Brentford host defence shy Sheffield United at the Gtech on Saturday, looking to pick up where they left off in the second half at Aston Villa last weekend. The Blades current form and leaky back line has been well documented so can The Bees take advantage?
Sheffield United are not looking good at the moment
As ever at his point, we look ahead to the game. Are Sheffield United really that bad? Could Brentford come unstuck? Will there be changes and more injury returns?
Brentford took a point following the the thrill-a-minute 3-3 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday. There’ll be plenty of optimism amongst the squad off the back of this one and, with the visit of Sheffield United next up, could the Bees return to winning ways after three games unbeaten?
Ivan? What’s the final score?
As ever at this point, we look back to who shone for Brentford? Who caused Villa headaches and will anybody be in line for the starting XI when Sheffield United come to town? Does anyone give a stuff what went down at full-time?
Hot off the heels of a midweek draw with Brighton (the post-match review and player ratings are here), Brentford face another tough test on Saturday. This time around, the trip to Aston Villa. If nothing else a game where there will be plenty of scores to settle following what happened late on at the Gtech in December.
Martinez (and earlier, Ollie) a work of art. Neal – innocent……
As ever, in the build up, we have a match preview. This one has it all to play for with potential joy on the injury front, Aston Villa pushing for the Champions League and Brentford fans simply hoping that the wonderful castle badge remains in the kit locker. The blue shirt a thing of beauty but perhaps not as fortunate on the road as we’d hope – that’s the polite phrase.
And as ever, our match preview article is now online. You can find it here or just click below.
A 0-0 between Brentford and Brighton saw another point on the board for a Bees’ team who spent this one very much on the backfoot but looking rock solid throughout. Next up, Saturday’s trip to an Aston Villa side who ended up on the wrong end of a 4-1 shoeing at Manchester City last night.
Mark Flekken keen to get involved at both ends last night
As ever at this point, we look back at the game just gone. Who was star player? Who made Brighton rock (and there are more sub-par dad jokes in the main article)? Could changes be made for the Aston Villa game? Who upset VAR man Michael Oliver….?
Brentford 1 Aston Villa 2. That’s the score but what happened beyond that makes this one of those games that will go down in infamy.
Emi Martinez – a work of art and true master of sh*thousery
A returning club legend has a meltdown. Sh*thousery of the highest order. The VAR system missing the obvious, again, and more cards on show than the average Christmas delivery.
A 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United one which deep down, perhaps, many may have anticipated. It’s Brentford, innit? We all know the situation that brought us to this so fingers crossed our luck takes a turn for the game with Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon. Perhaps that extra day to recover will be crucial.
For young Bee Felix Watts, pre-match optimism was replaced by an almost inevitable outcome
Until then, let’s cut to the chase. The post match debrief and player ratings article is now up and online. Was there any recognition to be salvaged? Are there any new options for Thomas Frank when Aston Villa come to town? Could Ollie Watkins enjoy playing in front of fans for whom he is still a hero to so many?
Brentford 1 Aston Villa 1. A game the Bees may well feel should have been won, such were the chances created, on an afternoon in which football was the only winner. What a fantastic game between two sides pushing for a European place. The next chance for the Bees to follow that particular dream comes in the West London derby at Chelsea on Wednesday night.
For now, as ever, the chance to look back for Brentford. To see who was our star player . Who made up the top five? Who leads the season long race to be overall top performer. Who caused Aston Villa headaches and who may be in contention for that trip to Chelsea.
Last time out Brentford fans ended the evening marvelling in the afterglow of that wonderful performance against Chelsea at the Gtech. Spirits were high and the prospect of a trip to point shy Aston Villa one to look forward to. Then, disaster. The Villans relieved Steve G of his duties and set in play a Caretake manager driven tanking. The Bees three goals down in under a quarter-hour before eventually ending up on the wrong end of a 4-0 deficit. With the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers next up, will Thomas keep faith with his starting XI or ring the changes?
A boisterous Villa Park
For now, though, time to look back. On an afternoon night that ended with Brentford still in the top half of the Premier League, did anyone shine against an Aston Villa team with more than a few points to prove? Have any of our bench players done sufficient to make the starting XI for the Wolves game? Will Ben Mee return and who was star player? Who else made the top five in the season long quest to find the top Bees’ performer?
This Thursday is one of those special dates in our house. Very much a case of family time and one spent together, the fixture list has now thrown a potato skin into the works. With Brentford hosting Leeds United on Sunday, the requirements in that game will be dictated by what plays out tomorrow night. Everton look to secure their safety against Palace, 9th placed Leicester City (still in our sights) visit Chelsea and of course there’s the big one. Aston Villa v Burnley. One or more points for the Clarets will see them up to 17th and Leeds pushed back into the relegation zone with just one game to play. That game. Persuading Mrs. B. that the evening is best spent together on the sofa watching Burnley is going to be a big ask.
I guess there’s the Fantasy Football card. At the last look I’m fairly certain she had Ollie Watkins in her team. Could the former Brentford man come back to haunt us and scupper the dream? Victory for Villa will see them overtake the Bees in our pursuit of the top ten although, for what its worth, Burnley were desperately unlucky on Sunday. The penalty awarded against them in the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham as ambiguous as they come. Their own fightback not quite enough. Then, Leeds United taking until the 92nd minute to finally level the scores delivered an even bigger kick to the unmentionables.
That was then, this is now. It’s been. It’s gone. It’s over. The table is what it is and Burnley are the ones who still have the upper hand. Burnley the ones with the ability to turn the screw and heap the pressure on Leeds. And Everton for that matter, given they’re still not safe after Brentford put in that fine, fine performance at the weekend.
An amazing game at Everton
So we’ve got big questions to ask going forward. Namely, “Do you fancy watching Villa-Burnley this evening?” One would hope that the potential state it could leave the table in as we head towards Sunday’s season finale will be a sufficient draw to tempt even the most neutral of observers. The prospect of what may be on offer. What could occur. Which team may have the final stay in who goes and who stays simply too big to comprehend. Too tantalising a lure not to have an interest in what happens tomorrow night. A season which has gone all the way at the top (where Liverpool could still, theoretically, win the title), in the middle (with Brentford aiming for 9th) and in the relegation battle will finally deliver some answers.
It has been amongst the most exciting on record and having the Bees playing our part has been the cherry on the icing on the cake. We’ll look back at some of our own highlights in Sunday’s programme column – whittling them down to a final ten was about as tough as it gets. Especially given number ten might even play out in front of our eyes there and then. Albeit we need Burnley to play their part. For what it’s worth Clive, I think they will. Thursday is going to be huge and I can’t wait to see how it leaves things. Hey – we may even get to watch it.
Prior to then, tonight sees the Brentford Player Of The Year awards. The ‘live show’ starting at 7pm and includes the supporter votes for both player of the year and goal of the season. For the record, mine went to David Raya and Yoanne Wissa (at West Ham) respectively. The former has been the key difference to us this season. Brentford with him and Brentford without him as discernible as night and day.
What a moment at West Ham as Wissa leaves it late
Christian Norgaard and Rico Henry seem to be the favourites, going by what I read on social media, but whomever wins it will be thoroughly deserving. Rico, incidentally, going top of our season long game-by-game review following his own starman performance at Everton on Sunday. Christian, now uncatchable in having the most top five appearances. You can find that here.
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