Injury-plagued Brentford managed a 1-1 draw with Watford in their latest pre-season friendly. The Bees had to adapt, playing Kristoffer Ajer at left-back and young midfielder Ryan Trevitt at right-back, as Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey have yet to feature in pre-season. With just two weeks until their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace, manager Thomas Frank was also missing Ethan Pinnock, Vitaly Janelt, Mads Roerslev, and Keane Lewis-Potter.
Long-term absentees include Ben Mee, Josh Dasilva, and summer signing Igor Thiago. Brentford took an early lead at Vicarage Road when Kevin Schade headed in a Trevitt cross after just five minutes. However, they were quickly equalized after keeper Mark Flekken gave the ball away in his own penalty area and Moussa Sissoko scored with a deflected shot.
Frank’s team pushed for a winner in the second half, coming closest when Mikkel Damsgaard set up Yoane Wissa for a shot saved by Watford’s Daniel Bachmann. Brentford’s squad will be strengthened by Ivan Toney’s return to training on Monday after his stint with England at Euro 2024.
Brentford lineup: Flekken (Cox h/t), Trevitt (Yarmoliuk h/t), Collins, Kim (Zanka h/t), Ajer (McManus 63); Damsgaard (Yogane 77), Norgaard (Onyeka 63), Jensen (Konak 77); Mbeumo (Morgan 77), Wissa, Schade (Peart-Harris 63).
