Brentford’s long throws became one of the clearest symbols of that edge. Michael Kayode’s deliveries from the right repeatedly turned harmless situations into pressure, and the Bees were among the division’s strongest sides for expected goals from set pieces.
A few numbers tell the story:
That mix of threat and control mattered when the margins tightened. Brentford missed seventh and a European place on goal difference, but they stayed in the race because they kept manufacturing chances in repeatable ways.
Andrews deserves credit, but Brentford’s advantage appears deeper than one coach. “Other clubs give full control to one or two individuals, and when they leave, nobody really knows what they're supposed to be doing,” Keech added.
That is where Brentford separated themselves. The club had already built a long-term commitment to specialist coaching, with figures such as Gianni Vio, Nicolas Jover and Thomas Grønnemark tied to that wider philosophy. Andrews stepped into a system that already valued detail, rehearsal and role-specific recruitment.
The challenge was real. Thomas Frank had gone, and so had senior players including Christian Norgaard, Mark Flekken, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa. Injuries also hit hard by late autumn. Yet Brentford still found output, with Igor Thiago responding with 22 league goals in a campaign that underlined the value of structure over panic.
The next question is whether Brentford can keep staying ahead as more clubs copy the same ideas. Andrews’ first season suggests the Bees are not just surviving change - they may be one of the smartest teams in England at planning for it.