Bournemouth’s difficult spell stretched to nine matches without victory after a 4-1 defeat at Brentford, leaving Andoni Iraola questioning the first-half display. Kevin Schade’s hat-trick and a Djordje Petrovic own goal proved decisive, with Antoine Semenyo’s strike arriving after Brentford already led 3-0 in this Premier League meeting.
The loss deepened Bournemouth’s defensive problems, as the team have now allowed 22 goals in all competitions since the start of November, the highest figure among clubs in Europe’s top five leagues. This sequence is also their worst run since a 13-game winless stretch between May and October 2023, adding further pressure.
Iraola admitted he was disturbed by how Bournemouth opened the match, saying his players
looked unlike themselves during a one-sided first half. Brentford controlled possession, duels and territory from the outset, taking the lead after only six minutes when Schade finished a flowing move to start what became a personal treble.
Iraola was blunt when assessing that period. "In the first half, we weren't recognisable," said Iraola.We were not aggressive; we did not want to attack. We completely deserved the 2-0.We had to be brave. There has to be an intensity, and there wasn't in the first half. I was so disappointed at half-time. I did three changes; I could've done more.
Iraola's thoughts on #BREBOUAFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) December 27, 2025
By the interval Brentford were fully in control, with Schade already on the scoresheet twice and Bournemouth offering little response. The visitors improved after the restart, pressing higher and attacking more directly, which brought Semenyo’s goal. However, Brentford struck again and comfortably saw out the contest to complete a commanding 4-1 scoreline.
Asked about the wider run rather than just this Bournemouth Brentford result, Iraola focused on standards rather than league position. "No, I'm concerned about our performance in the first half. I accept you can lose games, but in the second half, we were perfect.We have to look at ourselves why we were 45 minutes late to start the game. We can accept mistakes, missed passes, but you have to give 100%.It was not like this in the beginning. "
Brentford’s win extended their strong recent record in this fixture. They have now beaten Bournemouth in four successive league meetings, a run last matched in May 1966, when they recorded five straight league victories. This result was also Brentford’s sixth home league win of the current season, rounding off the calendar year in positive fashion.
Bournemouth Brentford focus on Kevin Schade
Keith Andrews highlighted Brentford’s control and intensity during the Bournemouth Brentford encounter, especially before half-time. He said: "I was so glad to go in [to the break] at 2-0 because I felt 1-0 wouldn't have been a fair reflection of what we produced. But that's the gameyou've got to react to all the different scenarios within that. Overall, we're pretty pleased with our afternoon's work. "
Schade’s performance stood out. The Germany international now has 13 Premier League goals in 2025, more than any Brentford teammate. Seven of those have given the Bees the lead and six have been decisive winners. Schade also became the first German player to record a second Premier League hat-trick, underlining growing influence in attack.
Andrews felt such a display had been building for some time. "I feel like that's been coming for Kev [Schade], the goals," he said. "I didn't necessarily see a hat-trick, but the areas he gets into, the way he finishes in training I feel like that's been an area where we've been looking to develop and obviously, he's taken those opportunities. "
The Bournemouth Brentford result leaves Bournemouth searching for a response after a nine-game winless spell and heavy defensive numbers, while Brentford carry momentum from a dominant home run, a historic streak in this fixture and Schade’s prolific 2025 form heading into their next Premier League challenges.
