7pm, Monday night. The draw for the FA Cup fourth round takes place. And the fifth. Brentford are in it following Saturday evening’s impressive showing from our youngsters. So are Chorley after their own fine win over (not Wayne Rooney’s) Derby County on Saturday lunchtime. It was a result which set the tone for the weekend. Leeds United fell apart. Again. Blackpool despatched an abject West Bromwich Albion. In an even bigger shock, Sheffield United won a match. There would be no further slip ups from the big boys with Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Spurs amongst those into the bag of balls. Cripes, even Arsenal got through.
A velvet bag awaits…
So, when is it? 7(seven)pm is the designated hour. You can follow the action on the FA Player or on BBC2. Thankfully, for once, we’re not obligated to watch The One Show as the draw has its own specialist programme presented by Mark Chapman (not that one) rather than segued between features on hedgehog hibernation and ten things Gyles Brandreth does to alleviate Lockdown boredom.
BT sport also have an extensive programme that features the final chance of an upset when Stockport County host West Ham. Who doesn’t love a cup shock and I think the Hammers have enough about them to pull one off. Worth watching if for no other reason than than Brentford loanee Said Benrahma likely to be give a rare start.
As for the balls themselves, Brentford are number 24 (out of 32). Liverpool are 23 and Manchester City 25. We’re very much the meat in a top flight sandwich that nobody will be wanting to take a bite out of. Both teams we’ve faced in this competition before, as are Chelsea – ball 27. Our league cup conquerors, Spurs, are number 4.
The quintessential Brentford FA Cup image
The Marine – Tottenham was huge enjoyable for the neutral (of which there can’t have been many outside of Seven Sisters) , at least until the second goal went in. That said, the non-leaguers still lasted longer against Jose Mourinho’s outfit before going a goal down whilst almost had the temerity to take the least themsevels. With the eyes of the world (and several supporters sitting aside garden sheds watching) Joe Hart’s blushes were only saved by the woodwork with the scores still level. And that…well it would have been dreamland for Marine.
But we’ve been there and done that. For me (Clive) the chance to see how the current generation fair at Anfield would be the ideal scenario. Even if we are stuck watching it on TV. Instead, it’ll probably end up being away to Nottingham Forest.
We played at Livepool back in 88/89. There was no quarter-final upset
The fourth round draw is immediately followed by that for the fifth. Ball numbers will be generated at that point. Go figure. However, the numbers for the next round are as follows:
1) Plymouth Argyle
2) Southampton / Shrewsbury Town
3) Chorley
4) Spurs
5) Wolverhampton Wanderers
6) Stockport County / West Ham
7 (seven) AFC Bournemouth
8) Manchester United
9) Swansea City
10) Everton
11) Nottingham Forest
12) Arsenal
13) Barnsley
14) Sheffield United
15) Millwall
16) Doncaster Rovers
17) Leicester City
18) Wycombe Wanderers
19) Crawley Town
20) Burnley
21) Bristol City
22) FulhamL
23) Liverpool
24) Brentford
25) Manchester City
26) Luton Town
27) Chelsea
28) Sheffield Wednesday
29) Norwich City
30) Blackpool
31) Brighton & Hove Albion
32) Cheltenham Town
The third round was one of the best yet. For once, the presence of television and the spreading out of the fixtures something to be thankful for. Traditionalists (myself included) have argued for years that the dilution of the games – spreading over four of five days – has been killing the magic. Yet with supporters of all clubs confined to barracks at present, this is exactly what we needed to make a bad situation slightly more bearable. Game after game after game. Upset following upset.
Let’s see if West Ham can pull off another one this evening. After the draw, of course. Here’s hoping for a big name. And also the prospect of a Crawley – Chorley…..
It’s one thing doing it in front if your fans at Brentford against Blackburn Rovers (yes, we did have supporters allowed in for that brief moment!) but can you do it in Cardiff on a wet and windy Boxing Day afternoon with no support? The answer was an emphatic YES. Not once, not twice but three times as Sergi Canos fired home a sensational second-half hat-trick to secure the points for the Bees. Each goal was class. Each goal knocking a further nail in the coffin of the social media haters who’ve spent the last few months talking sh8t about, and to, a player who had been feeling his way back from that horrific injury picked up at Forest last season. With Bournemouth next up (one of the few teams still above us) the excitement can only continue.
Sticking three fingers up to the critics?Official shared this one at full-time
Brentford are now 15 unbeaten in all competitions. One point off second placed Swansea City. A squad carefully negotiating their way through December’s fixture pile up that has also seen us reach the semi-finals of the league cup. We’re five points better off than this time last season (a game also marked by a defeat of Cardiff City) and have the Championship’s leading goal scorer. It all makes somewhat of a mockery of the Frank Out nonsense – something which, like the Sergi bile – had been emanating from the same sources and had gone equally quiet yesterday. Even if the picking of Marcondes and non-selection of Tarique Fosu and Josh Dasilva caused certain supporters’ little brains to fuse. My word, its almost as if having to play two games a week for 7 (seven) weeks might cause individuals to need a rest.
It could have been different, of course. A first half which was as brutal as the weather ended in a storm of angst. With no shots having been recorded on target, Will Vaulks changed that from inside his own half. A hoof up pitch – caught perfectly, to be fair – turned from speculation to part Nayim, part Paul Evans with a dash of David Beckham thrown in for good measure. David Raya could only back pedal but, alas, not furiously enough (is there any other way to back pedal?) as the ball sailed over his head and into the back of the net. Urghhh. Groan. Your exclamation of despair may vary.
He caught it well
As the players trooped off and supporters hit the fridge for refreshment, the feeling of a dire second-half to come was overwhelming. We’re talking about a Neil Harris team. A side sure to set out their stall and carry on grinding it out as they had in the first. What we got , instead, was the Canos show.
His first came just minutes in and was about as incredible as they come. If Vaulks was all about the length, Sergi’s proved that technique and placement is just as important when summoning up the spectacular. With his initial shot bouncing back into play he caught it once more as the ball fell out of the sky , almost on top of him. Yet, somehow, the Spaniard was able to angle his body to catch it first time and return straight back from where it came with interest. A rising, then dipping volley that cleared the defence and the goalkeeper to level the scores. This sweetest of strikes, from outside the box, with a trajectory to send Vaulk’s earlier effort into the back of next week.
eye on the ball.. eye on the ball.. eye on the b… BOOM
It got better, though. Little over an hour gone and we were ahead. The Spaniard picking up the ball ion the left and waltzing through the Cardiff backline. Beating defenders with abandon and waiting to pick his moment before firing low into the bottom corner. 2-1 Brentford. Different technique, same class. Something Thomas Frank would describe at full time as, “Another wonder goal, while the third one was maybe a cross but don’t tell anyone”.
