In a festive showdown between Wolverhampton Wanderers (Wolves) and Brentford, Hwang Hee-chan emerged as the hero, capitalizing on Brentford’s defensive woes to secure a resounding victory. The game unfolded in a frantic first half, with Brentford witnessing four goals and leaving Brentford in despair as they succumbed to their fourth consecutive defeat. Wolves, building on their recent triumph against Chelsea, celebrated their first London League victory in 15 visits.
Nathan Collins, once a Brentford player, inadvertently played the role of Santa Claus for Wolves by committing two late defensive blunders, compounding Brentford’s woes. With their downward spiral becoming more pronounced, Brentford now finds themselves nervously glancing over their shoulders, with Luton Town trailing just four points behind in the league standings.
Brentford’s opportunity for redemption lies in an upcoming FA Cup clash against Wolves at home, but the immediate concern is halting their alarming descent down the league. The significance of their next league fixture against Crystal Palace is heightened, with Saturday’s game now carrying greater weight.
The downfall for Brentford began in the first half, as they conceded three goals—a first in their Premier League history. The source of their troubles was largely self-inflicted, as epitomized by Mario Lemina’s header, breaking the deadlock for Wolves. Hwang Hee-chan swiftly capitalized on Nathan Collins’s calamitous backpass, scoring his first goal just 12 seconds into the second half.
Despite Brentford’s response with a goal from Yoane Wissa, their porous defense was exploited once again by Hwang, who secured his second goal and the fourth of the match within the opening 28 minutes. Brentford, making three changes from their previous defeat, failed to rectify their defensive vulnerabilities, with Collins replacing the suspended Ben Mee and Neal Maupay leading the attack.
An early scare hinted at Wolves’ attacking prowess, as Hwang’s low cross nearly led to an own goal. However, Brentford failed to heed the warning, allowing Pablo Sarabia to deliver a precise cross for Lemina’s header. The calamity continued with Collins’s misplaced backpass, seized upon by Hwang for his first goal.
Brentford’s counterattack saw Wissa capitalize on Maupay’s flick-on, but Wolves quickly reestablished their two-goal lead. Collins’s poor clearance, compounded by Toti’s header, set up Hwang for his second goal, marking his 10th league goal of the season. Hwang, however, couldn’t complete the half due to injury, making way for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.
Just before halftime, Brentford missed an opportunity to reduce the deficit when Maupay’s shot narrowly missed the target. The second half saw Brentford dominating possession but struggling to find a cutting edge. The Wolves, content to defend, nearly added a fourth goal through Matheus Cunha, whose strike hit the post.
The final blow for Brentford came from Collins, whose errant pass gifted the Wolves their fourth goal. Collins’s costly blunders contributed significantly to Brentford’s downfall, epitomizing their defensive calamities. The Wolves capitalized on these mistakes, securing their most substantial league win of the season and leaving Brentford with serious concerns heading into the new year.
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