By Daily Sports on August 21, 2021

Brentford maintained an unbeaten start to their first Premier League season with a goalless draw against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Captain James McArthur then saw a curling effort from the edge of the box tipped away by David Raya after the break as the Eagles pushed for a breakthrough.

The best opportunity for Thomas Frank's Brentford, who beat Arsenal in their opening game last weekend, came when Bryan Mbeumo's free-kick from out wide clipped the top of the crossbar.

Lack of cutting edge costs Eagles

For Palace, this game was always likely to be a more accurate guide to the early progress made under Vieira than last weekend's defeat at European champions Chelsea.

On this evidence, effort and commitment are not in doubt, but the Eagles lack a killer instinct in front of goal.

Vieira is looking to impose a new, more progressive style of play and called for his side to be "really brave" on the ball against Brentford, deploying an attacking-looking 4-3-3 formation with Christian Benteke recalled as the central striker.

Their cause was helped by a raucous welcome from the crowd. Perhaps buoyed by that boisterous welcome, Palace made the better start, harrying Brentford when they were in possession and going close through Gallagher, who put in an all-action display.

However, their attacking threat waned as the game wore on, allowing Brentford to regain some control.

It was perhaps little surprise that the home side's best chance after the break came from an effort from distance, with McArthur, captain in absence of Luka Milivojevic, firing in an effort that was superbly tipped over by Raya.

In contrast to Palace's summer of change, Brentford boss Frank has kept faith with the majority of the players who secured promotion from the Championship.

He named an unchanged starting XI from last weekend's raucous win against Arsenal, but they offered little attacking threat in the opening stages - although Ivan Toney went close with a snap shot from distance.

After that uncertain start, the Bees grew into the game and ended the half on top, with Mbeumo's free kick clipping the bar and Frank Onyeka having a fizzing effort from distance saved by Vicente Guaita.

Toney remained their greatest threat in the second half, twice going close with headers from corners, while they rarely looked like conceding at the other end.

A return of four points and two clean sheets represents a fine start to what is their first top-flight campaign for 74 years, while Saturday's game gave Vieira his first point as Palace boss. (BBC)

•PHOTO: Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 21, 2021

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