Yes, the third. Well it looked pretty good to me. If that was meant as a cross then all well and good. Perhaps. But it ended up in the back of the net and they all count. Due reward for a player who had been on fire. Not just these three but several other efforts that could easily have seen Sergi surpassing ‘that’ Mike Grella performance against Bournemouth. Instead, he’ll need to be content with the ‘praise’ from those who had previously been slating him. Destroying him. Abusing him. What a response to those pudding brained fools. Again!
For Canos, a half-hour hat-trick earned in the toughest of conditions. Not just the weather but the brutal approach of Cardiff who resorted to predicted type. Vitaly Janelt in particular being targeted for cynical assault. IF you can’t win fair, win foul being the mantra. Yet not even that worked, despite a late consolation goal via a wicked deflection that left things close for the final fifteen. Yet there was to be no collapse. No throwing away of points. A steely defence, bolstered by the return of Pontus Jansson, doing their thing in style to close out the game. The clock further run down with late, late substitutions . Marcus Forss and Josh stretching their legs. Both sure to be used for longer when Bournemouth visit on Wednesday.
All that’s to come. For today, Sunday morning, one can only admire the drive and determination from not just serge but the entire team. This was a hard fought win, no question. You could see from the smiles at full time and the celebrations in the dressing room just what this one meant. My word, its almost like Thomas actually knows what he’s doing. Like having a strong squad to pick from and showing faith in his players is a sound tactic. Who’d have thought it? Thank goodness he, not social media, are the ones picking the team and the tactics. Fifteen unbeaten a spectacular run that will see one of its toughest tests on Wednesday. A real six-pointer in the ongoing pursuit of a place at the top of the table. Brentford are flying and I can’t wait for this one.
Until then, though, perhaps let’s just watch those goals once more…….
Get the f*ck in!!! What a night. What a finish. What a result. Brentford beat Newcastle United 1-0 to make it into the league cup semi-finals. Josh Dasilva scoring the goal that means we’re now one round away from a game at the W place in North London. Aside from us there’s only Manchester City along with the winners of tonight’s games between Everton / Manchester United and Stoke / Spurs left in the competition. It was an evening that saw Thomas Frank picking a team of familiar faces if not entirely made up of regular starters but certainly one well, well good enough to do a job. They didn’t let him, or the fans, down. Instead, the reaction from certain quarters and usual suspects to our team announcement left a hell of a lot of egg on face when the full time whistle went.
official capture the moment – and why not!!
It was a night to rank up there with the third round defeat of Everton. I was going to add ‘a few seasons’ ago but, incredibly, that was 2010. A decade gone already. Cripes, it feels like yesterday and perhaps even more highlights our lack of success in this, or any, cup competition. Early exits with nothing but a handful of memorable moments to test the grey matter. Fourth round defeats at Nottingham Forest and Birmingham City about as good as it has got. To date. Not now though.
My word that was immense. Oh to have been there in person. Yet, in a bizarre way, we were all in it together. All suffering in isolation at home. All willing the team on to beat Newcastle. Most of us backing them. All of us desperate for the win. Of course, for the good cheer it would bring but as much as anything else to shut up the dickhead element. The legion of armchair managers doing their thing when the team was announced almost desperate for a perceived weaker team to be revealed so they could vent their usual bile.
Why why oh why! Disgraceful team selection for 1/4 final of cup!
Only a quarter final nothing important f&@k sake
No ambition.
What an absolute shambles – who do Brentford think they are? Quarter Final and a chance of Europe and he names that team??
What the actual f@&k has he done that for?
I cannot get over how much he has f@&ked up that starting XI. My head is gone.
These, just a few of the erudite observations on social media. Nothing like a bit of loyal support but it made what came next even sweeter. A team with a spine of Pinnock, Mads, Sergi, Vitaly, Josh and Marcus Forss up top is one you’d quite easily expect (and be happy with) in a league game. Supplement that with a whole host of familiar faces from the bench, including captain for the night Luke Daniels, and this was hardly the stuff of capitulation. Hardly a team set up to fail. This was Thomas Frank doing what we’ve said , all season, he’ll have not choice but to do. Use his squad to see us through. Try everything possible to get us past December and the horror run that sees us backs up to play 9 games in 31 days.
He must be doing something right. It was one way traffic in the first half with Ghoddos hitting the crossbar, Marcondes coming close and Sergi somehow heading wide when unmarked just yards out. Hey, not even he can be perfect every time. Newcastle United riding their luck and the feeling that, perhaps, if we didn’t take chances then it could get tense late on. Anything but.
One sharp save from Daniels aside and a few jittery clearances (Dom Thompson solid as, too) I don’t recall much attacking intent from our visitors. Instead, Brentford picked up where we left off with Sergi Canos providing a delightful ball across the box which Josh Dasilva blasted home with just over an hour gone. Oh. My. Word. What a ball. What a finish. What. A. Goal!!!! Another beer? Don’t mind if I do. It went nuts at our place. I’m sure the same all over TW8 or wherever our fans were gathered.
1-0 up and what to do? Hang on or go for it? Within moments, Thomas Frank had pulled off Sergi and replaced him with Ivan Toney. There was a statement of intent. A well earned rest for the magnificent Spaniard and a chance for Ivan to do his thing once more. He almost did, too. A chance late on producing a finger tip save and, as importantly, helping wind down that clock through an excruciating four minutes of mystery time added on.
Let’s not forget either the return to fitness of Christian Nørgaard. A player who has been missing for so long it would seem that even ‘official’ have forgotten how to spell his name. It’s amazing to think that we’ve gone on our mammoth unbeaten run despite the enforced absence of a player who would, ordinarily, be one of the first names on the team sheet. His entry into the field of play on the hour had been well telegraphed by Thomas but still produced a cheer from our sofa. Albeit. Not as as big as the one at full time. Yess!! My word !!!! F*ckin’ incredible ! A fourth Premier league team beaten this season. For context, that’s the same as Arsenal and double the amount FulhamL have in the actual Premier league. Two times better? Ah, who cares about them? This is about us. About adding Newcastle United to an ever growing list of top flight scalps. About now needing to sit through Everton – Manchester United in order to await the post match draw for the semi finals.
