Analysis: The numbers behind Brentford's comprehensive West Ham performance | OneFootball

Being sensational in training is one thing, delivering on matchday another - but Brentford managed to translate first-class prep into a five-star performance against West Ham United on Monday night.

The Bees pocketed three valuable points from a comprehensive 2-0 win over Nuno Espírito Santo’s Hammers, with Igor Thiago’s first-half strike and a late Mathias Jensen finish doing the damage.

Afterwards, Kristoffer Ajer and Keith Andrews both spoke of the “sensational” training sessions that set up what was arguably Brentford’s most complete performance yet under their young Irish head coach.

A pulsating first-half display saw Andrews' side fire in 15 shots to the Hammers' solitary one - and Thiago's fifth Premier League goal of the season was scant reward given the quality of the chances Brentford created.

Thiago had already grazed the bar from close range when Kevin Schade collected Yehor Yarmoliuk's incisive long ball, and squared for the Brazilian to fire in a shot that deflected off West Ham keeper Alphonse Areola on 43 minutes.

It was one-way traffic at times. And, notably, Thiago and Dango Ouattara became the first pair of team-mates to each register five or more shots in the first half of a Premier League match since Aston Villa’s Wesley and Anwar El Ghazi against Norwich City back in 2019.

Brentford's 15 first-half shots constituted the most ever by the Bees in a Premier League away game - and Thiago was a constant menace, his fantastic dinked finish just before the interval ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside.

Andrews afterwards labelled Thiago a "handful," and his performance in east London showcased the potent blend of physicality and mobility he offers. Only Erling Haaland (11) and Antoine Semenyo (6) sit ahead of the former Club Brugge striker in the Premier League's goal charts.

There were shades of the 1-1 draw against Manchester United back in March 2024 - when the Bees took an incredible 31 shots - as Brentford fired in 22 attempts at goal over the course of the 90 minutes against the beleaguered Hammers.

Such outstanding shooting stats rely on graft and creativity in the build-up, and Michael Kayode delivered a statement performance for the Bees down the right flank.

The 21-year-old has adapted seamlessly to the demands of the English top flight since moving to west London at the start of the year, and the athletic full-back is currently the poster boy for the Premier League's newfound penchant for long throw-ins.

Kayode's progressive running and pinpoint delivery have received less attention thus far, but that may be about to change. Joint-seventh in the top flight for successful dribbles this season, the right-back exploited the space afforded him by the Hammers to clock up some groundbreaking statistics.

The first Brentford player ever to create six chances from open play in a Premier League match, Kayode's seven chances created overall were the joint-most by an Italian player in Opta's records.

Imposing at the back, assured and industrious in midfield, and dangerous in attack, Brentford were "very, very competent", in the words of their manager, who saw his side climb to 13th in the Premier League table.