Brentford clinched their first away victory of the season with a stunning 5-0 win over Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on January 4, 2025. This extraordinary display not only marked the Bees' first away triumph but also represented their largest winning margin ever recorded in the Premier League, surpassing their previous league victory against Preston North End back in April 2021.
The match began favorably for Brentford as Kevin Schade opened the scoring just six minutes after kickoff. The young forward capitalized on Mikkel Damsgaard's skillful play, which involved intercepting the ball from Joe Aribo and deftly sidestepping Lesley Ugochukwu before delivering a precise pass. Schade calmly slotted the ball past Southampton's goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, much to the delight of the Brentford fans.
From the outset, it was clear Brentford possessed the hunger and determination to secure this victory after enduring nine games without a win away from home (D2 L7). Despite their early lead, Brentford continued to press for more goals, with Bryan Mbeumo leading the charge.
The first half showcased opportunities for the Bees to double their lead, but missed chances plagued them. Mbeumo dazzled the defense, and after playing through to Yoane Wissa, Ramsdale came up big with a save. A flicked header from Brentford's captain, Christian Nørgaard, struck the crossbar, denying them another goal before the halftime whistle.
Southampton, struggling for form, managed only one shot on target throughout the match, failing to find their rhythm against Brentford's resurgent squad. Just before halftime, Tyler Dibling came uncomfortably close to equalizing, but his shot netted only the side netting.
The second half saw no respite for Southampton as Brentford maintained their dominance. Following several missed attempts, Mbeumo finally found the net again, doubling Brentford's lead with a powerful shot from a tight angle after receiving a slick pass from Wissa. Shortly thereafter, Mbeumo successfully converted from the penalty spot after Sepp van den Berg was fouled, bringing the score to 3-0.
Brentford's offensive onslaught did not cease there. Keane Lewis-Potter and Yoane Wissa each secured goals in the dying moments of the match, capping off the memorable performance with their contributions.
Speaking after the match, Brentford's manager, Thomas Frank, beamed at the performance. "The attitude from the players was phenomenal. From the first minute to the last, we controlled the game and could have had even more goals. It was absolutely one of our best performances since joining the Premier League. We played with confidence and intensity..." he stated, highlighting how his team imposed their will on Southampton.
Mbeumo, who finished with two goals, also reflected on the win. "I’m thrilled to score two goals and help the team achieve this victory. The fans deserved it, and I’m really pleased to give them something to cheer about. The away win makes a significant statement for us going forward," he expressed, underscoring the importance of teamwork and morale boosting for Brentford's future outings.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the pitch, Southampton's plight deepened. Their new manager, Ivan Juric, lamented the heavy defeat, labeling it a "total disaster." With this loss, Southampton stands at the bottom of the Premier League table, garnering only six points from 20 matches, mirroring the worst points tally by any club at this stage of the season.
Juric made it clear he felt the burden of the loss. "There has been such a difference between the two teams and I’m disappointed with everything; the team, myself, everybody. This day cannot happen any more," he remarked, emphasizing the need for change and improvement as they train for future matches.
This impressive victory has reinvigorated Brentford's squad and its supporters, as they look forward to building on this momentum. The Bees' performance served as both a statement and reminder of their potential within the league, offering renewed hope on their road to securing another successful season.