Look at what you could have seen. Where do you start after that?

For a moment this looked like it was going to be Burton Albion away all over again. With Brentford trailing Sunderland 3-1 at Griffin Park on Saturday, as the Bees headed in for a half-time cuppa/rollicking (delete as applicable) it was looking like it would only end in a historic win for the hosts or a bracketing from the visitors.

And like Burton away, it was a game yours truly missed due to a rejigged family commitment. That’s life. Mrs Bruzon generally lets me get away with murder (footballing, not literally) . Besides there was no way what happened against The Brewers last season, where 3-1 down at HT finished 5-3 to the Bees, could ever happen again. Could it?

Had the returning Sergi Canos come on that bit earlier then who knows? To be honest, I’m just glad he was back in action. Whilst the team have started to build a decent unbeaten run (this makes it six in the Championship now) his flair and enthusiasm have undoubtedly been missed.

As one New Road observer noted…

Having had two hefty injuries already this season, I can well understand Dean Smith’s reticence not to bring him on too early. Ease him back into it. This, despite a first half performance that sounded like an abomination.

I say sounded. Don’t take my word for it though. Seriously. These blogs normally come with the disclaimer along the lines of : ‘for any sort of match report then the likes of ‘official’, the BBC or Beesotted are your place.’ For this one, take that to the max.

A Saturday spent in South Wales meant the nearest I got to Brentford was peering through the traffic and Storm Brian at what might have been our chief scout moonlighting.

My own view of the second half

Yet at 3-1 down, there was that thought lurking at the back of the mind that the footballing gods would stick up two fingers in this direction once more. So much so that, and purely for research purposes, the offer of 10/1 for a Brentford win from my online bookmaker seemed too good a gifthorse to turn down.

And then it began. Whatsapp began to flash updates:

16.07: Free kick from outside the box scored by number 7…

3-2. The comeback was on.

16.23: Dalsgard with a very loud fuck off there towards the ref

16.31: ANGRY DAD MELTDOWN (and if you sit in the paddock, you’ll know. He is just wonderful. And I mean that quite honestly. Genuine passion)

16.37: Two touches. Two goals.
16.37: It’s comedy goal day at Griffin Park.

In the end, 3-3 it stayed. Despite what sounded like an ‘edge of the seat’ denouement, the Bees couldn’t quite repeat the miracle at the Pirelli. Sunderland continue below the Bees. As do a Birmingham City side who lost. Again.

View from the Braemar – fornicate off ??

After the game, there was the usual trawl of Twitter to see who was saying what. Looking at our own team, I did have to wonder if the media team had played a part, there had been some copy/pasting going on or just a coincidence:

Yoann Barbet : Shame we didn’t win today, but great reaction and come back in the second half 💪
We go again next Saturday.
Thank for your support again 👏🐝🐝🐝

Josh Clarke : Shame we didn’t get the win today but the boys show get character to get back into the game… on to the next 🔥🤘🏽#Brentfordfc

Another season, another player ‘going again’. Yet the reason for my suggesting the hand of the media team, whilst tongue-in-cheek, has grounding. And of a Sunderland connection.

Anybody who picked up a copy of the programme and we’re kind enough to look at my own ramblings would have read about the article on the 100 worst strikers to feature in the Premier League published by @RokerReport (and you can read that here – theirs, not mine).

Incredibly, 9 Sunderland players featured out of the 100. That’s some strike rate. Somewhat ironic, given their inability to find the back of the net. And at number 6 in that list was Victor Anichebe. A player whose form in front of goal was only matched by his form on Twitter.

When the media team said…..

Nick Bruzon

Dean gets his wish as Bees prepare for a first trip to Burton.

There’s just 9 games to go for Brentford before a third season in the Championship comes to an end and we’ve something new to look forward to today –  a first ever trip to Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium. With it, a chance to look for another league double with the Bees, of course, having beaten the Brewers 2-1 earlier in the season at Griffin Park.That was a game marked by a wonderful performance from Romaine Sawyers and a brace from the now Aston Villa based Scott Hogan where Brentford probably should have won by more, but were ultimately grateful to end up wth three points in the back pocket and 11 players on the pitch.

Referee David Coote, a man Brentford fans may recall from last season when he incorrectly ruled out Jota’s winning goal at Fulham (for apparent offside) was at it again – this time Hogan the man being denied a third as the man in the middle ruled in favour of a tumbling John Mousinho. Apparently ‘fouled’ as the pair raced clear toward the Burton goal.

Coote gave a display that showed all the authority and decision making ability of White Star Line when they declared the Titanic seaworthy. Even Brentford ‘official’ adopting a rare tone of cynicism, noting in their match report that his “Decisions throughout the afternoon frustrated many of a Brentford persuasion”.

It was a game that concluded with a bizarre moment of handbags as it reached the denouement. Referee Coote  again proving almost incidental to the action as he allowed the incident to escalate to a situation where any of several players, from either side, could have seen ‘red’ . Bees captain Harlee Dean stepping up to a situation where he was eventually surrounded by several irate Albion players whilst their goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin went at Romaine Sawyers like a drunken Morris dancer.

View from the Braemar – it was full blooded last time out

The good news for Brentford fans being that Coote is nowhere near the Pirelli stadium. He did his thing last night at Bristol City as the home team humped Huddersfield Town, our own conquerors last Saturday, by an incredible 4-0 scoreline. That in itself, a result that sees City rise above Albion in the relegation scrap.

The potential bad news being that Mr Madley is the man in the middle. Although calm down, it’s Andy not Robert (of the infamous performance as Brentford celebrated like they’d won the FA Cup at Leyton Orient. And if you’d like to read more on that…..) who will be officiating today.

And relax.

On the pitch, Dean Smith has his wish. The no-show against Wolves (let’s just park that one now) saw him saying afterwards that, “After tonight I need a game as soon as possible because I need to put that game to bed. The players are the same: they need the game. They are better that that and they need to go and show that.”

Well Dean, you have your chance. I’ve every confidence he and the team will put things right and return to winning ways. Club sponsor’s 888sport have us at 5/3 to win this match. Whilst, of course, I’m not a betting man even I might be tempted at this price, purely for research purposes.

Can Brentford do it? Will Burton make it three on the spin for the Bees? Defeats, that is. Whether you are following on twitter, Beesplayer or at the game itself, at 3pm we find out.

Enjoy.

Nick Bruzon