With the Premier League season drawing to a close it looks like promoted sides Norwich City and Watford will be going straight back down to the Championship.
But for Thomas Frank’s Brentford, the Bees look to be safe and could even secure a top-half finish with four league games remaining.
In their first ever season in the top-flight, the Dane’s side looked like they were being dragged into a relegation dogfight having lost seven of eight games across January and February.
Following a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle at the Brentford Community Stadium on 26 February, Frank’s side were three points above 18th-placed Burnley, but had played three games more than the Clarets.
Christian Eriksen marked his emotional return to football as a substitute against the Magpies, but ever since the playmaker started his first game for Brentford, the Bees haven’t looked back.
With the season drawing to a close, we have put together a Premier League XI featuring just the promoted sides…
David Raya
The 26-year-old has missed a large chunk of the season after sustaining a cruciate knee ligament injury against Leicester back in October.
After missing 14 Premier League games, the Spaniard made his much-anticipated return against Everton in the FA Cup fourth-round in February.
The former Blackburn Rovers stopper has had an impressive maiden campaign in the top-flight, making crucial saves and showing his calmness with the ball at his feet.
Raya’s performances for Brentford resulted in him making his Spain debut against Albania during the international break. He will no doubt be looking to kick on and form a part of Luis Enrique’s Spain squad for this winter’s World Cup.
Max Aarons
The England Under-21 international hasn’t set the world alight this season and he only has one assist to his name in the Premier League.
But with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal reportedly interested in the right-back, the Canaries may well decide to cash in on the 22-year-old who has 160 appearances for the Carrow Road side.
The pacey Aarons could thrive in a more established Premier League side and it would be a surprise to see Norwich’s number two start next season playing in the Championship.
Pontus Jansson
Brentford’s captain has played in all but one Premier League game this season and he would have likely played against West Ham earlier this month if he hadn’t been ruled out due to illness.
Both of Jansson’s Premier League goals have come against Watford and he’s been the leader of a defence (49) which has conceded less goals than Manchester United this season (51).
Only three players in the top-flight currently average more clearances per game than Jansson (5.1).
Ethan Pinnock
Similar to Jansson, Pinnock has been at the heart of Brentford’s for the majority of the season, missing just two games.
The 28-year-old’s only goal of the season saw him score the opener in what turned out to be a pulsating 3-3 encounter against Liverpool in front of the Bees fans.
Pinnock will be hoping to build on his partnership with Jansson next season and avoid the dreaded second season syndrome in the Premier League.
Hassane Kamara
The Ivory Coast international only arrived at Vicarage Road in the January transfer window, but he’s been one of Watford’s standout performers this season.
Watford’s number 14 has started every game at left-back since being signed by Claudio Ranieri, but despite the Italian being sacked the former Nice has formed a key part of Roy Hodgson’s plans.
Despite only joining halfway through the campaign, Kamara, who scored the Hornets’ consolation in the 5-1 defeat to Manchester City, tops the Premier League charts for the average number of tackles and interceptions per game.
Kamara averages 3.3 tackles and 3.7 interceptions per game, as well as 3.3 clearances. His impressive start to life in England could prompt summer interest.
Christian Norgaard
While his compatriot Eriksen receives the plaudits for his playmaking and creativity, Norgaard is the backbone to Frank’s side and he has had an impressive season.
The former Fiorentina man is out on how own in the Premier League’s tackling charts this season and he has three goals to his name, two of which have come against Arsenal.
No player has won more tackles in the top-flight than the Bees’ number six (78), according to FBref.
Christian Eriksen
In the six games the former Inter Milan midfielder has started for Frank’s side, Brentford have picked up 16 points from a possible 18.
The 30-year-old’s return to the peak of his powers is one of the most heart-warming feel-good sport stories.
But with Eriksen only signing a six-month contract with the Bees, his blistering form has prompted interest from a wealth of clubs and an emotional return to Tottenham has been mooted.
Ismaila Sarr
The African Cup of Nations winner hasn’t netted since scoring the second goal in a 4-1 win against Manchester United in November, which resulted in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer losing his job.
Sarr may have had one full season in the Championship, but it’s highly unlikely the Senegalese international will be willing to endure a second campaign in the second tier.
The 24-year-old started the season well with four goals from the opening six games, but he has lost his goalscoring touch.
Bryan Mbuemo
The 22-year-old has established a very good partnership and understanding with Ivan Toney and the pair have successfully managed the step up in quality from Championship to Premier League.
The Frenchman has four goals and seven assists from 31 games this season and he has undoubtedly benefitted from playing in a side that possesses Eriksen’s vision and eye for a deft pass.
Emmanuel Dennis
It’s nigh on impossible that Dennis will stay at Watford beyond this season and the Nigerian international isn’t going to be short of suitors.
The 24-year-old has been directly involved in 16 (10 goals, six assists) Hornets goals this season, but it looks like his efforts won’t be enough to guide Watford to safety.
With two Champions League goals against Real Madrid to his name, Watford will be hoping to get a good price for the former Club Brugge man.
Ivan Toney
No English player has scored more Premier League goals than Brentford’s talisman (12) this season and only Chris Wood (5.5) averages winning more aerial duels per game than Toney (4.5).
The 26-year-old has made the transition from Championship to Premier League look easy and every centre-back in the league knows they are in for a tough game when coming up against the physical and powerful Toney.
The likes of Arsenal and former club Newcastle have been credited with an interest in Toney, but Brentford’s number 17 wants to sign a new contract with the Bees according to 90min.