Christian who now?
Will it be Spurs? Might it be Manchester City? Oh for the chance to emulate our heroes of ’89 once more. You see what we were saying about cup moments being few and far between ? Truly, this is a thing to savour. Knowing Brentford it’ll end up being Stoke City which, for the record, I’m sure is something deemed as unpalatable in the Potteries as it would be down South.
Destiny beckons. Thomas Frank and his team continue to earn the plaudits and praise that they richly deserve. To ride the wave of bull being directed at them from our twat element. Tap, tap, tap, tap. What’’s that noise? Oh, the sound of social media being deleted. The post match hypocrisy a thing of beauty to behold. The frank out hashtag having been early thawed out having to be returned to the freezer once more.
Oh dear.
Perhaps, this time, it might actually stay there. The whole thing has been an embarrassment and a colossal disrespect to the squad . F*ck you. This is OUR moment. And I’m not gong to let a bunch of morons ruin it.
Ah, you know what. It’s their problem. Hating is easy. Having a bit of trust much harder. Perhaps years of having to answer the question, ‘Brentwood? In Essex?’ makes the positive approach that bit easier. Not so much thinking that we’re ‘little old Brentford’ (because we’re well, well beyond that) but simply remembering our history and where we’ve come from. Of recognising that the players, approach and mentality now instilled is nothing like anything we’ve ever had before.
This is Brentford 2.0 . And I love it !!! Now bring on Manchester City. Or Stoke.
Bliss doing his thing against Manchester City in the fourth round – January 1989
Here we go. Time for some festive cheer. A Christmas cracker etc etc etc. With London plunged in to Tier 4 and the next few weeks looking like the equivalent of being tied to a chair and force fed Mrs Brown’s Boys on repeat, could Brentford provide a much needed boost to morale? Tuesday evening sees our league cup quarter final with Newcastle United and I for one can’t wait. With doom and gloom all around us (but enough about Mrs Brown’s Boys) the chance of making the semis is a huge opportunity waiting to be taken. The chance to get closer to another appearance at the W place in North London. The chance to increase our lead over Fulham L of Premier league clubs beaten this season. The chance to actually qualify for Europe – via the medium of the Uefa Europa Conference League (UECL) place that goes to the winner. The chance to actually lift a trophy.
There are only eight teams left in this. The Bees and Stoke City sole representatives from outside the top flight. Flying the Championship flag but, equally, there in our own right. Tough opposition in Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and Wycombe Wanderers have already been despatched. And also Fulham L. Thomas Frank’s red and white army unstoppable. Now, 13 games unbeaten as the goals fly in. Ivan Toney doing his thing. Vitaly Janelt our latest unsung hero. Sergi Canos back to his best. Bryan Mbeumo lashing in two top, top goals during the weekend’s destruction of Reading. Rico Henry, surely knocking on the England manager’s door from his left-back berth. The rest of the defence being picked with all the consistency of car keys being plucked from a bowl yet whomever gets selected, locking out those coming at us.
Bryan did his thing in some style on Saturday
Expect more changes tonight. Ethan Pinnock has served Mads Bech Sorensen’s suspension for the red card at Watford (hmmm) and will surely be catapaulted straight back in to the team. Likewise, Christian Norgaard is fit once more. Could he and Vitaly start alongside each other? Will it be a straight swap? Or is the bench the best he can hope for at present?
Up top, with coverage beginning at 5.00pm you can set your Sky bingo cards to 5.01pm for mention of ‘Ivan Toney proving a point against former club Newcastle United’. Personally speaking, one can only imagine his primary goals being to see Brentford make it through whilst adding to his own tally for the season.Not sure I could sit through another of his penalty kicks, though. The technique incredible although one that gives me kittens in the run up. Doing it in normal time would be just fine, please.
Positivity is great but let’s not forget who we’re up against. Newcastle United (are they still everyone’s ‘favourite second team’? – thanks, Sky) remain a top flight club and pushing to win a first trophy since 1969. With the 5-2 tonking handed out by Leeds United still fresh in the mind and then, even worse, failing to beat Fulham L, Steve Bruce will be desperate to inject his own brand of good cheer into the North-East. He’ll have to do it without Allan Saint-Maximin and captain Jamaal Lascelles, both of whom are suffering from the fallout out of Corona Virus. Urghh, there we go. The C word. Just add – Brentford’s longest run in the competition for a ‘full house’.
The one could go either way. For me, Clive, there’s no sense in trying to predict it. It’s hard enough knowing who is even going to start let alone who will emerge on top. Instead, let’s sit back with some snacks, with a beer and watch the action unfold. The kick off is at 5.30pm and its live on Sky. Grab your bingo card and let’s do this…..
“I’m afraid we must look again at Christmas. As Prime Minister it is my duty to take difficult decisions to do what is right to protect the people of this country. Given the early evidence we have.. it is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot sit through Mrs. Brown’s Boys and it is cancelled with immediate effect”. Not my words. The words of.. Actually, they are mine. If only Boris Johnson had come out with that bit of good cheer last night it may have taken the edge off his Christmas shut down. Alas, no. Instead we were reliant on Brentford to do the business and what a way to put a smile on the face. Bryan Mbeumo leading the charge in a 3-1 defeat of Reading that sees us overtake the Royals and move up to fourth. The Bees now on the longest unbeaten streak in the country (13 games, compared to Liverpool next up with 10 ) and all set for the visit of Newcastle United in the league cup quarter finals on Tuesday.
If only
It was a performance that deserved an audience, that’s for sure. Brentford rather than Boris or Brown. Blinkin’ Covid meant another game having to be played at Lionel Road behind closed doors but such was the excitement at the goals flew in, even sitting on the sofa felt that bit less frustrating . Mathias Jensen getting the first with barely ten minutes on the clock. Man of the month Sergi Canos playing a delightful ball through to the Danish international who shot straight down the corridor of saveability. Somehow, Cabral in goal for the Reading allowed it to go straight through him like a dose of salts. All he could do was turn and watch it bobble over the line. It should never have gone in but they all count. Take the festive gifts while you can or applaud the devious nature of Jensesn’s shot. Either way, the scoreline read 1-0.
Soon it was two. And then three. With less than a half hour played Bryan Mbeumo had put the game to bed. His first, magnificent. Josh Dasilva playing a cross field ball that put me in mind of Nico Yennaris to Jota against QPR. The result was much the same – a wondrous goal. Mbeumo picked it up in his stride, shimmied then unleashed a blockbuster from the corner of the box that left Cabral no chance It was just unreal and goal that deserved to be seen in person. Nevertheless, you could see what it meant to him from the celebrations with Josh and captain for the day, Ivan Toney.
