We’re Brentford, not Manchester City. Was football’s dirtiest trick delivered off pitch?

Well done. Well done everyone. After 30 games Brentford sit second in the Championship table. Only Norwich City above us. Still just over a third of the season to go and the Bees find themselves higher than just about everyone else in the division. Look at Birmingham City, for example, who lost again last night to further strengthen their grip on the relegation spots. Ten times better indeed. Look at Bristol City, who have just sacked their manager after losing six on the bounce. The fact of the matter is that we did go down to QPR last night. A 2-1 reverse thanks to a brace of rapid fire second half goals after we’d gone in for our cuppas leading c/o Ivan Toney, but if was only our fifth reverse of the season. Coming off the back of the Barnsley result , and at a time we’d hit the top spots, of course it’s going to look dramatic but am I bothered? No. Stressed? Definitely not. Frustrated at an opportunity lost? Absolutely. With the other teams around us all winning it wasn’t a great time to drop points but by the same virtue, the table doesn’t lie. Cliche alert: the league is a marathon not a snickers. Could we please all just try to avoid meltdown.

The look on Sergi’s face says it all

Positives from the specific 90 minutes in Shepherds Bush? Another goal for Ivan Toney. The most sublime of touches on the half hour to steer home a free kick from Matthias Jensen and give Brentford the lead. In an open and fast paced game, at complete odds to the turgid slug fest when Barnsley came to town, it was a breath of fresh air. Moreso the somewhat unusual concept of ‘scoring first’. It was a lead which reflected the balance of play and suggested usual form had returned as quickly as it had departed. You know, doom mongers, the form that saw us go unbeaten from late October through to a Sunday in the middle of February.

The second half , however, saw our hosts decide to turn it up. Its almost like they had a Plan A but decided to do it better. Nothing really changed beyond the arrival of Sam Field from the bench. It took just over a quarter hour into his home debut to level things up. A strong finish which saw his side take the scores to 1-1. Cardboard cutouts making more noise than the regular support could ever hope to i.e. none. Urghh, back to square one. Or should that be square minus one as just moments later Charlie Austin made it 2. A defection assisting his effort but they all count. The lead taken. Minutes earlier we’d been sitting pretty. Now we were in the catch up position with just a quarter hour to go. Sadly, we couldn’t . Catch up, that is. It ended 2-1 to QPR. Go to the BBC, Beesotted or ‘official’ if you want a full match report. We’ve all seen or heard what happened already.

A painful night. As much as anything else because Swansea City, Norwich City, Bournemouth and Watford (on Tuesday) all won. Brentford the only team to drop promotion points. I cold moan, gripe and whine but there’s no point. It won’t change anything and, besides, what’s the benefit? Is it even needed? Of course not. Only Swansea City have lost less games than Brentford all season (their 4 to our 5).  We’re not Manchester City. We don’t have infinite riches and talent. We’re not Glasgow Rangers or Celtic. The Championship is the toughest division in Europe in terms of relative strength of participants. This is anything but a case of flat track bullies in a league deprived of any genuine opposition. 

Let’s not forget, either, that players must be knackered. Not just from Brentford but from all clubs. Another set of two games a week and no end in sight. Our next set of games without a midweek fixture comes between 6 and 13 March ; it stretches back as far as a I care to remember and the fact that we are even in contention is nothing to be sniffed at. That we’ve kept up this relentless run of form vastly impressive. At the end of the day , Clive, we’ve lost two games. Hardly shot the dog or bedded our best friend’s other half. If it has to happen then better for it to be now than, oh I don’t know, say in the last two games of the season.

I’m not a (complete) idiot. I’d obviously rather have won. I’m gutted to have lost to that lot and their low brand shenanigans. We were accused of bringing 200 fans into the game at Lionel Road. That’s well documented. I can’t condone who, or what, they smuggled in last night. Or possibly photoshopped. Just what the heck was this all about? Definitely not funny but I suppose when cheap shots are all you have to play for then take the victories where you can. If any younger viewers are reading then look away now. Thanks to the GPG for spotting this one…..

