Brentford powered into the Carabao Cup quarter-finals for the fourth time in six seasons, defeating Grimsby Town 5-0 at Blundell Park. Despite making nine changes, the Premier League side displayed total control and attacking flair against their League Two opponents.
Grimsby had stunned Manchester United earlier in the competition and hoped for another upset, but Brentford ended their dream run decisively. Around 8,000 home supporters packed the stands, yet the visitors’ quality overwhelmed them from the start.
Mathias Jensen opened the scoring with a precise strike from the edge of the box in the 22nd minute. Keane Lewis-Potter doubled the lead four minutes later with a header from Reiss Nelson’s cross. Nelson, on loan from Arsenal, then made it 3-0 before halftime with a fine 20-yard finish.
Grimsby nearly took the lead early on when Evan Khouri’s header forced a strong save, but that proved their best chance. Brentford continued to dominate after the break, with Fabio Carvalho scoring a penalty in the 54th minute after Khouri fouled him. Substitute Nathan Collins sealed the rout with a late header.
Manager Keith Andrews praised his side’s performance. “Our attacking play was outstanding,” he said. “We’ve faced tough opposition throughout this cup run, but the players keep pushing each other to improve.”
Bees Prove Their Depth and Ambition
Brentford’s victory highlighted their squad depth and consistency. Only Sepp van den Berg and Dango Ouattara remained from the side that beat Liverpool at the weekend, yet the team performed with confidence and cohesion.
Nelson, Carvalho, and Lewis-Potter each contributed a goal and an assist, impressing both fans and coaching staff. Andrews said, “Keane, Reiss, and Fabio showed real quality tonight. Performances like this prove how strong our squad is.”
The result marks another step forward for Brentford since Keith Andrews replaced Thomas Frank, who left for Tottenham in the summer. Many doubted whether Andrews could sustain the club’s momentum, but recent wins over Manchester United, West Ham, Liverpool, and now Grimsby have silenced critics.
Grimsby’s Magical Run Ends, Brentford Eyes the Semi-Finals
For Grimsby, the defeat ended a spirited cup journey that included wins over Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday. They had hoped to reach their first EFL Cup quarter-final in 40 years but found Brentford too strong.
Meanwhile, Brentford’s traveling supporters left Blundell Park dreaming of another deep cup run. Four years ago, the Bees reached the semi-finals, and with their current form, another historic campaign seems possible.
Brentford will discover their next opponents when the quarter-final draw takes place on Wednesday. For now, Andrews and his team can take pride in a commanding win that showcased their growing ambition and Premier League quality.
