Thomas Frank wants Premier League to be postponed amid coronavirus threat

Brentford manager says clubs need time to deal with new outbreaks

Brentford manager Thomas Frank. PA

Brentford manager Thomas Frank has called for the next round of Premier League fixtures to be postponed to allow clubs to deal with coronavirus outbreaks.

Frank saw his side’s clash with Manchester United called off on Tuesday as the Omicron variant spreads in the United Kingdom, with Burnley’s match with Watford on Wednesday becoming the third Premier League fixture in a week to be called off.

Frank and his squad have Covid issues of their own to deal with ahead of a Saturday trip to Southampton and the Dane would like to see a break in play to help manage the situation across the league.

“We think we should postpone the full round of Premier League games this weekend,” he said on Thursday.

“Covid cases are going through the roof at all Premier League clubs, everyone is dealing with it and having problems.

“To postpone this round and also the Carabao Cup round would give everyone a week at least, or four or five days to clean and do everything at the training ground so everything is clean and you break the chain.”

Frank was informed of four more Covid cases overnight – bringing the current total involving players and staff at the club to 13 – midway through his Thursday press conference.

And he believes a decision to halt this weekend’s round of top-flight fixtures could be enough to sure the busy festive programme will be able to go ahead largely as planned.

“We fully respect that we want to play and it is important football keeps going, and this way we can make sure Boxing Day keeps going, I’m 100 per cent sure of that,” added Frank.

“This Omicron variant is running like wildfire around the world and I think we need to do all we can to protect and avoid it. I think we can do a lot by closing down training grounds for three, four or five days, and then we can go again.”

Brentford v Watford ratings

brentford ratings: Alvaro Fernandez – 6, The quieter of the goalkeepers early on but was beaten by a bullet header by Dennis. Made a comfortable low save to deny Watford a second through Josh King. Getty

Charlie Goode – 6, Continued a run in the Bees defence with Thomas Frank low on options but faced quite the fight up against Dennis on the wing, who often left him hurried and was perhaps a victim of zonal marking as he and Jansson failed to pick up Dennis for the corner. Couldn’t quite divert his header before half-time from a corner. Booked. Getty

Pontus Jansson – 7, Forced to intervene as Ngakia’s dangerous cross-shot but beaten by Dennis, who had found the space and was largely unmarked. Made amends by heading in Brentford’s equaliser to score his first for the club. Booked. Getty

Vitaly Janelt – 7, Dropped into a back three with Ethan Pinnock missing and did well. Rarely troubled and linked well with Henry on the left, also supplied a beautiful curling cross to Jensen and forced Bachmann into action in the second half. Great delivery by the German in the final stages, which was headed on for Jansson to score. Booked for late challenge. AP

Mads Roerslev Rasmussen – 5, Largely quiet during the first half and the 22-year-old just didn’t seem to find it easy moving forward when he was closed down by King, Sissoko and Ngakia. AP

Shandon Baptiste – 7, Started his second consecutive game following his goal against Leeds on Sunday and nearly got his second in two games with a lovely chested down effort, which Bachmann had to tip over. Lively in a scrappy game. PA

Christian Norgaard – 7, Praised by his manager pre-match as one of their best players and provided a stunning effortless pass for Mbeumo to run onto just before half-time before it was run out. Supplied a great through-ball, which saw Ghoddos fouled in the box and rewarded a penalty. AP

Mathias Jensen – 5, A poor game for the Denmark international, who struggled to thread things together and were unable to find that key pass. AP

Rico Henry – 6, Put a decent ball into the box but Bachmann was comfortable but largely couldn’t make anything happen. Did seem to be a little livelier after the break on the wing. Reuters

Bryan Mbeumo – 7, Sprung into action in the 20th minute, darting on a ball before taking it on his left foot and forcing Bachmann to push away a curling effort. A nuisance at times with his darting runs and made no mistake from the spot to convert a stoppage time penalty. Reuters

Yoane Wissa – 6, Made his full Premier League debut as he replaced a suspended Sergio Canos and did have opportunities. Getty

SUBS: Marcus Forss (for Wissa 69’) – N/R Flicked on Janelt’s cross for Jansson to head home. Getty

Saman Ghoddos (for Jensen 69’) – N/R Fouled for the penalty after running onto a great through-ball. Getty

Frank Onyeka (for Henry 77’) – N/R Had a late effort on goal unable to find the net. Booked. Reuters

WATFORD RATINGS: Daniel Bachmann – 6, Forced to tip over an early effort on goal and was at full stretch to keep out Mbeumo’s curling effort. Largely untroubled in the second half but did make a great save to deny Janelt. Went the wrong way for Mbuemo’s penalty. Getty

Kiko Femenia – 7, Didn’t have too much to do in the first half but showed good pace to track back and clear danger posed by Wissa on the counter-attack in the box. Made a very necessary block to deny Henry finding the far post. Booked. AP

William Troost-Ekong – 4, Made a decent block to stop Wissa getting a shot away in the second half. Oblivious to Jansson in the box for Brentford’s equaliser. On the wrong side of Ghoddos for the penalty. Getty

Craig Cathcart – 6, Provided a decent tackle in the box to deny Mbeumo of a shooting chance early on. Solid in the air with Troost-Ekong to stop Brentford’s passages of play. PA

Jeremy Ngakia – 7, Hornets boss Ranieri hinted at a return to the starting line-up for the 21-year-old following their defeat at Manchester City and delivered a dangerous curling cross-shot into the box, forcing Jansson to head it away from danger. A lively addition to the starting line-up. PA

Moussa Sissoko – 6, Mislaid a pass early on but grew into the game in a scrappy first half, whipping a great ball in for Dennis and also assisting in helping his side regain possession. AFP

Juraj Kucka – 5, Too anonymous in the middle alongside Sissoko during the first half. AP

Tom Cleverley – 6, Started well for the Hornets and delivered a delightful corner in for Dennis to head in and was missed when taken off in the middle of the park. AFP

Emmanuel Dennis – 7, Left unmarked and left the Bees stunned when he gave Watford the early lead with a bullet header from a corner. A menace on the wing. Getty

Joshua King – 6, Could have easily had Watford’s opener as his low drive beats Fernandez and is only saved by the woodwork but didn’t make too much noise at Brentford Community Stadium. Reuters

Cucho Hernandez – 6, Returned to the starting line-up after scoring just his second goal of the season against Man City but was largely quiet. Whipped in a decently positioned free-kick in the 70th minute but was unable to keep it low enough. Reuters

subs: Joao Pedro (for Cleverley, 57’) – 6, First change of the night as Watford looked for the second goal and provided an off-the-line clearance in the closing stages as Brentford were high on momentum. Reuters

Ken Sema (for Hernandez 77’) – N/R A return from injury for Swede, who hadn’t played since October. Getty

Ozan Tufan (for Dennis 91’) – N/R A late change for Watford. Reuters