Yeah, we lost. Tears at bedtime. That’s just from H but he was over it by the time we got to the next chapter of Harry Potter and the Expecto Fartus spell (having got through a ton of books, we’re now having to improve home made stories – and they stink). All is fine this morning. Perspective regained. Frustration still lingering but that’s no bad thing. The desire to keep going and do better now key. 

Ethan Pinnock, dropped for this one, will I’m sure be back for Coventry on Saturday. That’s a lunchtime kick off and so by the time Norwich and Swansea run out at 3pm one could well imagine the ever-changing table to have another new look.

We can’t change what happened last night. Sh*t happens. That’s life. That’s football. What counts now is how we react at the weekend then at home to Sheffield Wednesday and Stoke City. We’re still second in the Championship. Second. In. The. Championship. That’s huge. Brentford still have to play Norwich City, amongst others. Let’s just focus on ourselves for now. Remember how we got there. Starting this weekend.

As Thomas said in his post-match conference, “It is very important that we are calm … we have not suddenly become a bad team, you could see that first-half.” Who am I to say otherwise? Now bring on Coventry City.

The table doesn’t lie

Nick Bruzon   

Advertisement

How to watch it tonight. What we’ll miss in person.

What is there to say today? Brentford travel to QPR looking to further strengthen the automatic spot we’ve finally reached and possibly retake the top from Norwich City. With Watford now third after their own win last night things remain super tight. Norwich City go to Coventry and Swansea City host Nottingham Forest. Neither look particularly taxing opponents, on paper, but you could have said the same about Barnsley. On paper. This is the Championship where anything can happen. Where any team can beat any. Where every point counts.

I could give the tub thumping speech about take overs and there being a mere 3.5 miles between our respective homes. Two stadia kept at arms length by the 237 bus and not much more. Show me someone telling Peter Gilham this one doesn’t matter and I’ll show you someone taking their life in their hands. It is a mantra absorbed by all the players and evidenced, yet again, by the reaction to Said Benrahma’s penalty last season (crips, that seems a lifetime ago already). The players running to our man with a mic and celebrate together.

Back of the net…!!! Mayhem followed a split second later

It’s a game we want to win more than any other. Yet at the same time, without fans being there in person it fells like we’ve lost something. As much the chance to see unhappy faces in person. To celebrate together. Even knowing that when it gets truly grim, as can happen at times, we’re all in this together. I’ve recounted this one before but even the occasion of Dean Smith’s infamous 4-6-0 formation was punctuated by two highlights.

Firstly, BBC Billy Reeves doing his disco thing. Walking behind the goal at half time, he responded to a call of his name by performing a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ touchline sashay. Part Moonwalker, part Zoolander it was as smooth a transition from casual stroll to C&A model as you could ever hope to see. As one terrace wag noted ,” He accelerated from zero to catwalk in 1.2 seconds”. 

BBC Billy provided a rare moment of joy the time we tried a ‘false 9’

The second came as the goals rained in. Behind me, the emotion had clearly got to another fan who had been giving a running commentary down the phone to his, presumably, better half during the second half. Even this call reached a sad denouement with the line, “Yes. I love you my darling. But we’re sh*t. Now please f**k off” .

Thankfully, this is very much the thin end of the wedge when it comes to recent games at the Kiyan Prince Foundation stadium. Last season saw us beating QPR 3-1 – the game with the aforementioned Benrahma pen – whilst the same scoreline was repeated at Griffin Park. That, one of the last few games with fans present and one where there was the personal bonus of seeing H leading the players out.

Yet you are only as good as your last result and for us it was that 2-0 no show against Barnsley whilst our hosts beat Blackburn 1-0 courtesy of a 51st minute goal from Yoann Barbet. Safe to assume it wasn’t a penalty. Equally though, let’s not forget our last result against QPR.  A 2-1 win at Lionel Road in November (game 7(seven) in the unbeaten streak) which had the added bonus of salty tears at full time from Mark Warburton.

