Analysis: Clean sheet and control against Fulham highlights Brentford progress
Analysis: Clean sheet and control against Fulham highlights Brentford progress Brentford beat their 2024/25 clean sheet tally with a 0-0 draw against Fulham on Saturday - and their defensive progress under Keith Andrews was clear to see. The Bees finished with 1. 62 xG to the visitors’ 0.
79 xG, with Cottagers keeper Bernd Leno producing a world-class save to deny Dango Ouattara his fourth match-winning goal of the season in the dying moments. Afterwards, Andrews stated that “if any team was going to win the game, it was going to be us” - a fair reflection given Brentford’s chance creation and control of Fulham’s attack. For the first time this season, Brentford prevented their opposition from registering a single shot on target.
Ryan Sessegnon’s swipe over the bar and a misjudged shot from Harry Wilson, either side of the break, were as close as Marco Silva’s side came to breaking the deadlock. 'Brentford prevented [Fulham] from registering a single shot on target' Still seventh in the table, level on points with sixth-placed Chelsea, Brentford are now on a run of five straight draws; no Premier League team has recorded more back-to-back this term. A ninth shutout of the campaign eclipsed the Bees' eight clean sheets in 2024/25, and the underlying data points to clear defensive improvement under Andrews.
On average, Brentford conceded 5. 45 shots on target per 90 last season. That figure has dropped significantly this term, with the Bees allowing just 119 shots on target (3.
61 per 90) - only Liverpool (118), Manchester United (117), Manchester City (103) and Arsenal (75) have conceded fewer. That Fulham goalkeeper Leno won the Playmaker Man of the Match award told its own story. His save in the 89th minute was out of the ordinary.