Yessss!!!! What a goal !
Then it was three. This time, Toney turning provider. Bryan in the box, opening up the Reading defence as though it were nothing stronger than poorly wrapped Christmas present held together with value brand tape before firing low past the hapless Cabral. 3-0. 29 minutes gone. Game over man. Game over. More importantly, a return to the Bryan we know and love. Like Sergi, good players don’t go bad overnight. Whilst his name hasn’t been a familiar one on the scoresheet in recent months, this is what he does and what a way to do it ! The squad joining together to keep this fine form going.
Half time came and went. The defence somewhat testing the squad set up to the max. Having started with Fosu in place of Dalsgaard and Charlie Goode for the suspended Ethan Pinnock, Dom Thompson came on for Rico Henry. How he keeps going I’ve no idea but a well earned rest ahead of the Newcastle game. Further changes followed and so perhaps no surprise that , with the foot off the gas a tad, a consolation goal was conceded. But, you know, that was it. The lead could have been extended late on with flurry of chances somehow being kept out by the Reading woodwork and defence. Thomas balancing his changes and his squad to perfection once more. The record books showing a 3-1 victory that pushed Brentford up to fourth in the Championship – three points off second placed Bournemouth. That’ll do me.
Next up, Newcastle United. They’re hot off the back of being tonked 5-2 by Leeds United (the ‘wrong’ team falling apart in that one ) and then being held 1-1 by FulhamL. A chance for the Magpies to restore some pride or Brentford to record a fourth victory over Premier League position this season? Either way, it should be a Christmas cracker. Don’t forget the early kick off for this one . 5.30pm on Sky the time and place, unless you are a director, journalist or club official. Here’s hoping the 200+ can roar us on to victory inside the stadium. Back home, we’ll be screaming at our TVs. And not, for once, because Mrs. Brown is on.
On a day where Liverpool grabbed the main headlines with their 7(seven) – 0 bracketing of Crystal Palace, perhaps the result at Lionel Road will be the one to have far reaching top flight consequences. Talking at full time, Thomas was full of his customary good cheer as he noted, “When you look back at the end of a season there will always be some defining wins, this could be one of them”.
Too true. This time last season we’d just lost at Sheffield Wednesday. The Bees had slipped to ninth and had 30 points. A year later we’re on the rise, with 35 points from the same number of games and sitting pretty in the play-off zone. All this, despite the intensity of game frequency and the inevitable squad rotation that has to go with this. We’ve been saying all season this will be key. That the league (cliché alert, cliché alert) is a marathon not a sprint. How Thomas and his rivals manage resources and know when to rest tired limbs will be the answer to who goes up. So far, we’re doing just fine. With Christian Norgaard on the bench yesterday, there’s the prospect of even better to come.
2019/20 – After 18 games Brentford had picked up 27 points and were sitting 8th in the Championship table. We’d just gone down 1-0 at Blackburn Rovers. Fast forward a year and we’re 6th after the same number of games. The points total four better on 31. The Bees returning home following a 3-1 tonking of Nottingham Forest. Ivan Toney clear of Adam Armstrong in the race for the golden boot. His late strike blowing the beautiful curler from Josh Dasilva clean out of the water in any attempt to find goal of the day. All this, at a time we’re having to rest/rotate the squad as often as we’re playing games, given the two a week schedule we’re currently racing through. With the televised trip to Watford next up on Tuesday, be sure of more to come. Likewise, be sure of more moaning. Seriously! The announcement of yesterday’s team the latest place where the more unhappy element of our fanbase came to the fore in the replies. Frank out. Yeah!!
Thomas makes 3 changes to the side from Wednesday night
We talked about this after the game Blackburn game. We’ve a club here doing so much for their fans. Look at the way we’ve rallied around Jamie Powell and those before him who have found themselves in the most unimagineable situations. A club doing so much in the local community. A club set up for ongoing growth. A club that is better placed this season (points/table) than at any other time in our Championship life. A club that don’t have an unlimited supply of funds yet are spending, selling and reinvesting in unspotted talent in a style that makes us the envy of the football world.
Yet there are still fans who seem to relish being able to slag off players before a ball has even been kicked. Demanding ‘Frank out’ (are they SERIOUS ?) with nothing more blatant than pure pleasure as a cause for doing so . The treatment of Sergi this season has been horrific. Emiliano last time out. He seems to be flavour of the month once more.
We win and lose as a squad. Those of us with eyes have been under no illusions that squad play has been essential. Will continue to be so. Thomas has been unequivocal about his need to make multiple substitutions per game. Before and during. There will be times when we see players start that we think would be better placed on the bench and vice-versa. That’s football. Its all about opinions. But for a squad and head-coach that is so well placed to come under such constant attack from certain quarters is utterly baffling.
And we go again
I’ve seen us when we genuinely shit. This is nowhere near it. I’m not using ‘we used to be broke’ as the sole excuse to appreciate what we’ve got now. It’s massively important to know your history and remember where we’ve come from but that’s only part of it. No player will ever be 10/10 game after game. No squad has a divine right to win every match. We’ve said this so many times before but its true. So suck it up.
Benrahma has gone and, whilst I’d love him back here still (who wouldn’t) we’re still scoring goals for fun. To be 11 unbeaten and still carving out the wins is nothing short of incredible given the intense physical pressure the players are under. It may not always be the 100mph football of last season and it may, sometimes, be a horror show to sit through (Middlesbrough and Derby anybody…) but we’re finding our groove. We’re finally into our new home. We’re three points off automatic. We’ve just obliterated Nottingham Forest. We’ve just seen Ivan Toney score one of THE goals. Highlights below.
It went up as high as it went forward. The hoof (and there is no other word for it) from Janelt coming down with snow on it. Ivan keeping his eye on the ball all the way through to beat his man and fire a quite exquisite finish home on the half-volley. There are no words to really do it justice. Just watch again. And again.
To think, Nottingham Forest ended up with Lyle Taylor. Both our clubs heavily linked with both players over the summer. Safe to say we’ve got the good end of that deal. Frank out. Sack the board. Where’s the money, Benham?
Before that, Henrik Dalsgaard had opened the scoring early for a much changed Brentford line up. We still played the same way. We still tried to pour forward as we’d done against Blackburn. We still created chances but this time, unlike the Derby game, they went in.
