By Ayisha Gulati

A 16th-placed finish might not sound like success but after a season hampered by injuries and the controversy of Ivan Toney’s suspension, Brentford will be delighted to have survived the drop - and secure a fourth successive season in the Premier League.

Since ascension to the top flight, the Bees have somewhat outperformed many expectations, finishing 13th in 2022 and ninth in 2023.

But this upward trend was reversed last season, as injury woes and the absence of star striker Ivan Toney at the beginning of the season took its toll on Thomas Frank’s Bees.

Toney’s betting breaches meant Frank was without his talisman for more than half the season while weathering an extensive list of injuries. 

Brentford ultimately fell short of 40 points, but survival was very much the goal.

With Frank having been linked to a host of clubs, most notably Manchester United, Bees fans were delighted at the news Erik ten Hag was being retained at Old Trafford. 

The discussion surrounding Frank’s own future at Brentford has been hushed for now.

But he is undoubtedly the club’s weapon to success as they remain a team with one of the lowest transfer expenditures and wage bills in the Premier League, but produce solid performances.

However Frank was left grappling for results in an injury-stricken season where the team endured 18 different fitness-related absences, 13 of which lasted longer than five games.

This left Brentford falling from ninth to 16th in the most drastic season-on-season fall of any Premier League team.

Injuries meant 23-year-old Keane Lewis-Potter was called upon to play in five different positions across his 30 appearances, filling in at wing-back despite his preferred forward position. 

He was a standout star of the season, and it will be interesting to see how he is utilised this year.

In the absence of Toney, it was left to Bryan Mbeumo to be the player leading from the front when he was fit. 

A total of 30 of Brentford’s 39 points were earned when Mbeumo started, and his nine goals and six assists were key to their campaign.

His partnership with Yoane Wissa created a lively attacking threat that needs to be continued, especially if Toney is to leave the club.

Toney has been with the Bees for four years. 

As he enters the final year of his five-year contract at the Gtech Community Stadium, there are many questions surrounding his future. He only played a bit-part role for England at the Euros but Frank - resigned to losing him this summer - has labelled him “world-class”.

Despite some sticky moments, Brentford proved their worth in the Premier League last season. Their 5-1 win over Luton at Kenilworth Road proved they were a step ahead of the team that has gone straight back down to the Championship after one season.

A 1-1 draw with Manchester United at the Gtech was memorable for other reasons. 

With 31 shots on goal, and 85 touches in United’s box - the most by a team in any Premier League match across the last three seasons - the game will be remembered for more than the valuable point they earned from a 99th-minute equaliser from Kristoffer Ajer.

Seeking a replacement for Toney’s apparent inevitable departure, a deal was agreed in February to sign Igor Thiago on a five-year contract, effective from 1 July, for a reported club-record fee of approximately £30 million. 

However Thiago will be out until at least the New Year after picking up an injury in pre-season, leaving plenty of the burden on Toney - though Fabio Carvalho's arrival from Liverpool for £27.5m provides a welcome boost to Frank's attacking options.

Brentford had hoped to add to their depth with highly-rated Leeds prospect Archie Gray.

However, despite Frank’s best attempts at selling Gray the Brentford philosophy, the 18-year-old chose a club who could offer him European football and signed with Spurs.

After scoring eight goals in 30 appearances, Neal Maupay has returned to Everton after his loan spell with the Bees, as they decided not to make the move permanent.

This season sees Brentford kick start their season with a London derby at home to Crystal Palace.

A tough start sees them go on to face three of last season’s top five away before September ends, as they travel to Anfield, the Etihad and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

While he might have called his striker “world-class”, many would use the same adjective to describe the Brentford boss himself.

Bees fans will be of the belief that with Frank at the helm and a fully-fit team, Brentford will be back on their path to the top half of the table.

Frank will feel optimistic about the season ahead, that he cannot face worse luck than he faced last season.

He will be calling on Bees fans to get behind the team and bring the noise at the Gtech this season, with or without Toney.