Mbeumo boasts form to steal the show in a derby missing its leading men

THERE is an old Gang Show ditty, titled 'Friends' and written, judging from its contents, at a simpler time, that rattles through an assortment of quaint luxuries one can supposedly do without.

- Malik Ouzia

Several feel questionable this week (umbrellas and winter overcoats are both out) but strangely there is no mention of £100million centreforwards.

Brentford, though, continue to make the case convincingly, Ivan Toney, valued at that nine-figure sum in one report this week, still a couple of months away from his return but the Bees, in his absence, having matched their best Premier League start ahead of tomorrow's visit of West Ham.

True, the sample size is hardly gargantuan, but tallies of 12, 13 and now 13 points again from their first 10 games of the past three top-flight seasons speak to the consistency Thomas Frank's side have found since their promotion in 2021, a level so far maintained despite being shorn of their best player.