EPL: Brentford Thrashes Southampton 5-0, Leaving Saints Rooted to Bottom of Premier League

Southampton's dismal season hits new low with 5-0 loss to Brentford, leaving them with just six points from 20 Premier League games.

Brentford secured their first Premier League away win of the season in convincing fashion, thrashing struggling Southampton. The Bees took the lead early on, courtesy of Kevin Schade's sixth-minute strike. Schade latched onto Mikkel Damsgaard's exceptional defence-splitting pass and slotted the ball past the Southampton goalkeeper with ease.

Bryan Mbeumo doubled Brentford's advantage just after the hour mark, firing a powerful shot into the roof of the net. The Cameroon international's goal marked a turning point in the match, as Brentford began to assert their dominance over the struggling hosts. Mbeumo's impressive performance continued when he scored his second goal of the afternoon from the penalty spot.

The penalty was awarded after Lesley Ugochukwu, on loan from Chelsea, was deemed to have fouled Sepp van den Berg. Mbeumo made no mistake from the spot, converting the penalty with confidence. The Brentford forward then turned provider, setting up Keane Lewis-Potter for the first of his team's two stoppage-time goals.

The rout was completed when Yoane Wissa capitalized on a poor header from Southampton substitute Yukinari Sugawara. Wissa's goal sealed a resounding 5-0 victory for Brentford, lifting them to 10th place in the Premier League table. In contrast, Southampton remains rooted to the bottom of the table, having accumulated a mere six points thus far.

Thomas Frank's Brentford side arrived at Southampton with a dismal away record, having collected just two league points on the road prior to this match. This tally was the joint lowest in the top flight, with their hosts Southampton also struggling to pick up points. However, Brentford emphatically changed their fortunes with a resounding 5-0 victory, recording their largest-ever Premier League win and their biggest top-flight triumph since 1938.

Brentford's dominant performance left manager Thomas Frank beaming with pride. He praised his team's near-perfect display, stating, “That was very, very close to perfection.” Frank highlighted his team's exceptional defensive efforts, as well as their ability to create numerous scoring opportunities throughout the match. He attributed the success to the strong culture within the team, saying, “It speaks about the culture that we have got in the changing room and among the players. The commitment, the focus, the attitude - wow.”

The victory was also notable for the impressive goal-scoring exploits of Brentford's Kevin Schade and Bryan Mbeumo. Schade scored his fifth league goal of the season, while Mbeumo's brace took his tally to 13 goals this term. Mbeumo's impressive form sees him sit behind only Mohamed Salah (17) and Erling Haaland (16) in the Premier League's top scorers list.

Bryan Mbeumo's impressive performance was not limited to his two goals, as he also provided an assist for Keane Lewis-Potter. Lewis-Potter's goal was his first since August, and it came in the dying minutes of the match, adding to Brentford's convincing victory.

The win marked a notable milestone for Yoane Wissa, who scored his 10th goal of the campaign. Wissa's strike, which completed the rout, ensured that Brentford now has two players with double-figure goal tallies. The convincing victory was a testament to Brentford's attacking prowess, which has seen them score five goals in a match for the second time this season.

Brentford's dominance could have resulted in an even more resounding scoreline, as they created several additional scoring opportunities. Christian Norgaard was unfortunate to see his effort hit the bar, while Mikkel Damsgaard's strike whistled wide of the post. Yoane Wissa also fired over the bar after latching onto a flick-on from Kevin Schade, highlighting the Bees' attacking threat throughout the match.

Southampton's hopes of starting the new year on a positive note were swiftly dashed as they suffered a demoralizing 5-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford. The home fans who departed after Bryan Mbeumo's third goal for Brentford did so with little expectation of a fightback from their side. The defeat marked a bleak milestone for Southampton, who have now failed to experience a “new manager bounce” under Ivan Juric.

Ivan Juric has become the seventh Southampton manager to lose his opening three league games in charge, a statistic that underscores the scale of the challenge facing the Saints. Juric's post-match assessment was scathing, as he stated, “There was such a difference between the two teams and I'm disappointed with everything: the team, myself, everybody.” He added, “Today I was thinking about one step forward and we took three steps back. It was a really bad performance. We cannot lose 5-0 at home. I feel responsible, sorry. The game, it was awful. This day cannot happen any more.”

Southampton's ineptitude was highlighted by their inability to capitalize on their limited scoring opportunities. Paul Onuachu's header, which was easily saved by Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, represented the Saints' only genuine chance of the match. This lack of potency, combined with their dreadful defending, has resulted in Southampton conceding five goals at home for the third time in a league match since early December.

The defeat has left Southampton rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, with a mere six points from their opening 20 games. This tally matches the worst record by a side at this stage in the Premier League era, set by Sunderland's class of 2005-06. As the season wears on, relegation appears increasingly inevitable for the Saints, who must somehow arrest their alarming slide to avoid dropping down to the Championship.