Calvert-Lewin earns Leeds draw at Brentford to go three clear of relegation zone

0:06You're listening to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Welcome along. There were five games live on Sky Sports on Sunday, including the Weirthine derby between Sutherland and Newcastle and Brentford against Leeds in West London. Here is how the afternoon unfolded.

0:25Well, it's certainly a point with which Leeds and Daniel Farker will be happier. That win against Chelsea, the comeback against Liverpool and now a point at Brentford. coming from behind as well they were certainly the better side for large swathes of this match and might have felt a little unfortunate when they fell behind to Jordan Henderson's first goal for the club his first in English football for four years but they showed good character and they showed a bit of quality Nonto off the bench with an assist and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scoring for the fourth successive game no winner in this one the points are shared Brentford one Leeds United one yeah a point for both Brentford and Leeds and I suppose Ben would be interested here from both managers really they'll kind of take a point but probably will play feel they could have got all three yeah it wasn't the best of games free the side really and yeah I think but for one gone one-off will be disappointed to have conceded that goal and I'm not one got on one the game really yeah Keith made a couple of changes went to a back five and it just didn't work they got a bit disjointed with the goal I think you know when you just make them changes to the back line I think Vandenberg just dropped in a little bit just you know not not as you know when you're when you're in a four it's a lot easier to to adjust I guess right sorry not adjust but you're used to doing that all game and then also you've been asked to do a little bit something different we spoke about outside centre-halves having to do a little bit different role in that and Vandiver just dropped in a great leap from from Calhoun to equalise.

2:08You can just see the smile on Daniel Farker's face there as he's walking off I think he'll be delighted, less than 10 minutes to go, made a couple of changes went back to a back four and that's where a lot of his goals have come from the goals against Liverpool come back for the goals today the goal today so he'll be delighted with that he'll look at that it's a big point anytime you play you get a point against the team that's in the relegation area like you are but with a strong home record as well absolutely you know this is a he'll be delighted he really will he'll look at him make good substitutions non-toes cross was fabulous a dominic calvert lewitt's header we talk a lot about goals and set you know goals from outside the box strikes from distance but there is a thing of beauty about a great header when someone gets up early like that you know he's almost had that hang time like michael jordan and just guided it into the corner it was a fantastic you could edit a ball but i couldn't edit but it's a lovely thing to see you know it's a great goal I thought Ethan Ampadu deserves a special mention as well thought he was fabulous in midfield he got hold of the game second half captures performance and they'd be delighted I think you know any time you know what it's like Ben when you're going away and you go a goal down can you have that character to get back in the game and they certainly did lead they did and we will hear from the main protagonist over the next hour or so we'll get stuck into both the goals as well.

3:23Maybe not the best of games here, but it has been a dramatic weekend. Plenty of goals elsewhere, plenty of stories elsewhere as well. Arsenal leaving it very late last night to beat bottom of the table Wolves 2-1. Another home defeat for Burnley. Chelsea and Liverpool both with 2-0 home victories. And then today, two for Erling Haaland as Manchester City won at Crystal Palace. 3-0 victory as well for Nottingham Forest against Thomas Frank Spurs. That first derby for over a decade in the Premier League went the way of Sunderland with a Volta Marder own goal. Aston Villa had to come from behind twice to win at the London Stadium.

4:05A couple for Morgan Rodgers there. And then tomorrow night, the final match of this round of fixtures at Old Trafford, Monday night football, Manchester United against Bournemouth. so here is the table Aston Villa and Manchester City with their wins today keeping pace with Arsenal City two points behind Villa three points behind and then a little gap now between those chasing Villa five clear of fourth place Chelsea, Sunderland up to seventh with that win over Newcastle

4:43Newcastle stay in 12th Spurs staying 11th after their defeat as well. Brentford's point takes them above Bournemouth, but Bournemouth have that game in hand at Old Trafford tomorrow night. And the point for Leeds means they're now three points above the relegation zone. West Ham firmly in that after that home defeat by Villa.

5:14That's a good ball for Henry to chase And Henderson His first goal for the club Jordan Henderson Steps up when Brentford really needed him Nyonto Leeds knocking on the door Calvin Lewin Calvin Lewin rises and Calvert Lewin scores.

5:44Finished one-all here at the Gtech Community Stadium. Let's show you the match stats. 17 shots for Leeds compared to Brentford's seven. And 13 of those 17 came in the second half. So, their expected goals were more, They're touching the opposition box, or more Brentford had more possession at the end of it as well.

