Wolves 1 Brentford 1: Mbeumo reaches 20-goal milestone as Bees end season with draw | OneFootball

Bryan Mbeumo was on target as Brentford concluded their 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Bees led at the break thanks to Mbeumo’s 20th goal of the season, but Marshall Munetsi’s unstoppable strike earned Wolves a share of the spoils on the final day.

Frank named an unchanged starting XI, while defender Aaron Hickey returned to a matchday squad for the first time since October 2023.

Following an uneventful opening, Mark Flekken made the first save on 10 minutes.

Nélson Semedo, under pressure from Keane Lewis-Potter, lifted in a cross from the right and Matheus Cunha’s header was comfortably held by the Bees keeper.

Rayan Aït-Nouri’s delivery from the opposite flank was glanced wide by Gonçalo Guedes, and Munetsi and Semedo’s efforts lacked the conviction to trouble Flekken.

Having soaked up some early pressure, Brentford delivered the first blow.

Just moments after José Sá had dropped to his right to save Kevin Schade’s well-struck shot, Aït-Nouri surrendered possession on the edge of his own area and Yoane Wissa’s low drive was blocked by Emmanuel Agbadou.

The ball dropped kindly for Christian Nørgaard inside the six-yard box, and the Brentford captain selflessly squared for Mbeumo who steered home at the first time of asking.

In doing so, the Cameroon international became only the second player after Ivan Toney to score 20 goals in a Premier League season for the Bees.

As the game reached the half hour, Cunha’s speculative effort was pounced upon by Flekken. At the other end, Schade met Lewis-Potter’s cross from the left with a cushioned header which was saved by Sá.

Lewis-Potter then passed up a big chance of his own. Mikkel Damsgaard began a blistering counter attack and Wissa, having waited for reinforcements, fed the overlapping full-back on the left side of the box. The former Hull City man lifted over the advancing Sá and on to the roof of the net.

Cunha and André both tried their luck from distance – the first effort was held by Flekken and the second sailed over the crossbar – while Wissa plucked the ball out of the air with a sublime first touch and saw his close-range shot smothered by Sá.

Semedo’s swerving strike from the edge of the box was brilliantly pushed around the post by Flekken to conclude an entertaining first half at Molineux.

Both sides returned from the half-time break with purpose and intensity.

Aït-Nouri forced Flekken into another smart stop, and Wissa found the side netting after some superb combination play with Mbeumo.

Cunha’s in-swinging corner was headed narrowly wide by Matt Doherty before Guedes spurned a huge opportunity to level for Wolves.

Semedo’s delivery from the right found the striker in plenty of space but he dragged wide of Flekken’s right post from 12 yards.

Nørgaard tested Sá with a long-range effort, then Rodrigo Gomes shot high and wide, as the two teams continued to trade chances.

Wolves were not to be denied an equaliser. Jorgen Strand Larsen flicked a long kick forward into the path of Munetsi and the midfielder blasted beyond Flekken and into the top corner from 20 yards.

Mathias Jensen’s deep corner was met by Nathan Collins in the fifth minute of stoppage time, but substitute goalkeeper Tom King made a crucial claim.

The result at Molineux meant that Thomas Frank’s side ended a highly impressive Premier League campaign in 10th.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sá (King 90+1); Doherty (Bellegarde 87), Agbadou, Gomes; Semedo, Gomes, André, Aït-Nouri (R Gomes 65); Munetsi (Bueno 86), Cunha; Guedes (Strand Larsen 65)

Subs not used: Hwang, Sarabia, Lima, Mané

Brentford: Flekken; Kayode (Ajer 86), Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Nørgaard, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard (Jensen 80); Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade (Thiago 80)

Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Hickey, Henry, Pinnock, Konak, Nunes

Frank: We should have killed the game off

Head coach Thomas Frank gave his thoughts on the Bees’ final game of the season at Molineux.

“Overall, we played a fine game,” he said.

“First half, we were really good, we looked dangerous going forward: we created a great goal, a top chance for Keane Lewis-Potter, and other good situations.

“We probably should have killed the game off."

Frank continued: “Second half, it was a little bit more even. There were some situations for Wolves, and then they scored a goal I would like to avoid conceding.

“I think we did enough to edge it, but I don’t think a draw was a completely unfair result today.”

Mbeumo on 20-goal milestone

Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo discussed hitting 20 Premier League goals, as well as the trio of him, Yoane Wissa and Kevin Schade reaching 50 as a collective.

“I was really happy - I think my celebration showed it," he said.

“But, before that, I think the team did a great job, they helped me a lot this season to score those goals. Without them, I don’t think I would have been able to do it.”

On his relationship with his fellow forwards, Mbeumo added: “Everyone speaks about me and Wissa, but Kev deserves a lot of praise.

“He didn’t play a lot when he first joined due to injuries and stuff, but the way he has stepped up this season has been unbelievable.

“He has scored a lot of goals, he is improving a lot, and I think next season he is going to be amazing again.”