There could have been more. Mbeumo coming close whilst Ivan Toney almost scored a first half wonder goal after connecting with an inch perfect cross from Emiliano and seeing his acrobatic effort swoop just over. In the end, it was Josh Dasilva who double the lead late on with a left-footed curler from the corner of the box after Sergi Canos continued his red hot streak with another assist. It was a goal that would have been the moment of the match, had Ivan not come along and done his own thing minutes later. Frank out !
Ivan comes close in the first half after postman perfect delivery from Emiliano
Next up, a trip to Watford on Tuesday night. I’d love to be there but we’ve no hope. Urgh. Corona. Then, assuming there is no change to the London tiering, we’ve another 2,000 fans able to get a taste of Lionel Road when Reading visit at the weekend. With both teams above us, these games are real six-pointers. A chance to reel in the promotion pack and perhaps even hit those automatic spots.
What a fantastic opportunity awaits. With Newcastle United to come in the league cup quarter-finals, life is definitely looking up on the pitch. For most of us.
What’s that noise? The sound of tunes being changed? What’s that smell? The stench of flagrant hypocrisy. The ongoing bullying, and there is no other word, of Sergi Canos by a group on social media replaced by praise of the highest order after a quite stunning performance and goal for Brentford against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday afternoon. Sorry to start here. We should be focussing on the brilliance of a first game at Lionel Road for our fans and the prospect of doing it all again on Wednesday night against Wayne Rooney’s Derby County. Themselves, visitors likely to get a warmer reception (at least pre kick off) following the bullsh*t at Millwall yesterday. Yet the internet trolls (see also: Frank Out) have been on it all season and it stinks. We talk about being fans. About mental health – hey, players are as human and fragile as the rest of us. How do YOU know what’s going on in their head? How do you genuinely think that tagging players and messaging them to drip more poison in any way helps? Of course we‘ve got a right to have an opinion. To criticise a team selection. To offer up our own game plan and strategy. What stinks is what has felt like an ongoing and lemming like bullying campaign from keyboard warriors who wouldn’t have the balls to say any of this to anyones face.
For me, being a fan is about showing support. About showing faith. About not launching into one player when he has, in your opinion, an off day. About not jumping on a bandwagon because its the ‘cool’ thing to do. About knowing that recovery from horrific injury is a long term process. About recognising that, actually, we are a team and that aside from being wrong ( for more than one reason) picking on one player is hardly going to help anyone. Call me a n*nce, happy clapper, whatever. Tell us ‘don’t defend him’. Personally, I don’t give a monkey. I make no apologies for supporting my team and our heroes. I’m not blinkered. We recognise poor performances but what we don’t do, at least in our house, is round on our team. Blame every perceived ‘failure’ at the door of one man.
Frank Out fans in a complex… #Frank triggered them with the team selection, then #Canos scores, then he takes Canos off, puts #FreeFosu on..a bedwetters dream…. But we lose 2 points…. They don't know whether to boo, wet their pants, shout "nonce" or cry! @BrentfordFC
Cripes, you could see what that meant to Sergi yesterday. The tears in his celebration. You could see Thomas Frank fuming, too. He came out fighting at full time to defend his own tactics after Jacob Davenport had rescued an 87th minute equaliser for a Blackburn team who had been playing with ten men for close to an hour. This, following a straight red for Darragh Lenihan had let Brentford back into the game on 36 minutes. His foul on Ivan Toney being deemed sufficient for the player to be invited to leave the field of play. Toney, the Championship’s leading scorer, made no mistake from the spot. Once again his balls of steel walk up culminating in a strike that was as accurate as it was powerful.
Red seemed harsh but no mistake made from the spot
By this point we had already gone a goal down. Blackburn came out charging and, perhaps sensing the emotion of the day, brought the game to us. It worked. Despite Dalsgaard returning for Fosu to give a more orthodox full back option, our normally impenetrable defence lasted less than twenty minutes. Joe Rothwell waltzing through a series of pirouettes and half arsed challenges.
Rather than anyone attempting to put in an actual tackle he was given the freedom of Lionel Road before firing home from the edge of the box. 1-0. Deserved. But it woke us from our slumbers. With Sergi puling strings in a front three made up of him, Ivan and Marcus Forss it only felt like a matter of time before we would be level. Sure enough, we were.
Yet if the build up and first half had got the juices flowing, it was nothing compared to the second. Roared on by Peter Gilham, the players came out and kicked on from where they’d left off. The inevitable goal coming from Sergi on the hour. Cutting down the left he stepped into the box, dodging defenders before unleashing an absolute piledriver into the top corner. The Blackburn ‘keeper left no chance. The tears flowing. And that was just from our family ! What a strike. What a way to answer those with nothing good to say. What. A.Goal !! It put one in mind of his effort at Reading away a few years back. It was that good. Bravo, Sergi. Bravo.
It should have been put to bed from there. Blackburn offered nothing. Making no attempt to break and set up to snuff out any further damage. The much touted Adam Armstrong was subbed off, leaving Ivan a clear run to go ahead in the top scorer charts. Yet, instead, we ‘did a Brentford’. D’oh !
87 minutes gone and another defensive malfunction allowed Jacob Davenport room to wriggle though and bury it. Urghh. And with that, there was to be no more. Five minutes of injury time, most of which were wasted by the visitors’ ‘keeper, saw us unable to get the fairytale winner. Instead, Brentford having to be content with making it nine unbeaten and still in the top six. Of picking up a ‘mere’ ten points from the last four games which included two midweek trips to Yorkshire and a local derby.
The other talking point was substitutions. We’ve been saying on these pages all season that changes will be made. Either in the starting XI or off the bench. Now offered the chance to make five switches per game, Thomas Frank has absolutely taken that opportunity. Yesterday was no different. Did it change the course of the game? Probably, although we still had enough to wrap up the win and by his own admission we should have gone for more at 2-1. Thomas reflecting at full time that we should have made more forward passes (a real life case of ‘Push up, Brentford’, perhaps?) ”After the 2-1 goal of course we need to win because they didn’t want to come forward so it was only about us making a mistake and unfortunately that happened”.
That’s football. As a fan, ‘disappointing’ didn’t even begin to cut it. Talk about seeing the wind taken form our sails. Ecstasy replaced by agony. Yet as we always say, no team has a divine right to win every game. Sometimes we cruise home by a mile. At others we hang on and fall over the line. Cripes, we’re still up there fighting and just four points off the top of the table. Hardly a case of ‘Frank Out’.
