Brentford manager Keith Andrews has revealed the tough call to substitute a frustrated Igor Thiago, despite the striker's record-breaking double in a commanding 3-0 Premier League victory over Sunderland on Wednesday night.
A Record Night Cut Short
The 24-year-old Brazilian forward was the star of the show at the Gtech Community Stadium, netting twice to propel his side to a crucial win. His goals, his 15th and 16th of the campaign, saw him break the record for the most Premier League goals in a single season by a Brazilian, surpassing the previous benchmarks set by Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Martinelli, and Matheus Cunha.
Coming off a stunning hat-trick in the 4-1 win at Everton just days earlier, Thiago was hunting another treble. However, with the game secured, Andrews opted to withdraw his prized asset, a decision that did not go down well with the in-form striker. "He’s precious to us," Andrews explained. "So, when he took a knock, it was always in my mind to look after him and take the edge off the full game."
The manager acknowledged the dilemma, stating, "But when he’s on two goals, I know what way he’s wired, so that was always a difficult dilemma. I had to just make that decision, which obviously wasn’t entirely popular with him."
Le Fee's Panenka Blunder Proves Costly
The match's pivotal moment arrived in the 57th minute when Sunderland were awarded a penalty, trailing 1-0 after Thiago's first-half opener. Enzo Le Fee stepped up but produced a disastrous Panenka attempt, chipping the ball gently into the waiting arms of Brentford keeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who did not have to move.
That missed opportunity proved instantly costly. Brentford surged forward from the resulting possession, and Thiago was on hand to tap in his second and record-breaking goal after Kevin Schade's header across the box. Yehor Yarmoliuk later lashed in a third to complete a comprehensive victory for the Bees.
From Injury Setback to Sensational Form
Andrews was full of praise for Thiago's remarkable impact, considering the striker's challenging start to life in West London. Signed for £30 million from Club Bruges in the summer of 2024, he missed his entire debut season through injury.
"I think anybody that thought he would have been this good is probably not being honest," Andrews admitted. "Because I don’t know how many have come from the Bulgarian League to the Belgian League, had a year out injured and then affected the league like this. He’s been sensational. I wouldn’t be swapping him for anybody."
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris conceded his side were second best, citing Le Fee's penalty miss as a critical turning point. "We had the opportunity to get back in the game but when you miss this kind of opportunity it’s like a switch in the game. The energy of the crowd got bigger and we lost ours." The result keeps Brentford's European ambitions firmly on track.