6:12Actually, if... And look, obviously we can't hear what's being said, Ben, and none of us are body language experts, but it does feel like it's a disappointed dressing room, that just looking at it. Yeah, Keith have been eyeing this game up and expecting a performance and a win, really, especially after the last weekend against Spurs when they're disappointed so much. I think you'll be extremely disappointed with the result today, the way they've conceded late on as well. You talk about the body language there. There's a lot of dejected players in there and it certainly probably feels like a loss for them.

6:46Does it feel like a missed opportunity? A little bit. Anytime you score a goal, 10 minutes to go, and you're thinking that might be enough, you try and make substitutions to hang on to the game, make sure you get those three points. Yeah, they will feel dejected, disappointed, but the most important thing as a manager is you've got to lift the players now. You've got a big game in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, I think, and then you've got, obviously, Wolves next week. And then Wolves next Saturday. That's the Premier League, but if you flip it the other way, it will turn around to his players, and I don't know Keefe as well as what you do, but I think he's probably saying we're on 20 points now.

7:21We're in a good position. West Ham lost today. That is the key for Brentford today. I mean, he wouldn't ever admit it, and he'd be saying, I want my team to finish in the top half of the table. but the truth is what they went through in the summer with injuries and with players leaving captain, managers etc I still think they've done well and he'll be pleased with the number of points they've got but he'll just be wanting to make sure that they keep those levels high missing Shada today was a big blow for them he's such an important player but it's a big week for them It's also very measured that isn't it which goes back to what you were saying about Keith pre-match you know there aren't flip-flops flying around and you know things being thrown it's all very measured then he goes and shakes everybody's hand.

8:00Yeah, he's a very calm character. I'm sure he can throw a few flip-flops around if he wants to. You know, he seems calm. He'll watch the game back and he'll analyse it, obviously. But, as Jamie said, they've got a big game on Tuesday now. And then, like I say, Wolves coming up. And they'll keep their eye on the teams below them. But these are certainly games that they'll be looking at winning more often. Did you both feel that it was, and the stats kind of bear this out, don't they? You know, 57 % possession, but not that many shots. So it was a controlled performance without being, you know, on the front foot.

8:42Yeah. Entertaining. For Brentford, you mean? Yeah, yeah, for Brentford. For Brentford, yeah, I think so. And he made, you know, we talk about the substitutions you bring on, the two substitutes that come on, have an influence in the goal. Damnsgaard's pass, obviously Rico Henry crosses the ball for Jordan Henderson. So in that respect, that was a positive for them. But it's just trying to hang on to those three points. And especially here, you know, where it's been a fortress. Can we get across the line? Can we make sure we hang on to those points? Everything then changes. You flip it on the other way.

9:06But no, I think it was, you know, after we spoke about the result last week against Tottenham, that can damage you sometimes. And you try to freshen up, you bring in players. But the fact is they've not lost. And it still keeps that run going here, which has been obviously so impressive. And I'm sure it will try to take the positives out of it. But this week is going to be huge for them. Yeah, I think Brentford played a lot in front of Leeds. I think they were quite happy to let Brentford have the ball. You know, it was pretty flat a lot of the time in the game. The crowd weren't getting up. They didn't play balls in behind like they did.

9:34Maybe Shard had missing. Maybe that's one of the reasons why. There wasn't runs in behind as much. Obviously, the goal came from Rico coming on and actually making one of them runs in behind and getting in behind the back four, five, four, five at the time. Four or five, yeah. Yeah, so anyway, just getting in behind them and actually creating a bit of tempo, which was lacking a lot of time in the game. But as you say, it came from a run in behind, which they did very rarely. And also, when we're talking about substitutions, you know, in praise of Keith Andrews, his substitutions affected this goal.

10:05Yeah, it certainly did. Yeah, Rico coming on. He's not had a lot of football recently. But yeah, he's lightning quick and using that pacing behind that maybe Brentford were missing on a day like today. Getting him behind that back line of theirs and squaring a ball across. And I think we've given that goal to Henderson, aren't we? match centre has given it to Henderson it's a Jordan Henderson goal and his first goal in English football for over four years he was very good today I thought Ampadu for Leeds and Jordan Henderson for Brentford, best two players on the pitch I thought they controlled the game really well that's a nice touch obviously for his friend it's not been easy in terms of what he's brought to Brentford he's been fantastic, what a signing you played with Norgaard and the influence that he had as a captain.