His own griping about he 200 fans we’d supposedly smuggled in up there with anything that ever came out of the mouth of Steve Evans or us Celebrating like we’d won the FA Cup. It was a thing of absolute beauty and a tribute to our board of directors / substitutes who made more noise than a Harry Potter convention. It will be interesting to see if there are any temporary additions made to the board this evening in an attempt to redraw the balance.

Oh, Mark. Thank you. For a season where we’ve felt very much locked out you made an already special moment feel even more wonderful. Here’s to more of the same tonight. Kick off is at 7pm . See you there. In spirit. Unless Mr. Benham want to make me one of his 200 directors.

Instead, our options are many. There’s I-follow where ST holders have VIP (i.e. free) access. Failing that you can buy a pass or press the Sky ‘red’ button. Let’s not forget the ideal combination – our friends at radio. Billy ‘disco’ Reeves has confirmed its live on BBC Radio London DAB digital. Ah, ambassador, with these commentary options you are spoiling us.

And just when today couldn’t get any more exciting, our referee is Gavin Ward. On that bombshell…

Nick Bruzon

Fine win and Twitter debacle leave delicious amounts of egg on face.

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.

https://t.co/cKXnB0LKe6 pic.twitter.com/AeO7fAcyam

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) November 27, 2020

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

— Griffin Park Grapevine (@bfcgpg) November 27, 2020

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.

Deploy fishing rod emoji and stand back…

Nick Bruzon

Let’s smash them! Let’s do this!!

The 237 derby awaits. Brentford are all set to host the team from Shepherds Bush at Lionel Road this evening. The move to our new home meaning a mere 3.4 miles now separates the two clubs. I’ve not been this excited about a ‘behind closed doors’ game since Barnsley last season. Hmmm. Move along, nothing to see here. That was then. This is now. The Bees are on it at the moment (6 unbeaten and only two goals against) whilst Tuesday night’s performance ay Oakwell ensured the promotion pack remain well in our sights. Not to mention exacting a little payback from the aforementioned game. Elsewhere, it’s well possible that our reader could be watching the Blackburn Rovers game next Saturday in person. Not a typo.

Games with our neighbours have been wonderful in recent seasons

For all the negativity out on social media over recent weeks, the simple fact is that victory tonight takes Brentford up to fourth place. Chuck in the opposition factor (oh, to be a fly on the wall for Peter Gilham’s pre-match speech to the squad) combined with the nature of our performance at Barnsley and you can be sure the boys will be up for it. They’d better be. This, of all games, is the one we love each season. Victory in their pokey matchbox is always fun but to do it at home, in front of your own seats, is truly special.

Sadly, it comes just too soon for the return of 2,000 fans to a home game but at least Lionel Road will look full. Who’s laughing at those coloured seats now ? Of course, the place will be full in spirit. The game is on Sky sports and I-follow VIP.

Murdoch or Mark Burridge? Tonight, ambassador, you are really spoiling us. 

I have to be honest, one of the highlights of the season to date (the performances of Ivan, Ethan, Marcus, Sergi, Rico et al aside) has been the role carried out by our commentator par-excellence throughout all of the Corona based despondency. It can’t be easy commentating on what, to all intents and purposes, has all the passion of Mrs. Brown smooching with Donald Trump on Star Wars Day whilst sipping on an Expresso. The strains of the England supporters band wafting over them. No fans in the ground makes a distasteful experience for the viewers. Commentating on it must be truly tricky. Nowhere to hide. No crowd noise to fill the gaps or spur you on.

Yet Mark, Mick and Marcus (Gayle, not Forss – note so self : find excuse to work that pun in ) make it seem effortless. For that, I am genuinely thankful. A shitty time made slightly better thanks to our top, top football commentating team. 

Jacket sleeves rolled up? My Mammy Vice? The allure of crowd free football

Whichever way you watch (or listen) to it tonight, it’s sure to be an exciting one. Expect the same team as started up at Barnsley with cameos from the bench. That said, one does have to wonder how Thomas is keeping Marcus Forss happy – he must be chomping at the bit – but you can’t look past the imperious form of Ivan Toney.