Should we have won? Yes. Did we deserve to? No. Each team scored two goals. That’s how football works. Chances count for naff all. Did the subs affect the team balance? Probably. But that’s the nature of this season which is a marathon crammed into a sprint period. We’ve made changes. We have our squad intact for Derby County on Wednesday. Others are going to do the same. Managers have no choice. On that, Thomas was quite clear. Unequivocally so.
“If you asked me if I wanted to make five substitutions if it was the World Cup final tonight then I wouldn’t, probably not…but we have 30 more World Cup finals to play in the most compact programme ever and if people don’t understand that we can’t play every single player for 90 minutes in 46 games then they need to start studying a little bit about science and fatigue, mental freshness and how you use that. So, if you ask me if I would do it again?
ONE.. HUNDRED.. PERCENT.”
Do I like it as a supporter? Well, its not what I’m used to that’s for sure. But we’ve also got a great squad. Blame the defence for having a moment if you must but why not lambast the attackers for failing to put this one to bed? Tarique Fosu came on for Sergi. Mbeumo for Forss. These are great players and very much the heroes of our Twitter crew. Yet they couldn’t wrap it up. That’s not to knock either player btw. We were up against a resolute Blackburn side who hung in, absorbed damage and caught us on the break. It finished 2-2. That’s football. The important question now being how we can bounce back against Wayne Rooney’s Derby County in midweek.
I’ve got a feeling that one’s going to be and absolute cracker. Being part of the Lionel Road crowd was a huge honour. Our new home is everything it has been bigged up to be and more. Great sightlines, close to the pitch and a truly fantastic atmosphere. Griffin Park at night, under floodlights, was always special. Imagine that on Wednesday? Two thousand made some noise in the dusk. It’s going to be even louder when Derby visit.
It won’t be easy, either. They finally climbed off the bottom of the table after winning 1-0 at Millwall in a game ruined before kick off by the moronic booing of the players supporting racial equality. Something as awful as the club’s complete silence on the matter. If only their fans could have adopted the same tone. There aren’t sufficient words. Pathetic justification of not bringing politics into football no defence. This is not support of what many feel is some quasi-marxist movement. This is support of players. Of showing we feel there is no room for racial injustice or discrimination. And if you think that’s wrong then f*ck off. Football has come so far, in places, except it would seem at the den.
So Derby County were riled. They got their win in a game where the closest the the home team’s match report would get was to note that, “Roared on by 2,000 fans – and what a great sight it was – the game got underway “. Hmmm. What a way to welcome fans back in. What a way to represent yourselves. Perhaps the only saving grace here being that with only two thousand present it will be easier for any identification to take place. But I doubt that’ll happen.
Instead, Wayne Rooney and his Rams will find things much more welcoming at Lionel Road on Wednesday. At least, before kick off. Once that whistle blows, give them hell. I’d love to be a part of it once more. For those getting their turn next up, ENJOY.
Well wasn’t that the performance? Brentford made it three wins on the bounce, eight unbeaten with just three conceded over that period and up to fourth place. Just two points behind current table-toppers Norwich City after a 2-0 defeat of Rotherham that never, really, looked in doubt once the game had begun. Whilst the first half may have been frustrating for many, the Bees kept going and eventually grew into another game where the opposition’s primary objective had been survival. With the FT index mk.ii starting a game together, both players scored to present Thomas Frank further selection headaches (of the nicest sort) for the visit of Blackburn Rovers on Saturday. Marcus Forss grabbed the first before Ivan Toney made it 13 for the season with a calm finish from the penalty spot to wrap up the points and return to the top of the Championship goal scorers charts.
Marcus shared this one on Twitter at full time. As cool as you like.
We don’t do full fat match reports on these pages. We’ve all seen the game and there’s the BBC or Brentford ‘official’ for anyone wanting in depth. For me, the key takeaways were another team rejig that has, once again, proven we have a Plan A, B and C. The absence of Henrik Dalsgaard was barely felt with Tarique Fosu able to bomb up and down the flank in lieu of the Dane. Indeed, whilst the opening goal was notable for the interplay between Toney and Forss (what teamwork for Ivan to pass rather than shoot himself), the patience, the feint and the delivery of that ball into the box from Fosu was magnificence served up on a silver salver. Bees fans being spoiled to ambassadorial levels by a team goal that would have had the ‘Frank Out’ brigade and Canos bullies on their high horses once more as if their managerial credentials had somehow been borne out.
Yet it was Sergi himself who set up the second goal. Forss feeding the Toney before he found Canos. The Spaniard’s timing and pace were electric as he burst clear in the box. This was it. 2-0. Just the keeper to beat until….. Nooooooo! Brutally scythed by Rotherham substitute Mickel Miller with the goal gaping, referee Tim Robinson had no choice but to award the spot kick. At the same time booking the hapless Miller for a second time in the 11 minutes since he had entered the field of play and promptly returning the player from whence he came. He sent him off.
There was no mistake from the spot. I won’t deny Ivan’s approach to penalty taking gives me the heebie jeebies. A slow, measured almost walk up is one that is contrary to everything we’ve seen about running full tilt at the ball before striking. The files of football bloopers filled with strikers attempting ‘comedy run ups’ only to be left with copious amounts of egg on face (or is that just FulhamL ?). The first time against Millwall had heart in mouth. This was no different. Perhaps it is just Brentford and penalties in general? Yet with the shot eventually released, execution like a tracer bullet speeding towards the bullseye, there was once again no doubt. The net bulged. The 200 directors and officials celebrating like we’d won the FA Cup.
As for the Toney and Forss pairing, well I can’t wait to see which way Thomas jumps when Blackburn come to Lionel Road on Saturday. With Forss playing up top and Toney just to his side in our attacking front three, the interplay between the pair of them more than provide its worth. Marcus has tremendous amounts of confidence and we all know how hard (and accurately) he can strike a ball. It’s a quite lovely team decision we have now been presented but with the visit of the Championship’s most devastating attack (Blackburn have scored 27 from 14 games, Adam Armstrong going neck and neck with Ivan for the golden boot) will he stick or revert to our more familiar starting XI? May he have no choice given Henrik wasn’t even on the bench? Given our 9 games over December and the festive period, changes are sure to continue.
