Brentford's Set-Piece Success Is a Mirage Hiding a Deeper Tactical Rot

Brentford have scored 14 set-piece goals this season — the most in the Premier League. But this statistic is not a strength. It is the symptom of a structural collapse in open play. The Bees cannot build through midfield, their defensive shape is increasingly porous, and their reliance on dead balls is a ticking time bomb.

The Myth of the Organised Mid-Table Side

Under Thomas Frank, Brentford were celebrated for their flexibility: 3-5-2, 4-3-3, even a diamond. But this season, that flexibility has curdled into incoherence. Against Liverpool, they attempted just 89 passes between their centre-backs and midfielders — the lowest of any side in a match since 2021. They are now a team that attacks exclusively via long balls to Ivan Toney, hoping for knockdowns or flick-ons. It works for set pieces, but it fails when opponents sit deep.

Why the System Is Failing

The problem is not personnel — it's structure. Brentford's midfield trio of Jensen, Janelt and Onyeka is functional but incapable of receiving the ball under pressure. Their pass completion in the middle third is 78 per cent, the worst among mid-table sides. Compare this to Brighton's 89 per cent under De Zerbi: Brentford cannot retain possession. They have become a counter-attacking team that cannot counter because they cannot win the ball back in the opponent's half. Their presses per defensive action (PPDA) have dropped from 11.2 to 14.6 in two seasons, meaning they now retreat into a low block and hope for set pieces.

The Evidence: Three Concrete Failures

  • Against Wolves (Sept 2024): Brentford had 31 per cent possession. Their only goal came from a corner. Wolves, who press high, forced 17 turnovers in Brentford's half. This is not a one-off — it is a pattern against any team that dares to leave their own half.
  • Away to Aston Villa (Oct 2024): Brentford attempted 23 long balls in the first half alone. They created zero chances from open play. Villa's midfield of Tielemans and Onana simply passed around them. The final score: 3-1. All three Villa goals came from open-play combinations that Brentford's narrow shape could not handle.
  • Home to Everton (Nov 2024): Frank's men had 58 per cent possession — their highest this season. Yet they managed only one shot on target until the 80th minute. Why? Because they lacked the ability to penetrate a compact 4-4-1-1. Everton simply sat off and watched Brentford pass sideways. This is what happens when a set-piece team faces a disciplined defence: they are sterile.

The Counter: Set Pieces Are Not a Flaw, They Are a Weapon

Some will argue that set pieces are a legitimate route to goal — see Simone Inzaghi's Inter, who scored 12 such goals en route to the Champions League final. The difference is that Inter also had a coherent open-play structure. Brentford, by contrast, have no plan B. Inzaghi's side created chances from open play; Brentford's open-play expected goals (xG) per game is 0.8, ranking 17th — below Luton and Sheffield United. When a team is that reliant on one phase of the game, they become predictable. Opponents now simply concede corners and trust that they will not be punished in open play.

The Verdict: A False Ceiling

Brentford will finish 14th this season, not because they lack quality, but because their tactical model has been found out. By February, opponents will have studied their set-piece routines and neutralised them. Without those goals, the Bees will drop points at a rate of 1.2 per game — relegation form. Thomas Frank must develop a possession-based alternative, or Brentford will regress to a Championship-level side within two seasons. Predict: they will lose their next six matches against teams in the top half, failing to score from open play.

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