Wolves player ratings vs Brentford as defensive horror-show keeps Gary O'Neil's side bottom of the Premier League

Wolverhampton Wanderers fell to their fifth defeat of the season on Saturday after losing 5-3 at Brentford.

Gary O’Neil’s side twice fought back from a goal down to draw level but some dismal defending allowed Brentford to pull clear before the break. Six of the eight goals were scored in the opening 45, with Brentford’s late fifth condemning the Old Gold to another heavy defeat.

A madcap opening period at the Gtech Community Stadium saw goals at both ends inside the first five minutes, with Matheus Cunha Cancelling out Nathan Collins’ early opener. Brentford were then awarded a penalty when Mario Lemina was adjudged to have fouled Collins, with Mbuemo scoring from the spot.

Wolves pulled level again through Jorgen Strand Larsen but contrived to concede a third, with Christian Norgaard scoring the game’s fifth goal inside 28 minutes. Ethan Pinnock then made it 4-2 in first-half added-time, nodding home Mikkel Damsgaard’s corner under no pressure whatsoever from the Wolves defence.

A much quieter second half saw fewer goals but Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone was called into action on multiple occasions, with the away side looking defensively open. O’Neil’s side wanted a penalty for handball on 70 minutes but were denied any hope of getting back into the game.

Fabio Carvalho rubbed salt in the wounds with a fifth goal for Brentford, with Rayan Ait-Nouri’s effort proving little more than a consolation. Below, BirminghamWorld has rounded up the Wolves player ratings courtesy of WhoScored.com.

GK: Sam Johnstone - 6.7

RB: Nelson Semedo - 6.3

CB: Craig Dawson - 5.9

CB: Toti Gomes - 6.1

LB: Rayan Ait-Nouri - 7.9

RM (off '68): Carlos Forbs - 6.4

CM (off '77):: Joao Gomes - 6.1

CM (off '57): Andre - 6.1

CM: Mario Lemina - 6.3

LM: Matheus Cunha - 7.0

ST: Joergen Strand Larsen - 7.4

Sub (on '57): Hwang Hee Chan - 6.0

Sub (on '68): Goncalo Guedes - 6.4

Sub (on '77): Jean-Ricner Bellegarde - 6.2