10:53And to bring in Jordan Henderson, he's just been a revelation. He looks fitter than ever. He's passing, everything he's doing. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I fully agree. I think he's really enjoyed his football here. So it's a great club to play at. And yeah, he's looking fit and sharp. And he looked like he could play for a lot longer than, you know, many more years. Let's hear from him then. Jordan Henderson, the Brentford goalscorer with Pien Moulinstein. Jordan, it was a point apiece each. What did you make of the game as a whole? I thought it was a good game. Both teams were in the game for long periods of it.

11:29The first half we weren't at all the best but I still felt as though we had a lot of the ball. Created one or two chances, I think Keane had a good chance in the first half. Obviously got the penalty which I think was offside in the end. But yeah, and then second off, I thought we started better, got the goal. And I think once we go 1-0 in front, we'll be disappointed not to win the game and keep it clean sheet. Was it difficult trying to break down that defensive line of Leeds today? Yeah, they make it difficult. It's a difficult formation to break down. You know, Leeds are a good side. They came and made it difficult.

12:09I think they've got good results against Liverpool. Drew against Liverpool, beat Chelsea recently. So they were a good team and they were difficult to break down at times. But like I say, once you get your nose in front, I think we'll be disappointed we didn't win the game and keep it clean sheet. There was a moment though where you were able to find the opening goal for Brentford. Just talk us through it when you saw that moment opening up for you. Yeah, I think it was a great ball. Was it Matty? Played in behind to Rico. And once I seen Rico was in, I tried to just make the box. Luckily, I think I got a little bit of a deflection backwards and then I just tried to find the bottom corner.

12:49So, yeah, it fell nicely to us and thankfully it went in. There were question marks about because it did take a little bit of a deflection, whether or not it was going to go down as an own goal. But you're taking that all day, aren't you? Yeah, of course. You've got to be, surely. And it was a nice moment as well for the celebration for you to be able to pay tribute to Diogo Jota. Yeah, it was his birthday recently and we'll never forget him. We always remember him forever really. So I can only imagine what the lads at Liverpool are going through. But he was a good friend and like I said, I don't want to score many goals.

13:30So when I did, I always thought that I would dedicate it to him. It was your first goal in English football for over four years. There's been lots of praise as well about your performances in a Brentford shirt. So how are you feeling in yourself? Yeah, I feel pretty good, to be fair. Physically, I feel very good. It's nice to be back playing in the Premier League. So, yeah, just head down, try to work hard and do my best for the team to help them pick up as many points as possible. You know, we've had a couple of tough games of Leighton and Arsenal and Spurs away. So today, we're disappointed not to win, but, you know, a point in this league is still important against a good Leeds team.

14:13You've got to give them some credit as well. So we'll take the point and move on and try to, yeah, keep positive and try to be better in the next year. Thank you very much for your time. Well done today. Thank you. Jordan Henderson, the Brentford goalscorer with Pien and the Leeds goalscorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin has joined us in the studio. Thank you very much for coming up. Is that a point gained or did you feel that three might have been there for the taking? How are you in the Leeds dressing room afterwards? I think in the end it's a point gained, but I think three points were there for the taking, definitely.

14:48We hung in there first half. We didn't really give them too much to go off. So second half we wanted to start on the front foot and I thought that we did that. And then going a goal behind is frustrating. But I think in recent weeks we've shown good resilience, good character to come back into games. We'll take you back to the previous games over the last month or so in a moment, but talk us through your goal, because the man next to you has just compared you to Michael Jordan in hang time, which, you know, you may want to take. That's fair praise. It's pretty good praise, right? He doesn't want to be compared to him.

15:20But you do ever so well. You know, Ampadu keeps it alive for you, and then you find yourself at the back post. Talk us through your movement. I think I found it tough, to be fair. You know, the two centre-halves, they were physical, and I could tell that they had instructions that when the ball was wide to get hold of me and stop me from jumping. So I tried to pick up my position offside early and come on the blind side and thankfully Willie put a great ball in and I was there too. I didn't realise I jumped that high. There you go. I think when you're in the moment, you're kind of just watching the ball come in and I suppose my bread and butter really.