One thing you can say for sure is that Vitaly Janelt gets the nod. He’s looking stronger and stronger each game. I love his approach (almost as much as his post match interviews) and can’t believe we’ve unearthed yet another one. Whilst we miss Christian Norgaard, and who wouldn’t, the German is making himself very, very hard to dislodge. Our Triple J in midfield once more banging the drum for Brentford and Thomas Franks’ tactical genius.
As for Thomas, I’ve always been a fan. I’m one very much of the ‘marathon not a sprint’ approach to football. Of realising a league campaign is 46 games long and every side has blips. Of knowing that when we’ve been awful (Stoke City away and that second half againat Preston) it is the exception, not the rule. That no team has a divine right to win every game. Nor will they. At any level. His enthusiasm is infectious. The mentality instilled in his squad really paying dividends. The Bees making their way up the table and improving on last season’s record every game. At the played 15 point in 2019/20 we’d picked up 21 points and were sitting in 13th. This time around we’ve 26 points and are already up to fourth. ‘Frank out’? Take a look at yourselves.
Fans are entitled to opinions. Of course they are. Football would be deadly dull if it was full of blind lemmings towing the company line and singing everything is awesome. Well, you know what? At present it is. Show me any team that could lose like the likes of Benrahma / Watkins and overcome play-off pain then expect to immediately find their feet? It has taken us a few games but we’ve plugged away, the defence is looking rock solid and our attacking options continue to grow as the new look line up gel. Only Blackburn, Bournemouth and Reading have scored more than us. I don’t get the line of nonsense directed towards Thomas from certain quarters but in this strangest of seasons, he and the squad are doing more than ok. Everything IS awesome. Everything is cool when you’re part of a team. Events at the Lego Community stadium continuing to prove this.
from one lego house to another
Let’s finish on a high, though. In what has already been a topsy-turvy season, Brentford are the division’s form team. We’ve won three on the bounce including two midweek trips to Yorkshire and a local derby. I’m absolutely ecstatic to have taken 9 from 9 over that run. Now we have the Championship golden goal shootout to look forward to. Even better, there will be fans present.
To everyone that got a ticket, ENJOY and make yourselves heard. Lionel Road is going to be rocking on Saturday. 2,000 supporters are going to sound deafening. Here’s hoping Simon got his email !
And finally…. Yesterday we put up the link for the Brentford pub Top Trumps. Today’s item of choice is a Nico Yennaris 28 football shirt. Anybody interested in picking this one up can do so here. Thanks for looking.
Until then, here’s to another three points. Here’s to us looking to continue our climb. Perhaps there may even be half an eye on Luton v Norwich tonight….
It seems like just five minutes ago our 200 fans were cheering on Brentford to another three points. Now, we’ve a chance to close in on the automatic spots with a trip to Rotherham United this evening. Its a game that is live on Sky so don’t forget to set your watches for that 8pm kick off. Tickets for the home game against Blackburn this weekend are made available today (not a typo !!) whilst Monday night also saw the FA Cup third round draw and a collective groan go out across TW8 as Middlesbrough were pulled from the hat. We also have the means to answer the question, ‘What is the best Brentford pub on matchday?” as the latest Lockdown boredom buster project has now come to fruition – and you could get your hands on it.
There was no end of fun on Friday
First up, Rotherham United. Cripes, I can’t call this one. On paper, the table gives us the slight advantage but in practice, the Millers have just held second placed Bourenmouth. Chuck an empty stadium into the mix and this one cold be anybody’s. It is the sort of game one would expect us to win, based purely on the facts that we’ve conceded just 3 goals in the last 7(seven) games and remain unbeaten over the same period. Chuck in the sort of firepower one could only have dreamed of when Ollie Watkins was sold, with Ivan Toney and Marcus Forss banging them in for fun and ordinarily I’d be confident. Moreso given the leveller that is having no home fans present.
But this is football. This is Brentford. This is us knowing that however confident we may feel, fingers have been burned many times. Optimism is fine, and I’m full of it, albeit with that niggling doubt at the back of the mind. Rotherham United haven’t read the script and will have no intention of rolling over to die. It’s going to be a cold night in Yorkshire and with the home side hovering just above the drop zone, they won’t be giving any early Christmas presents to anyone. This is going to be a tough, tough test for Thomas Frank and his squad selection. Janelt and Jansen to start? The three centre backs that were so derided at Stoke City yet were part of a game changing formation change on Friday night? Which combination of Canos, Fosu or Mbeumo?
Who’d be a head coach. At 7pm we find out which way Thomas has jumped. See you on the sofa. Hopefully for the last time before we get the chance to go to a game. Today (Tuesday) sees emails being sent to the lucky few selected in the first draft of Season Ticket holders able to get in to Lionel Road for Saturday’s game with Blackburn. By now I am sure you have read all the blurb published by the club. The long and short being a longevity based priority system which you have three chances to claim on before going to the back of the queue and waiting your turn once more. This has been put together with help from BIAS (thank you) and it seems about as fair as you can get things. The full information is available here but, short of being fast tracked in to the Directors box, issued a photographer’s pass or becoming a ball boy this is the best shot we have . And I can’t wait. Nerves? What nerves? Keep on checking your email inbox…..
The FA Cup draw has seen us paired with Middlesbrough in a game sure to set the pulses racing. The plus side here being that, like Newcastle United in the league cup, tickets are separate from the league queuing. Good luck everybody in sorting that one out! I’m sure the club have a plan.
And finally, we all love a pre-match beer or drowning our sorrows at full time. Griffin Park was famous for having a pub in every corner and, with the move to Lionel Road, I’m sure that spirit will live on in some form. Even if Corona Virus rules mean we can only pop in for a beer if we are having a substantial meal alongside. Landlord – two pints of Guinness, two Amstel, four sets of cutlery and one Scotch egg. Hmm.
Still, at least we can turn up. In theory. But where do you go? The Griffin? The Express? The Brook? The Nelson? Strand on the Green or one of those on Kew Bridge? We all have our favourites but which is the best? There’s only one way to find out. Fiigh…. No, Brentford Pub Top Trumps.
Lockdown fires the imagination again
Yes, they’re back. You may recall the concept from the earlier effort over the summer where an incredible £150 was raised for the Community Sports Trust with our Supporter Special pack. Now, Lockdown 2 has seen the creative juices flowing and time killed once more. The result, the 30 or so pubs/bars in the vicinity of Lionel Road battling each other in playing card form.
