Mikkel Damsgaard was instrumental in the middle of the park as Brentford beat Southampton on Saturday.
The 24-year-old was starting his first Premier League game of the season and was at the heart of the Bees’ industrious press that took full advantage of Southampton’s tendency to play out from the back.
Before Damsgaard made two crucial tackles in Thomas Frank’s self-described “world class” press (a claim that is backed up by the performance) he was almost instrumental in what would have been a superb goal.
The Dane picked up possession in midfield, did brilliantly to beat Flynn Downes and then sprayed the ball out wide to Bryan Mbeumo. Damsgaard made six progressive carries of the ball against Southampton, the most of any Brentford player.
After picking up the ball, Mbeumo managed to find the charging Damsgaard again with a clever pass, but goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale did well to get down quick to snuff out the attempt.
During the game, Damsgaard made two interceptions and nine loose ball recoveries (the most of any player on the pitch). That almost allowed him to break through and set up Yoane Wissa for a tap in had Taylor Harwood-Bellis not made a crucial block.
Mikkel Damsgaard v Southampton
Eventually, Damsgaard’s work was rewarded. This time his interception on Harwood-Bellis resulted in Kevin Schade hitting the woodwork, and Mbeumo was in the right place to give his side a deserved lead.
Damsgaard was at it again for Brentford’s second, this time taking the ball off Jan Bednarek which allowed Mathias Jensen to tee up Mbeumo for his second of the game.
In total, Damsgaard made four four successful tackles in the game (a total matched only by Will Smallbone of the Saints) with three of those coming in the attacking third.
“I tried to work hard and win some balls,” Damsgaard said after the game, an understatement for what was an excellent performance that ensured Frank’s tactical plan went off without a hitch.
It’s also worth taking a moment to highlight Mbeumo once again, whose goal made it three in three for the Cameroon international who has had an excellent start to the new campaign.
That strike was Premier League goal number 25 for the 25-year-old who has a total of 46 goal involvements in the top flight when you include his 21 assists.
Only the recently departed Toney has more with 47 (36 goals, 11 assists), a record that Mbeumo will likely surpass soon enough in this form.
Just minutes later, Brentford wrapped up the points when a long throw in was eventually bundled over the line by Yoane Wissa for his third direct goal involvement in as many Premier League games (two goals, one assist).
That result puts the Bees up to sixth in the table after a promising start to the season.
The international break has perhaps come at the wrong time to help them build momentum, but that does mean that Frank can now come up with another plan to try and thwart Manchester City when club football returns. Damsgaard’s hard work will likely be needed once again.
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