15:52Do your eyes light up when that cross comes in? Kind of. I think everything slows down and you've just got to watch the ball and try and time it well and put the ball in the corner. You know, sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't, and today was a good one. And when you sat down with us, you were saying, you know, now, because how everything is checked, it just increases, what, the nerves for you, the doubt for you? I suppose it does have that seed of doubt. Yeah, it seems like every goal you score gets checked these days, and I think when you're playing so high on the line and you're playing on the shoulders, it's difficult, and there's always a chance, isn't there, that it could be offside.

16:31So today I got the run of play. From that angle, from a cross like that, and when the centre-full goes up like he goes up, there's very little, I'm guessing, you can do as a defender there if he's in between the two of you. Yeah, absolutely. I think you've been probably looking at Sepp Vandenberg's position as well. You've kind of come on that blind side of Chris Ager and you've got your space there to do what you do best. And when I think about you, I think they're the goals that I think of, in the air and that stuff, having played against you over the years and that stuff. But it's great to see you back amongst the goals and playing well as well, mate.

17:04I said to Ben, how do you stop that when someone has such a good aerial ability? So you try to just battle up against him, you try to stop it, but once you get up early, it is almost impossible for anybody to stop you there. I think when I do pick up a good position and I get blindsided the centre-half, it is difficult for centre-halves to stop it. So that's why I think we've had enough battles over the years. He said he's kicked you a few times. Yeah. Getting old on me and trying to stop me from doing that. So one thing I think is when you do pick up a position, you know, starting offside, it's difficult to defend, isn't it?

17:38Because you don't know if to drop and go with me and then you can come round the front. So it's always a game of cat and mouse, really. But I do back myself if I do get on the shoulder to, you know, beat my man in the air. You look like you relished the physical battle out there today and you have done in recent weeks. So how are you feeling? Feeling good. I think, you know, the performances speaking for themselves at the moment, feeling good, feeling healthy. I think this is the fittest I've been in a long time and I've worked extremely hard to get in this position. You know, when you get a certain narrative around you and you're tired with a certain brush, it's quite hard to shake it.

18:13So for me, it's just, it was always about being mentally tough and hanging in there at certain points and just step by step, day by day and putting performances together. and all of a sudden the tide starts to turn and you start scoring goals and that's the life of the centre forward. That narrative must be really hard because it affects you personally as an individual, obviously, but at the same time, you're trying to find a club as well, aren't you? So the narrative will swirl around teams who are looking at you and you're having to try and convince them at the same time. I suppose so, yeah, but it's all uncontrollables and I think in football, as a player, you have to try and control the controllables and the moment you start letting too much of the external stuff bother you, that's when you can get yourself in a rut.

19:00But I keep my circle small, you know, my wife, my daughter and my dad and I think that keeps me grounded and I just try and, I think as I've got older, more mature, stay more balanced and don't let so much of the outside stuff concern me and focus on what I can control on the pitch and that's what I've been doing. And that's confidence as well, Dominic. at trusting your body, I guess, comes from that as well because you look like you're banging form, the goals are coming. Obviously, the odd tap in here and there, but that, when I think of you as a player, is vintage. When he headed it, we both went, you can't stop that, that's unplayable.

19:32Yeah, you've got to be, you say, you've got to be in there to score them, haven't you? I was going to say, they do all count. Listen, anyone, I could have scored that one. The one last week. They're the best ones, aren't they? They're the moneymakers. It's great to see you in form and feeling fit and healthy as well because, you know, and obviously the chat is going to be five goals this season, the World Cup as well. Is there a little part of you that's looking at that as well? I mean, it's always the goal is to play for your country and represent your country at World Cup. But for me, my job is to do as best as possible for Leeds United and that's what I came here to do, score goals at club level and just play my best football and, like I said before, control the controllables and the rest takes care of itself, doesn't it?

20:17You as a group then and as a team, how much did that second half at Manchester City, I know you went on to lose, but how much did that comeback change things for you as a group of players? I think you'll know there's certain moments in seasons where there's turning points. And I think that second half was definitely a turning point for us going into that tough week. And I was saying amongst the group, we're not defined by one game, but this is a very important week. and depending on how we do this week could determine how we do going into Christmas. And I think that performance against City in the second half definitely gives us the confidence to go into Chelsea believing that we can compete at this level.

