This is getting embarrassing now. Another home game, another win for Brentford. That’s 7(seven) on the bounce. Another visit from QPR, another win for Brentford. That’s four on the bounce. The latest, Saturday’s 3-0, was about as one-sided as they get. But for a somewhat moribund first half performance from both sides, with neither willing to concede first blood in the penultimate 237 derby to take place at Griffin Park, it could likely have been another 5 goal finish for the Bees. In the end we had to settle for goals from Sergi, Saïd and Neal’s 20th of the season – from the spot – to keep the points safe and see Queens Park Rangers fans streaming out early as though the proverbial fire-drill was taking place. Elsewhere, the excitement continued North of the Border where Partick Thistle and their ebullient mascot Kingsley even got in on the act.
Thomas celebrates at full time
But we can only start at Griffin Park. It was magnificent. Again. That’s starting to become a regular phrase on these pages but when you see Brentford scoring goals for fun then it’s no surprise. The approach play has the crowd on the edge of their seats ; the inevitable finishes have them leaping high into the air. The excitement palpable. The celebrations euphoric.
Once more it was Neal Maupay who lead the charge. The first came from the penalty spot after Keith Stroud decreed that Ollie Watkins had, indeed, been thrown to the ground. The finish was as calm and comfortable as they have been all season from the spot. If ever there was a moment when the occasion might get the better of him then here it was. Instead, the net rippled and the crowd exploded.
The poacher turned provider for our second, breaking down the right and riding a challenge from goalkeeper Lumley outside the box that would have had Keith reaching for his red had the Frenchman tumbled. But no, with the scent of goal in his nostrils Maupay evaded the lunge and squared the ball for that man Benrahma to fire home. 2-0 and game over.
Yesssss!!! HB celebrates at 2-0
It could have been more even prior. Dalsgaard producing a stunning save from Lumley with a point blank header whilst Kamo, amongst others, came close after the Bees had opened up our opponents as easily as somebody deploying an umbrella when the heavens open.
QPR had no response. If they had looked out of it after the penalty, they were dead and buried now. All they could produce was gallows humour from the away end as they started singing about having had one shot. That, from Jake Bidwell, causing more danger to his own fans sitting in the upper tier than Daniel Bentley and his rock solid defence.
Yet rather than attempt to lock it down, Thomas Frank kept going. With just shy of ten minutes to go, the stage was surely set for Josh McEachran. But no. Instead we were treated to more pace as Emiliano Marcondes and Sergi Canos were introduced to the field of play. The crowd celebrated (and consulted the big book of Brentford tactics).
It proved to be inspirational stuff as the fresh legs mad further inroads into the already porous blue and white ‘defence’. More importantly, keeping the ball down the correct end until Sergi wrapped things up with another word class run and finish deep into injury time. 3-0. Dead and buried. Game over.
Sergi (and team) celebrate the third
The goals are up on the Sky Sports website. Enjoy them again. Please. With them comes a win that sees Brentford up one place in the table to sit four points off tenth and eight off the play-off zone with twelve to play. Is that possible?
Well, if home form could translate to away then who dares to dream. Next up is a trip to Middlesbrough. If there is to be any aspiration of reeling in our rivals and making an incredible leap towards the top flight then now is the time to find our feet on the road. Moreso given that the game immediately after is a midweek trip to Sheffield United. By the time we all come together at Griffin Park once more, Thomas Frank could be planing for next campaign in the Championship or masterminding a blitzkrieg assault on the upper echelons of the table with only one target in sight. Sixth place.
That’s to come, of course. For now I’m still buzzing about another stunning performance from Brentford. Griffin Park is certainly the place for goals, points and excitement. Off the pitch as well as on it where man-with-the-mic Peter Gilham, for whom the attempted takeover of ’67 is still fresh in the mind, was steadfast in his refusal to acknowledge QPR. At various points in the afternoon he described them as the visitors, the opposition and just about anything else he could find from a well thumbed thesaurus. Kudos to the legend that is PG for sticking to his principals so strongly.
