Kevin Schade's first Brentford hat-trick lit up the Gtech Community Stadium as Keith Andrews' side closed out the year with a commanding 4-1 win over Bournemouth. The German forward struck twice from razor-sharp counter-attacks and then headed a stoppage-time third, with a Djordje Petrovic own goal completing the hosts' tally. Antoine Semenyo provided Bournemouth's lone response, but his neat back-heeled finish could not alter a contest that underlined the contrasting trajectories of the two clubs.
The result lifted Brentford into eighth place on 26 points, just three behind sixth-placed Manchester United, and delivered their highest points haul at the end of a year in their five seasons as a Premier League club. It was also a sixth victory in nine home league matches for Andrews' team, who carried the momentum of a vital pre-Christmas win at Wolves into another performance fuelled by intensity and aggression. For Bournemouth, once in the top four at the end of October, this was a ninth successive league game without victory, their early-season optimism eroding amid defensive frailty and the mounting uncertainty around Semenyo's future.
Early Brentford blitz sets ruthless tone
All eyes before kick-off were on Semenyo, in demand and heavily linked with a move away, but it was Brentford who imposed themselves from the first whistle. Michael Kayode's long throw almost caused Petrovic embarrassment and Yehor Yarmoliuk dragged an effort wide as the hosts began with the kind of early blitz that became a trademark under Thomas Frank and has been retained by Andrews. Within seven minutes the pressure told. Igor Thiago, Brentford's leading scorer this season, slipped a clipped ball in behind for Schade, who held off the timid Bafodé Diakité, angled his run across goal and guided a low finish into the bottom corner to end a seven-match run without scoring.