Brentford scored from the spot for a second straight game in a 3-0 win over Fulham on Saturday with Bryan Mbeumo converting from 12 yards once again.

Whether or not the Bees' penalty was a stonewall decision deserving of a second booking for Cottagers defender Tim Ream is debatable, but penalties – and set-pieces in general – have been incredibly fruitful for Brentford in the Premier League since Thomas Frank’s side earned promotion.

During the 2021/22 campaign, Brentford won six spot-kicks and scored all of them. That’s a tally the team bettered last season when they won eight, converting seven. Ivan Toney had a rare effort saved by Nick Pope against Newcastle United during that campaign (though Toney later scored from a second spot-kick in the same game), but his record of scoring 23 of his 24 penalties since joining the Bees is incredibly impressive.

Filling the shoes of one of the best penalty takers in world football would be daunting for some, but Mbeumo seems to embrace such pressure - the Cameroon international's composed effort against Fulham maintaining his 100 per cent conversion rate from 12 yards in a Brentford shirt (five taken, all scored).

Overall, the Bees' consistency in winning (and scoring) penalties is the second-best in the Premier League since joining the top flight.

Only Manchester City have managed to win (19) and score (16) more penalties than Brentford since the start of the 2021/22 season.

However, the Bees have proved more reliable than the Premier League champions from the spot. In total, Brentford have been awarded 16 spot-kicks over the past three seasons, scoring 15 of them – a conversion rate of 94 per cent. Not even City can compare with that: the Citizens only managing to convert 84 per cent of the penalties they have been awarded.

Of course, you ideally want to be winning penalties while not conceding any – something Brentford have also been doing well. And while the Bees have been awarded 16 Premier League penalties in total, they have given away just seven in that period.

Interestingly, all of those penalties against Frank's side were scored, a record that new arrival Mark Flekken will hope to break should the opportunity arise.

But penalties are just one component of the set-piece success that has made Brentford such an effective team.

Having the likes of Mathias Jensen in the team, who was superb against the Cottagers, is a big help. The midfielder’s numbers were particularly impressive last season, with the Dane ranking second in the Premier League for dead-ball passes that led to a goal (4).

Jensen’s precise deliveries from dead balls, including a potent long throw, coupled with his team-mates' aerial abilities are a huge part of the Bees’ attacking threat.

Indeed, Brentford had three players in the top 10 for aerial duels won last season. Ben Mee finished top of that leader board having won 132 aerials with sixth-placed Ivan Toney (109 won) and seventh-placed Ethan Pinnock (105 won) also featuring.

Pinnock’s aerial prowess was on full display at both ends of the pitch at Craven Cottage on Saturday - the defender winning four more headers (6) than any other player on the pitch.

No team has scored more Premier League goals from dead balls, including penalties, than Brentford (25) over the past two seasons and the opening two game weeks of this season suggest the Bees haven't lost their touch.