O’Neill Fires Subtle Shots at Andrews Ahead of Brentford’s Showdown with Sunderland
Former Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill has taken a thinly veiled swipe at Brentford boss Keith Andrews, despite acknowledging the Bees’ hard-fought victory over Aston Villa last weekend.
Andrews, who stepped into the Brentford hot seat over the summer, claimed his first Premier League win on Sunday as his side bounced back from a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest. A 12th-minute strike from Dango Ouattara proved decisive, with Brentford producing a stubborn defensive performance to frustrate Villa. Captain Nathan Collins marshalled the backline with authority, while summer signing Caoimhín Kelleher earned his first clean sheet since arriving from Liverpool, ensuring the Bees secured three valuable points.
Speaking after the game, Andrews praised his players for their resilience and togetherness, insisting the performance better reflected the values he wants to instil in his squad. “I thought we showed some real character, resilience and identity today,” he said. “That’s the type of togetherness we need to show every week to get results.”
However, O’Neill – working as a pundit ahead of Brentford’s upcoming trip to Sunderland – was quick to question Andrews’ approach. While giving credit for the win, the former Black Cats boss suggested the Irishman leaned too heavily on managerial “buzzwords” and modern coaching clichés when assessing his team’s performance.
The remarks add an extra layer of intrigue to Saturday’s clash at the Stadium of Light, where newly-promoted Sunderland will look to make a statement on home turf. Brentford, meanwhile, will be aiming to build momentum under Andrews, who has already come under scrutiny just weeks into his tenure. With O’Neill’s comments still lingering, the spotlight will shine even brighter on the Brentford manager as he prepares for his first Premier League meeting with his former club.
