Brentford's defensive frailties across the 2023/24 season and at the start of this campaign were well-documented as Thomas Frank's team struggled to hold onto points in the Premier League.
44 points were dropped from winning positions between August 2023 and November 2024, with a 2-1 defeat to Fulham, in which Harry Wilson scored twice in second half stoppage-time, the boiling point.
24 leads were conceded - a large percentage leading to defeat - with the Bees conceding a total of 15 goals within 20 minutes of going in front. This was something Frank was keen to address at the time.
Fast forward seven months and the situation is different, irrespective of Sunday's west London derby defeat to Fulham that saw them concede a winning position and perhaps their European dreams for another season.
This kind of result has become an anomaly since November's reverse fixture and since then the Bees have conceded a lead just six times, dropped only eight points, and are now retaining leads for longer periods.
"It's probably that consistency in the team, " he told VAVEL.
"Since the Fulham game and the 27 games onwards, we have also played quite a consistent team and I think that helps.
"But also the small adjustments: defensively, middle pressure, how to defend low, rest defending so we don’t have a stupid counter against you.
"And, of course, what we always try to do is score the next goal."
Long-awaited consistency
One of the main factors in Brentford's struggles was instability in defence. Kristoffer Ajer proved injury prone, Ethan Pinnock was sidelined for a period, while Aaron Hickey and Rico Henry suffered long-term injuries.
That has changed, with Sepp van den Berg, Nathan Collins, and Keane Lewis-Potter able to develop a strong understanding as the trio have lined up alongside one another in the league 22 times since November.
Collins and van den Berg, in particular, have developed a positive relationship on and off the pitch and are forming a very good partnership at the heart of Brentford's defence.
The duo have started as a centre-back pairing 13 times in 2025 and have helped solidify things by keeping five clean sheets, all while Brentford have conceded the lead just three times under their protection.
"They have a good partnership and they complement each other well," Frank told VAVEL.
"They are still relatively young centre-backs and only more half the games, more or less, this year they have played together as a centre-back pair, so there are still quite a few games.
"I’m convinced they will get better and better, and that is also the understanding of each other’s strength and weaknesses."
They have been to help the club achieve new feats in winning five consecutive away matches for the first time in the club's history, while also winning four top-flight matches in a row for the first time since 1939.
Building upon a strong foundation
Collins has been an ever-present in the team and is on course to be the only outfield player in the Premier League this season to play every minute - if he completes the match against former club Wolves on Sunday.
The 24-year-old has grown exponentially this season after early struggles in west London and has gone on to become a stalwart for his club and the captain of the Republic of Ireland.
He has been the one common factor in a defence that has received minor tinkering over the past few months as Frank lined up with nine defensive combinations due to injuries and transfers.
"That’s probably still a lower number compared to last season where there were more combinations," he added.
"Having Nathan and Sepp, and Ethan – three main guys as the centre-backs throughout the season, Keane the main left-back throughout the season.
"Then a little bit in and out for the right-back, and we have Mark Flekken, almost have Norgaard for every game as well – that’s a strong foundation."
This foundation is what has allowed Brentford to build success upon this season and compete for a first-ever European spot for the second time in their fourth Premier League campaign.