My word, that man is on fire and more than filling the boots of Ollie Watkins. I’d still love that Ollie was here but we’ve done pretty, pretty good in replacing him. Ivan is definitely at the Maupay / Grey end of the striking scale rather than Proschwitz / Jones.

Of all that has happened this season, the goal scoring prowess of Ivan has been the absolute stand out for me. Yes, Rico has been immense. Ethan continues to flourish. The goalkeeping saga put to bed. Yet to find such a composed goal scorer and, probably more important, one who has adjusted to this team and this level of football so, so quickly has been pivotal. He is already ahead of Ollie and Neil on the goals scored at this stage in their respective Brentford careers with the promise of more to come. Aside from keeping the fans happy, doing it again tonight against that lot will see him return to the top of the Championship goal scorers chart. At present, he sits one behind Adam Armstrong of Blackburn Rovers (11 and 12 respectively after 13 games).

And on a side note to form, that of the overall squad has been as impressive. Sure, we’ve had a few stinkers (Stoke away and the second half debacle at home to Preston being the real low lights) yet point for point we’re still well clear of this time last year. Moan all you want about individuals but the table doesn’t lie. I saw this one last night to illustrate, in a nutshell, where we are. Frank out. Apparently. Groan. Insert Picard meme.

#BrentfordFC after 13 matches:
19/20 18 points, 15 goals for, 11 against.
20/21 20 points, 18 goals for, 12 against.
That’s with players bedding in, key injuries and underperforming. We have two genuinely good strikers for the first time in forever. So let’s just calm down.

— Justin(LionsAndBees) (@Lions_and_Bees) November 26, 2020

Anyway, we can big it up all we want. Form is out the window. Past results irrelevant. For one night only is it about the 90 minutes that lay ahead. The hope that special agent Barbet can do it again. Truly, I loved him at Griffin Park but there’s always the hope that he goes awol this evening. Perhaps adding to that tally of own goals or missed penalties.

Ultimately though, its about one thing only. Winning the game. Beating our neighbours. Showing Mark Warburton our Plan A ! Bring it on and see you there. Kind of.

We love you, Yoann.

Although… this time next week we’ll be saying that for real. At least, a maximum 2,000 of us will. With the latest announcements from Boris now out there, and London placed in Corona Virus Tier 2, we’re allowed some supporters into games. The first game up is Blackburn Rovers next Saturday. The Toney-Armstrong shootout (so another 0-0, then). Good luck to the club in sorting out how all this is going to work – genuinely – although at least the slightly ambiguous wording on Twitter yesterday – intimating that Premium would get first dibs – was quickly cleared up on social media aswell as in the main article where it is noted that,”Whatever number we are working to, we will ensure that each ticket group  will have a fair split of the overall allocation“. 

I’m still not clear what happens if those fans live in Tier 3 but at least we now have some, scant respite. A first step back to sporting normality. You can read the full article here and, if you haven’t done your survey yet, I’d be doing it fast. 2,000 desperate fans are going to make a hell of a lot of noise. Personally speaking, I can’t wait to be part of it. No matter how bizarre it may be.

That’s all to look forward to. For now I’m all about watching it on the sofa. Possibly for one last time before getting in to a game for a real. Let’s smash them. Let’s go out of this creepy ‘no fans’ atmosphere in style. Let’s do this. I can’t wait!

Nick Bruzon

Is our form all down to one player?

Well, we’re back in action. Whatever that means. Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Wycombe Wanderers was a masterclass in frustration for a Brentford team that had endured similar in the previous game – that 0-0 with Middlesbrough before International break took hold. We’ve back to back fixtures with Barnsley and then Quarter Pound of Rubbish before the weekend. With them, the opportunity to fine tune our game and get the goals flowing once more. Likewise, a chance to prove we are a team. That all our woes (if you can call being six points off second place ‘woes’) are not the fault of one man. Yes, the online hate mob were back and Sergi is once more the player in their sights.

Sergi gets stuck in on Saturday

It was a terrible game played out in a Craven Cottage atmosphere. Rattling around an empty stadium no longer working to our advantage as it did last season when it was a short term ‘novelty’ (and that word is used in the loosest sense). Brentford adjusted to it quickly. Everybody else has caught up. Football is now much more of an 11 v 11 thing with the lack of crowd and passion dragging everybody down. Fans frustrated on their sofas. I know I am.