We all know what this one means to him. Even the players. Saïd celebrated his goal by running the entire length of the Braemar Road touchline. Whilst we weren’t sure what that particular celebration was about at the time, Thomas Frank would later reveal that the player had gone in search of Peter. To give him a hug and celebrate together. What a club !!
Saïd celebrates whilst looking for Peter
He wasn’t the only one celebrating. Hats off to football’s best mascot (that isn’t Buzzette). North of the border it would be fair to say that Partick Thistle’s Kingsley seemed pleased about his mention in the match day programme.
If the potential of Brentford going up a division is one to tantalise, equally exciting is the prospect of one day getting Buzzette and Kingsley together. What a photo-op. What an image.
Full time saw the players perform their now customary lap of Griffin Park at full time. The smile on Saïd’s face, in particular, almost as broad as those on the faces of the fans he stopped to talk with. Which was just about everyone along the Braemar Road paddock.
Thomas Frank was sporting an old school Bees scarf he’d, presumably, picked up from somewhere along the way before making his way to the press box for a chat with the BBC Radio London team of Billy Reeves, Sam Parkin and Phil Parry.
I can’t wait to hear that one in full. Just to see him walking around the ground and talking to fans, you can feel how much this all means to Thomas. How much he is enjoying life but, also, empathises with the supporters and the players. The aforementioned double-substitution was yet another demonstration of his ability to buck the trend and deviate from the Brentford norm.
Then again, the performances his team are puling out of the bag are evidence of that. Get things right away from Griffin Park and this could be a run-in to end them them all
As the song goes, “I did it myyyy wayyyyyy”. And yesterday, he certainly did.
(with thanks to the brilliant BBC Billy)
Saïd and young fans enjoy the moment at full time
Nick Bruzon
BrentfordFC 
Said is a very sensual man. I applaud his tactileness.
wel don to al involvd nxt up yorkshir always tuf but back in 78 whackd huddes 4-1 deir en rout to promo appy days shef also tuf but whackd dem 2-0 up deir in 79 in an abortiv promo campain whch sore dodgin sackd frank you is a brite chap so com up wid a plan to get som pnts on de rode udderwis we is knowwher
Always great to beat the team from W12. Like Peter Gilham, I was around at the time of the take over and I fully sympathise and support his feelings. I used to go to school opposite Loftus Road, the only non W12 supporter in the school. So there is something about that club that just winds me up so it’s great that they were sent packing again from GP. With regards to the game yesterday, I thought the first half was a bit of a stalemate but in the second, the change of tactics by TF and the increased energy from the players it showed that they are capeable of playing a different formation to beat the team in front of them. If only, we could take our home form into away games. One win away from home in nearly 10 months isn’t good enough but I am sure that TF Jane his staff are working to address the issue. A win at our old nemises club Middlesborough next week would be a good place to start! One last thing, for those who might have missed it, try and catch up with last weeks EFL Matters on Sky Sports. Our very own Sam Saunders was in the studio with David Prutton. It was top entertainment which included a lot of chat about Brentford.
What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. I thought the visitors would give us a real tough test but I have rarely seen such a toothless performance. In the end we cruised home after a very niggly oppo. Seem some from the Bush say that it was never a pen. Errr…being 15 yards away from the incident it was one of the most stone wall pens all season. I really have no idea what argument Hall was coming up with.
Great to see Emiliano back and we so need him in this final stretch of the season with our squad somewhat threadbare, and making a contribution immediately. But what a game Kamo had. He may be classed as a defensive midfielder by some, but he does drive the play forward rather than sideways and backwards like his replacement.
I did wonder if anyone else noticed that PG refused to name the opposing side!
A word on Norman Wisdom’s lovechild. He actually had a half decent match. Got the pen right. Possibly too lenient and had a hilarious warn up routine.