Brentford fell to a 2-0 defeat against Preston on Saturday and the game followed a script that Bees fans will be very familiar with.

Thomas Frank’s side had more of the ball, created good situations but once again failed to produce the final pass or decisive shot that they needed to ensure they would leave Deepdale with a point.

Another blank in front of goal means Brentford have scored just five goals in seven games this season. If that wasn’t bad enough, three of those came in one game against Derby and they have now failed to score in four Championship fixtures.

Whilst the Bees have been a selling club over the years, they have normally done things on their terms and they appear to be a well-run club that have plans in place for the long-term.

To many, they have been the model to follow.

However, the decision to cash in on Neal Maupay, just days before the deadline shut and without a replacement lined up, has backfired spectacularly.

The Frenchman hit 25 goals in the second-tier last season and his presence in the box ensured the side always had a threat.

Even though Ollie Watkins has done well on occasions in a more central role, the reality is that he’s not a striker – and Brentford are crying out for a poacher.

The likes of Watkins, Said Benrahma and Sergi Canos, among others, means that creating chances will never be a problem and those classy operators ensure that Frank’s side will always be a good watch.

But, the side are lacking a ruthless edge in front of goal that Maupay provided them with, whilst the introduction of Pontus Jansson has so far failed to tighten up a defence that always seems capable of handing out gifts.

Therefore, it’s no surprise to see they are currently 18th in the league.

The six-point gap to the play-offs is obviously not a major concern at this stage of the season, but the worry is you can’t see how this pattern is going to change with the current personnel at Griffin Park.

It should be noted that Nikos Karelis, a free agent striker brought in last month, is still getting up to speed but there is already pressure on him to deliver.

Despite boasting some of the best individual players in the league, the Bees are a team with a few glaring issues. The most obvious being they just aren’t scoring goals.

Selling Maupay without having a number nine ready to come in means that even in mid-September, Brentford’s promotion hopes are disappearing rapidly and January can’t come quick enough - but it may be too late by then.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.