20:57I think we started the season well and then had a little wobble and we found our feet. But we have across the board good players, top players that can compete at this level and it's about bringing it all together and ultimately performing on a match day. it's weird isn't it because people can look at a spell of pictures and go my god they're a real tough you know City well City, Chelsea, Liverpool has a really tough run but they can also go the other way and galvanise you in terms of belief I think that's what's that's probably what's happened and like I said before I'm a man of balance and I like to not get too high and not get too low so you know although it was a great week and people are singing our praises it's important for us that this game today was a bigger game for us because you've got to go and back it up.

21:42And if you can't win, don't lose. And we've come away with a point on the road, which I think we take it and take it on the bus home and look forward to the next one. And Ellen Road as well. I mean, I always remember playing there. It's a fortress. You get the crowd behind you. It's such a tough place for teams to go. Yeah, and you have to use that in your favour. I think me as a new Leeds player, feeling the atmosphere, it's been incredible. You know, the away fans travelling as well. It's an unbelievable fan base and you definitely feel that as players. And, you know, away teams coming to Ellen Road, they're going to find it tough because we've got us and the fans behind us and it can be a hostile place to come and play.

22:21Thank you very much for coming up to see us. You haven't even had a shower yet. Obviously, you're still in your kit. And he's got flip... You talk about flip-flops. Sliders. We were talking about throwing things and that when you lose, because we had Keith Andrews in and they throw flip-flops. I was like, in the old days, we used to throw sandwiches or plates, but now it's flip-flops. Thank you very much for coming in. Well done, mate. Thank you. Dominic Carver-Lewis with us. We will let you go. There you go. Thank you. There are just a few weeks left of the regular season in the NFL and the race for the playoffs is really hotting up.

22:56I'm Neil Reynolds, the host of Sky Sports NFL podcast, Inside the Huddle. Every Monday and Thursday, we review the big games and discuss all the key talking points. So to see who will be battling it out for a place at Super Bowl 60, Search for Inside the Huddle and give us a listen.

23:18Welcome back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Let's get back to the studio for more reaction to today's game. Jordan Henderson put Brentford ahead here at the GTEC. Midway through the second half, Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalising for Leeds late on. Here are the thoughts of that man there, Keith Andrews, with Pete. Keith, a draw in the end. What did you make of your side's performance today? Controlled the first half, dominated the ball, caused them some problems. I thought we could have been a little bit better with the structure of the team, maybe, and how we got into certain areas and the individual moments.

23:58Second half, I thought they started better. They had a bit of control of the game. Momentum was against us. We managed to get ourselves in front. I thought we dug in deep, did really well to take the lead. And unfortunately, we couldn't keep that lead. We didn't manage it particularly well in those moments where we conceded. Where was it frustrating for you then when you mentioned that you didn't manage those moments well? What did you want to see instead? Stopping crosses and dealing with crosses. I think it doesn't take too much from me to tell the boys what Calvert-Leon is about and his strengths.

24:32so yeah I think in general we've dealt with that really well it was an old school game in certain ways where it was slightly direct they had a front two on the first half and yeah disappointing in the way we considered the goal When you're looking back at it as well did it feel difficult to try and break down that Leeds defence especially? Yeah but they're playing a back five, 5-3-2 you saw in Arsenal last night against Wolves struggling top of the league against bottom of the league very difficult system to break down you've got to be patient, you've got to do the right things you've got to break their spirit I felt we were doing that in large parts I have to say I'm very proud of the way we came through the second half period where they were on top and we did well to dig in take the lead but like I said unfortunately we couldn't manage that You got a very positive moment with Jordan Henderson who was able to get that opening goal first of all on the goal how did you see it and then of course for him as well getting his first goal for the club Yeah, big for Jordan, he had a slightly different role today.

25:32More advanced for Tally, was providing a little bit more security in midfield for Jordan to become more advanced than the shackles are at times. And thankfully, he was able to pop up with that goal. So he took it pretty well with the slight aid of a deflection. What's it been like working with Jordan Henderson? Because it seems like he's been getting a lot of praise, especially in a Brentford shirt as well. But for him as a player and for you to work with him as a manager? Jordan's experience now's knowledge of the game is obviously pretty much second to none he's been a really impactful player for us, he gives a lot of presence on the football pitch around what we do and how we do things I think we've been good for Jordan, I think he's settled into life here really really well he's played a big part and long may continue When you're looking ahead over the next couple of game weeks as well, how important is this home form because it is a really difficult place obviously for teams to come and try and get a victory so how much can you use that to your advantage?