Monday evening saw Brentford learn another opponent for next season as the horror and the brilliance of the play-offs was combined in equal measure. Despite throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at their opponents , Brighton were unable to overcome a 2-0 first leg deficit and so it is Sheffield Wednesday who reach the final next weekend. Barring a minor miracle, Hull City (who complete formalities at home to Derby tonight, 3-0 up) will be the only thing in their way as the Premier league beckons.
The nice part of me feels dreadfully for Brighton right now. The were in ‘automatic’ for long parts of the season and finished level on points with promoted Middlesbrough. Only two goals split the respective teams, with Boro ending the campaign on 89 points and +32 ; the Seagulls 89 points and + 30.
The BBC table doesn’t lie
Wednesday, meanwhile, finished 15 points behind the Seagulls and had gone into the semi on anything less than great form. Only 2 wins out of the last 7(seven) suggested a team who had as much chance as Derby County of making the final. Yet, as we all know, form counts for nothing and the play-offs are a fickle mistress.
If one team can feel Brighton’s pain right now it is Brentford. Our play off form is only matched by Sheffield United, in making it 8 attempts without winning the final. Even Preston, finally, breaking their hoodoo last season making it 1 win out of 10 to join us in the Championship.
For the record, our own campaign trail of woe reads.
1990/91 : Lost. SF. Tranmere Rovers (2-3)
1994/95 : Lost. SF. Huddersfield Town (2-2; pens)
1996/97 : Lost. Final. Crewe (0-1)
2000/01 : Lost. Final. Stoke City (0-2)
2004/05 : Lost. SF. Sheffield Wednesday (1-3)
2005/06 : Lost. SF. Swansea City (1-3)
2012/13 : Lost. Final. Yeovil Town (1-2)
2014/15 : Lost. SF. Middlesbrough (1-5)
I take no pleasure from seeing any team go through what we have done. Many times. If ever a reminder were needed (it wasn’t) about just how cruel the play-offs can be it was here. If ever a reminder was needed of the importance of grabbing ever point and every goal over the course of the regular season then last night served up yet another example.
Yet, at the same time, whilst I do have sympathy I also have some selfishness about this. As one observer noted on Twitter last night, “Brighton away its too good a trip to be wasted on the Premier League”.
I’ve got no new interest in Sheffield – been there, done it, eaten their (albeit lovely) pies and heard ‘that band’ many times. Should Hull win the final, then no doubt I may go (again).
But a guaranteed trip to the Amex is only a fantastic thing for Brentford. A short hop on the train. A day out by the coast. A full house of Bees in the away end. A cracking atmosphere.
The Albion mascots – it feels like cheating on Buzzette
Sheffield are welcome to take their band and Hi-Ho, Silver Lining (see also: Let me Entertain you / We are the Champions for ‘overplayed stadium songs’ ) to the top flight. Good luck to them. Genuinely. I’ve always enjoyed going there and wish them no ill will.
But a trip to the Amex, something that many of us were denied this time around thanks to the decision making of Sky TV, can only be viewed as a positive. At least, for us visiting fans.
To be honest, missing out on that trip this time around was probably no bad thing (and if you’d like to read more about that, or the season just gone then you know the drill – it’s here). Brentford were abject when we went down 3-0 in February.
For that reason alone, redemption, I’m already looking forward to another visit. Now, where’s that railcard…?
Until then, this may remain on the cards. Still, if Wednesday do go up there will be one silver lining.
Enjoy
And finally, as ever, genuine thanks to all those who have so far downloaded both the aforementioned Last Word ‘season review’ (Ready. Steady. Go Again) aswell as the three year anthology (The Bees are going up). It is somewhat humbling that people take the time to go over this nonsense and relive these moments once more.
It has been a stunning few years. Here’s to more of the same. Until then, the last three season reviews and overall anthology are available here.
Nick Bruzon
BrentfordFC 
Yeah, I also feel sorry for Chris Hughton’s Brighton. They did a Brentford in the first 90 mins of their semi final and got half a team injured so that through no fault of their own, played a significant chunk of that game down to 10 men. Wednesday aren’t a good side. I was at the home game when they played us and we were poor, they were too, then Tarks gets sent off and from then on there was only one team in it…US! And then they scored a lucky winner at the death.
Hull are the best of the rest now Brighton have gone, so you would have thought they’d do the business at the W place (subject to the formality that is the Derby match, and that there are no suspect bags in the toilets come the end of may finals!)