Why international break has come at a good time for Brentford
If anyone is in need of an international break, it is definitely a tired-looking Brentford. As a result, Keith Andrews only made one substitution and it is a huge credit to the 10 men who played the entire match that we picked up a well-deserved point. Ethan Pinnock has lost his regular place after many years and made only his fourth Premier League start of the season - but produced a great display.
[BBC] [PA Media] If anyone is in need of an international break, it is definitely a tired-looking Brentford. With injuries hitting us severely for the first time this season, the players will be able to have some well-earned time off. Even those going away on international duty will have a bit of a break when they return as, like most Premier League clubs, we are not playing again for nearly three weeks.
The number of players currently out of action has led to more and more youngsters on the bench. At Leeds on Saturday, we had five teenagers, a 21-year-old and only three experienced players making up our replacements. As a result, Keith Andrews only made one substitution and it is a huge credit to the 10 men who played the entire match that we picked up a well-deserved point.
It was a result I would have taken before kick-off, but it would have felt like an even better point had we beaten Wolves earlier in the week. The draw was largely down to an excellent display by the defence, which coped with everything Leeds threw at it. Ethan Pinnock has lost his regular place after many years and made only his fourth Premier League start of the season - but produced a great display.
The centre-half is Brentford's third longest-serving player and I was delighted to see that the timing of his tackles is still superb and he is still powerful in the air. Pinnock, with Jamaica, Republic of Ireland duo Caoimhin Kelleher and Nathan Collins, plus Denmark's Mathias Jensen and Mikkel Damsgaard, if fit, can park dreams of a possible 'European tour' with the Bees for now as they try to get their respective countries into this summer's World Cup. It is going to be an interesting fortnight for Brentford fans watching their fortunes - especially as the Republic of Ireland could play Denmark for one finals place.