Oh, what a night. Brentford fans are waking up to see the team sitting fourth in the Championship following yet another defeat of QPR (that’s 8 out of the last 10, now). A 2-1 victory where what happened on pitch was as enjoyable as our visitors’ use of social media off it. The not so super hoops left very much on the wrong end of their own self-inflicted Twitter debacle. Mark Warburton’s full time interview captured for posterity and packed with all the whining of a Sccoby-Doo villain just as they are being unmasked. Having lambasted the officials and the 200 supporters we’d apparently smuggled in (did anyone else get the memo about that or was Billy Reeves being his usual, vociferous self?), he may aswell have rounded off his post-match meltdown proclaiming they’d have gotten away with it had it not been for those meddling kids. It was a moment bookended by their earlier ‘crack’ about our Lego stadium. Hmm, that one aged well. The meat in this comedy sandwich being a first goal for Vitaly Janelt and another two (sorry, one) for Ivan Toney which guided the Bees to victory.
And I’d have gotten away with it had it not been for you meddling kids etc etc
Let’s start with the all important stuff, our win. That’s 7(seven) unbeaten and four points off table-topping Norwich City. Only three goals conceded over this period with last night even seeing the novelty value of us letting one in. For what it was worth.
By then, Janelt had already opened proceedings from distance with less than a quarter hour gone. A low drive from some way outside the box left the away side no chance. The defence motionless. Any resistance to our first real opportunity crumbling like an oxo cube as the ball powered through the lot of them, accompanied by cheers that could be heard all over TW8. Presumably. I wouldn’t know. Having not been in the stadium. But it sounded loud on TV. Those seats certainly know how to make a noise.
Janelt, man of the match against Barnsley, looks like another imperious acquisition. The technique to hit that ball first time, from that distance, a quite wonderful addition to an approach that is already making him a fan favourite. Christian Norgaard is still two weeks away from a return and that’s going to make for a very interesting team selection indeed. Can the two of them play together? I’m looking forward to finding out.
Then, something odd happened. With Marcondes having just missed out on the chance to double our lead following a goalkeeping clearance that was about as ropey as they come, we let a goal in. Not a typo. It happens. And it was a good one. Credit where it is due, the run and cross down the right had alarm bells ringing. The positioning and cool finish of Lyndon Dykes just about spot on. Warburton would, understandably, be purring about this one afterwards. Brentford perhaps disappointed about letting our guests back into this without even getting close to stopping the chance being created. David Raya no real hope of being able to keep it out by the time the ball was hit goalwards. Urghh. What’s a fan to do? Get another beer, wait for half time and go again.
Then, something even stranger when the teams re-emerged. Remember that ‘formation’ thing up at Stoke City? The thing we don’t talk about involving three centre-backs? Well, it happened again. But this time it worked. Dalsgaard came off to see Pontus line up alongside Ethan and Mads Bech (who we’ll get to shortly). Mathias Jensen replacing Josh in the midfield. How nice to have a Plan B that involves a change in tactics to suit the occasion. How nice to see it work. QPR rendered impotent at a stroke. The game all one way as Brentford once again dominated. Ivan Toney timing his own run to connect with Mbeumo’s delivery perfectly as the lead was soon restored. Except it wasn’t.
“Offside” said the fourth official. “Nooooo”, came the cry from our respective homes (and not the stadium where only club officials were present, Mark). It was tight, very tight. But the replay showed that Ivan WAS onside. Just. But marginal seems to be sufficient these days.
We’re all well familiar with the machinations of VAR. Where even a freeze-framed hand momentarily ahead of the critical defender is deemed fair game to rule out a goal. Where was the blinkin’ technology when it would actually help? (We’ll file that one under phrases not often used and which we’ll probably all be cursing next season as it conspires to spanner us ).
No matter. It didn’t take long until the pressure built to a legitimate goal for Ivan. Another perfect header. This time it was Marcondes with the delivery. A precise free-kick delivered direct to the Championship’s leading goalscorer. He made no mistake, finishing this one with all the appetite of a child opening the advent calendar and not stopping to think that numbers 1-24 signify days rather than minutes. The chance was snaffled up. The game set in our favour. The visitors devastated. And there was worse to come….
Specifically for Todd Kane, who was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. His assault on Marcus Forss leaving the referee no real choice but to deem the player not fit to stay on the field of play. Down to ten men, Rangers were unable to adjust. Despite five minutes of time added on there was no real pressure, a last second free kick aside. It was calmly dealt with. Oh, to have a Plan B when you need it. 2-1 and a well deserved win. A 19th defeat out of 20 on Friday nights for QPR (thanks to the BBC for that one).
Not to the one we’d predicted
That said, my own take is that we were lucky not to see our own red card. Mads Bech’s errr ‘robust’ challenge on Lyndon Dykes in the first half adjudged to have been shoulder to shoulder rather than the blatant shove which subsequent replays appeared to suggest. Having not been there, I can’t say for sure but watching the highlights I think we might have swerved one there. Move along. Nothing to see. Just makes it all the sweeter that, for once, the good fortune has gone our way to supplement the tactical dominance.
What else is there to say? Well, how about what happened on Twitter? Lesson one on social media – if you are going to give it Billy Big Balls then damn well make sure your team can follow it up. Scoop: Irony is alive and well over in Shepherds Bush where the team from the Wendy House made this crack before kick off….
Friday night from the L̶E̶G̶O̶ Brentford Community Stadium….proclaimed QPR twitter. Hmmm. Fair enough. Had that been us, we’d have been cringing. And only becasue you know what happens when you go in like that. Sure enough, payback was delivered in some style. Hats off to whomever was driving ‘Brentford official’at full time.
Yet the real full time highlight was Mark Warburton’s post match interview. Clearly frustrated, he was blaming everyone but his own team for this one. The ref. The Lino. The 200 fans that we had apparently smuggled in. The full interview is on their twitter feed if you really want it.
For me, Clive, the GPG cut to the chase in style. Enjoy.
📢BREAKING NEWS: NEW EXCUSE FROM THE BREADMAN
Brentford were cheating because we had too many people in the stadium. "200 supporters smuggled into the stadium". "Where did all the noise come from? I thought that we were on lockdown?" 🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/n4cA8NVHLU
That’s it for now. Have a great day and here’s to spending it in the knowledge we’re still winning. Still enjoying this run. Still pushing up (Brentford). Enjoying our best start to Championship life since promotion. Mark, this one’s for you. Ed Sheeran and his Lego house were too obvious. Besides, I much prefer something upbeat to start the morning. Happy Saturday everyone.
