Well wasn’t that the game that had it all? A 5-0 win for Brentford. Visitors Preston ending the game with just 10 men on the pitch yet, for once, this wasn’t the fault of referee Keith Stroud. A hat-trick for Scott Hogan, taking him to 13 goals in 12 Championship games. Another clean sheet and the Bees into the play off zone. A current goal difference of +8 now only bettered by Newcastle United of all our league rivals.
Yet the final score of 5-0 wasn’t as apparent as it might have seemed at one point. Preston more than matched Brentford team who were, perhaps, suffering some tired legs following Wednesday night’s exertions at Aston Villa. Likewise, I’d imagine the first team didn’t get back to Griffin Park until Thursday – whether due to an overnight stay or simply the horrendous gridlock caused by the M6 closure that blighted just about every road user
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Likewise any sales from the previous titles – Celebrating like they’d won the FA Cup (2013/14), Tales from the football village (2014/15) and Ready. Steady. Go Again. (2015/16) – are also now going to the BFCCST.
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View of the terrace. The pressure builds in front of a packed home end
Keith leads the line. Dance
How many goals did we score?
Nick Bruzon
BrentfordFC 
5-0 did very much flatter us, but what rang true was Hogan’s ability leading the front line. Superb forward work, with at the other end Bentley just incredible. Beesotted posted after the game that they would consider Bentley as being Brentford’s greatest keeper. I would not argue with that at all. Similarly to Szczesny, you just dont believe the ball is going to hit the back of the net, and when it does, your surprised.
True, Keith Stroud, restrained himself from doing his usual Dr Strangelove performance, but his reputation for blowing his whistle every time someone makes contact is something the Bees seemed very aware of. Many times we seemed to go down quite easily with the minimal of contact and as true as night comes after day, Mr Stroud would blow for a free kick. Makes you wonder if the backroom team do video analysis of refs too!
Also I noted an odd resemblance between Keith Stroud and Norman Wisdom. Not just looks or height, but his walk. You watch next time, as he strides forward, elbows swinging, leaning slightly forward with oversized steps. Im not kidding!
Very good summing up by Mr Q as ever, so I won’t add anything on our display other than to say our subs were excellent and gave the team a bit more impetus.
However, a few things from yesterday and elsewhere:
1. If you want a laugh, have a look at our friend Simon Hateley’s (pub team man) Twitter feed. He’s gone off on one again after Villa’s away point at Ipswich yesterday. He really is a very angry man. Pity his poor wife or cat – it must be a right bundle of laughs in that household.
2. I very much enjoyed the Stroud dissent booking. Referees are rightly clamping down on this yet players seem to be very slow in getting the message. Total stupidity from their bloke and the sheer inevitability of the card was very entertaining.
3. Why did he change his mind when giving that corner in the second half? He was surrounded by most of their team (which I thought was meant to result in a booking for all concerned) and suddenly changed his decision. Was it a case of ‘they who shout loudest’ or was there another explanation?
4. So that’s three fire drills in a week then. Very impressive performance. Old Larry Grayson took some flak from those who remained at the end. Bet he was happy to ‘shut that (dressing room) door’ afterwards and escape them.
I’ll get my coat
Regards
Gordon
Wonderful from the pair of you. Thanks both !!! 🙂
Stroud was possibly consulting with Mr Grimsdale as it seemed Wisdom-esque confusion reigned.
Simon Hateley. After calling me a jellied eel eating twonk in the week, to which i replied that I preferred mash, it seems that his own team are now twonks. Surely the trials and tribulations of Simon Hateley are worthy of a new ‘hilarious’ sitcom. Well it cant be worse than Rovers on Sky!
Dear All
I have now watched the club’s video of the game.
If the bloke who shouted “FFS” as Sawyers delayed before playing the crossfield ball prior to the first goal would like to come forward and explain himself, I would be very pleased to hear from him.
Sawyers has disappointed me in previous home games (giving the ball away when we were under the cosh), but he showed his strengths yesterday and I am pretty disgusted that people are getting after him for keeping possession and spreading the play (before – in point of fact as Brian Moore used to say – creating a fine goal).
Big dose of humble pie needed, though I fear we might be waiting a long time before he eats it. Presumably he would prefer some “run around everywhere and kick people” midfielder to take his place.
Come on FFS man, do the decent thing and admit you were wrong.
Regards
Gordon
Yesterday’s game reminded me very much of the Wolves home game a few years ago when we went 1 up and then the game, as before the first goal, remained very even until goal 2, then the floodgates opened.
I too moaned about Sawyers in previous games and even this match, as when live at the match his effort seemed lacking on a number of occasions. However, having watched the highlights it is clear his involvement in the goals was vital. Hopefully he is finding his feet and a goal would surely raise his confidence further.
We are living on a knife edge with Hogan and if he was to get injured we have no backup. Let’s pray he stays fit and who knows where this team can go. Goalkeeper, defence and midfield look good with backup, as shown with subs yesterday.