In the process, Brentford became only the seventh club to beat the Blues on their own patch over the past three seasons across league, FA Cup and Carabao Cup games - and afterwards Andrews praised his side's collective performance and the impact made by the substitutes.
Wilson , Jannik Schuster and Jaidon Anthony all made their first competitive Brentford starts, with the latter running the hosts ragged down the right flank.
After creating three chances off the bench in the weekend's 3-0 victory over Tottenham, Anthony delivered a trio of assists on the night and was a constant menace with his pace and composure.
A hat-trick of assists is something of a rare phenomenon, with Anthony becoming one of only six players to achieve the feat in the Carabao Cup since the start of the 2021/22 season. Pablo Sarabia ( Wolves ), Marcus Harness (Ipswich Town), Anass Zaroury ( Burnley ), Andy Moran (Stoke City) and Tom Watson ( Brighton and Hove Albion ) are the other names in this exclusive club.
'A hat-trick of assists is something of a rare phenomenon, with Anthony becoming one of only six players to achieve the feat in the Carabao Cup since the start of the 2021/22 season'
It was a positive night for Brentford's summer arrivals, with Wilson grabbing his first goal for the Bees and Mamadou Sangaré chalking up his second assist in two games with a gorgeous, flighted cross for Collins to round off the scoring.
Post-match, Andrews spoke about having to "earn the right to play", and Wilson's opening goal in the sixth minute provided an early illustration of the craft and ruthless edge he can add to Brentford's forward line.
Seizing on a short pass from Yehor Yarmoliuk on the edge of the box, Wilson instantly assessed his options and found the bottom corner from a chance worth just 0.07 xG.
Thiago 's strike from a devastating raid down the right was arguably the goal of the night, thanks mainly to the delicious Damsgaard through ball that preceded it.
Threaded through four Birmingham players, Damsgaard's pass released Anthony, who teed up Thiago to open his account for the season. Aside from his eight penalties, all 14 of Thiago's Premier League goals last season came from open play, with the Brazilian yet to score in the top flight from a set-piece situation.
Fresh from being named in the 2025/26 PFA Premier League Team of the Year , his clinical finish into the roof of the net was vintage Thiago - and evidence that his predatory instincts remain as sharp as ever.
Brentford's forwards enjoyed a good evening, but it was their skipper and defensive cornerstone Collins who earned the player-of-the-match honours.
In addition to his two headed goals, Collins topped the charts for aerial duels won (8), duels won (12) and accurate passes played (69), the Irish centre-back turning in another classy display after helping the Bees keep a clean sheet against Spurs.
Anthony hailed the victory at St Andrew's as a "really good and really professional" display, and Brentford will hope to harness the momentum they are building ahead of their Premier League trip to Leeds United on Sunday.
The Whites have recorded two wins - both over Nottingham Forest - in their opening two fixtures of the new season, with Daniel Farke's men yet to concede a goal.
