Brentford may thrive on chaos under Keith Andrews, but his debut season as head coach has revealed something far more measured: a carefully judged blend of old and new.

The 45-year-old Irishman penned fresh terms with the club this week, with Brentford sitting seventh in the Premier League and firmly in the hunt for European qualification with 11 games to go.

A lot has happened since last summer, but it is worth revisiting the words of Brentford director of football Phil Giles after Andrews’ unveiling as Thomas Frank’s successor.

Describing him as “a perfect fit”, Giles outlined the thinking behind promoting him from his role as set-piece coach, making one prophetic observation: “He will bring his own evolution, but it’s not starting from scratch, so hopefully we can make some quick progress." Andrews’ first year at the helm has followed that plan to a tee.

In his first interviews as a head coach, Andrews spoke of wanting a “relentlessness of progression”. While he has fully utilised the strengths of the team he inherited, the current Brentford side is already beginning to look like a different beast.

Physicality, flexibility and smart recruitment have underpinned their rise since their promotion in 2020/21, and Andrews has leaned firmly into those foundations.

In keeping with tradition, Brentford rank third in the top flight for aerial duels won this season, while also topping the Premier League charts for accurate long balls, averaging 23.2 per 90 minutes.

The west Londoners' strength at set-pieces remains a key weapon in their armoury. Renowned for their attacking threat from dead-balls - especially throw-ins - the Bees have also conceded the joint-fewest goals from corners, throws and free-kicks in the division this term (five).

Even after the summer departures of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, Brentford have retained their clinical attacking edge.

Last season, they recorded the best shots-on-target percentage in the Premier League (39 per cent), and they remain top of the pile this term (38 per cent). The same applies to expected goals per shot, with the Bees leading the division both this season (0.17) and last (0.15).

Continuity has been central to Andrews’ impressive start, but he has subtly reshaped Brentford - and arguably made them more formidable at both ends of the pitch.

A striking shift has come defensively. Last season, only relegated Southampton (17.9) conceded more shots per game than Brentford (17) but, under Andrews, that figure has dropped sharply to 12.6.

A top-flight midfielder himself, Andrews has made Brentford more compact in the middle third and tweaked their pressing approach. High turnovers have dipped, but their counter-attacking threat has surged.

Blending the passing range of Jordan Henderson, Yehor Yarmoliuk, Vitaly Janelt and Mikkel Damsgaard with the pace and power of Igor Thiago, Dango Ouattara and Kevin Schade has worked wonders.

Across Europe's top five leagues, only Bayern Munich (10) have scored more goals from counter-attacks than Brentford (nine). Thiago’s bullet finish after a breathtaking breakaway against Manchester United in September was one of the standout moments of the campaign.

Andrews’ approach is also creating more one-v-one situations in the box. Across Europe’s top five leagues, only Real Madrid (13) and Bayern Munich (nine) have won more penalties than the Bees’ eight, which is further evidence that Brentford’s evolution is producing a tangible attacking threat.

Putting your own stamp on a club while preserving its identity is no small task. To do so in just over nine months is a testament to Andrews, his players and his staff. It's a sign that Brentford’s next chapter should be an exciting one.