 assists of dangerous winger Bryan Mbeumo were left on the bench. Mbeumo had come off the bench in three of Brentford's last four contests but had scored three goals during this period. Fullbacks Henrik Dalsgaard and Rico Henry, both regulars for much of the season, were also named as substitutes.
As for the hosts, manager Jonathan Woodgate made one small tactical change — inverting his midfield three to include a pair of holding mids and one attacking midfielder. The starting XI also included Steve Cook and Adam Smith, both regulars from Bournemouth's promotion campaign in 2014-15.
The Action
The visitors started off the better side, as Ivan Toney was able to find space in behind the Bees defense on multiple occasions. After an early period of pressure from Brentford, the next 10 minutes belonged to Bournemouth.
Co-leading scorer Arnaut Danjuma (15 goals, seven assists) beat Mads Roerslev off the dribble and sent in a dangerous cross from the left wing. After a poor clearance, Jefferson Lerma nearly volleyed home from the edge of the 18-yard area. A few minutes later, the Cherries had another great chance, this time on the right side, as Adam Smith got in behind the defence and played a lovely ball on the ground toward the penalty area but Philip Billing scuffed the finish well wide.
For much of the match, Bournemouth was able to exploit the space behind Brentford's wingbacks, drawing out the Bees back three and creating good scoring opportunities in the middle.
In the 18th minute, another Danjuma cross found the head of attacking partner Dominic Solanke (15 goals, eight assists) and the ball rebounded off the post and out of play. Upon further review, it was actually the head of Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock that provided the vital intervention, but only a goal kick was given.
Danjuma was having his way with Brentford wingback Mads Roerslev in the first half, frequently beating the Dane out wide and sending in dangerous crosses.
Surprisingly, the next 20 or so minutes of the first half were more cagey than the opening portion, but Bournemouth ended the half as the more dominant side. The Cherries carved out a 2v1 opportunity on a counter-attack following a Brentford corner, but Brentford tracked back extremely well and cut out the incisive pass.
In the 41st minute, Steve Cook saw his header well-saved by David Raya and the follow-up from Welsh winger David Brooks was blocked off the line by Bees defender Ethan Pinnock.
After 45 minutes of high-quality football, the first half ended scoreless, but one could sense that a goal was coming.
As a steady rain began to fall in the south of England, Bournemouth started the half well, and 10 minutes in, the hosts opened the scoring.
Another Bournemouth counter-attack fashioned out a 4v2 opportunity for the Cherries, and David Brooks found Danjuma, who took one touch before calmly slotting home into the side netting.
Bournemouth led the league with nine counter-attack goals during the season, and the creativity and pace of their front three came through once again.
Shortly after, Brentford made a triple-substitution, including bringing on Bryan Mbeumo up top. The Frenchman provided the Bees with a different threat, and he was able to get in behind the Bournemouth defense several times. Brentford began to find space on the right side of the Cherries backline, twice opening up the Bournemouth back four with short little through balls. The first chance came in the 67th minute, as Veteran keeper Asmir Begović denied Emiliano Marcondes.
Then, in the 78th minute, Mbeumo was unable to finish off a Christian Norgaard cross (again created by a short through pass) when it seemed more difficult to miss the open net from just five yards out. To be fair, the French winger was at full stretch.
Brentford searched for an equalizer, but the final 10-plus minutes were largely uneventful. The only major chance was created by Bournemouth, as Danjuma's free kick from the corner of the penalty area forced a smart save from Raya.
The match ended 1-0, and Bournemouth earned a slim advantage for their return trip to London on Saturday. The Cherries looked threatening offensively, but perhaps more impressive was their defense. Their backline held 30-goal scorer Ivan Toney to just one off-target shot, and his WhoScored rating of 6.35/10 was his sixth-worst of the campaign.
Brentford finished with 11 total shots but uncharacteristically had just one on target. Yet the Bees do find themselves in a familiar position, as last year they also trailed 1-0 after a first playoff leg on the road. Expect more possession for Brentford in the second leg (58 percent possesion in first leg) as the side pushes for the equalizer, while Bournemouth will be content to attack on the counter.
After Saturday, one of these pre-season promotion favorites will be 90 minutes from the Premier League, while the other will rue numerous missed opportunities during the campaign.