Its awful. I want to be there. Cheering them on. Screaming. Giving the lino what for. Instead, we still have that sterile feeling of what, to all intents and purposes, has the feel of a reserve game. This should be the Championship. Instead it feels like The Football Combination.   

That’s not to lay all the blame for an awful afternoon at the feet of the Corona Virus crowd restrictions. Brentford still struggled to break down resolute opposition. As we did against Middlesbrough. Fair play to Wycombe. Despite us having the better chances – Bryan Mbeumo in particular and Josh Dasilva late on – they were few and far between. Our hosts locked us out and stifled all flair. Another vital point on the board for the Adams Park outfit. The Bees lacking the tactical nous to get through them – even with the much demanded pairing of Forss and Toney getting a run out for the final half hour.  

You know what? Had Sergi been at his very best then we might have won. But you could say that about anybody outside of the defence. All our frustrations are not the fault of one player. He’s not been at his creative best the last few games but who has? We’re not scoring and we’re not creating. That’s not because of one man. Cripes, some of the replies to this one….

We´ll keep fighting. We are @BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/meaewzSIJv

— Sergi Canós Tenés (@sergicanos) November 22, 2020

Here are the simple facts. After 12 games we’re in eleventh and a mere six points off second place. We’ve not lost in five league games, conceding just two goals over that run. In Ivan Toney, Brentford have a player going neck and neck with Blackburn’s Adam Armstrong at the top of the Championship goal scoring charts. Let’s not forget, either, we’re in the quarter finals of the League Cup. A tie with Newcastle United , and the bizarre possibility of being one step closer to European football, awaits.

This time last season, played 12, we were in thirteenth place and 8 points behind second placed Leeds United. We’d limped out of the League Cup at the first attempt, to Cambridge United.

Nice work, Sergi et al. We’re doing better than last season, in much tougher circumstances ! Frank IN ! The table doesn’t lie.

Then and now

So yes, it has been tough going the last few games. We’ve not fully found our feet, that’s for sure. In part it’s down to the environment. In part we’re still acclimatising to those departures and new arrivals. Still finding what the best option is. Still recovering from injuries that continue to come thick and fast – Ethan Pinnock was the latest to miss out this time around.

Perhaps, even, still getting over the play-off campaign. Urhghh, watching the awfulness of FulhamL on Sunday lunchtime as they made it 7(seven) defeats out of 9 games was an absolute kick to the nuts. They truly are dreadful – but enough about their penalty taking. Surely we’d have held our own heads higher and put in a better performance than that? Built on our squad rather than readjust to new starters.

It hasn’t been fun in recent games but my own personal take on it is that nobody deserves the torrent of abuse being directed at individuals or the team. We’re hardly in the same position as Wayne Rooney’s Derby County. The Bees aren’t losing, we’re better placed than this time last season and we’ve got a trip to Barnsley on Tuesday night. It won’t be easy but the Championship never is. For years it has been described as the most competitive and exciting in Europe. Few could deny the former this time around, even if recent games have been somewhat lacking on thrills.

Now bring on Barnsley. Then the small matter of a visit from the Shepherds Bush team……

Nick Bruzon

Very much behind The Times. ‘He’ doesn’t support us, does he?

Almost there. Monday morning. Brentford v Fulham in the Championship play-off final is little more than a day away. Tomorrow night we walk out at Wembley to see if the most incredible season on record, one which has seen us play the last ever game at Griffin Park alongside the campaign interrupting global pandemic, has the happiest of endings. Yet with the game almost upon us, the age old question as to celebrity fans has reared an ugly head once more. Specifically, the allegation that Phill Collins supports The Bees.

This, the suggestion doing the rounds on Twitter yesterday after the GPG shared  the below.  Utter gumph.

Indeed, it was territory covered in the matchday programme for the final Brentford game played out in front of fans – the 5-0 trashing of Sheffield Wednesday back in early March (how long ago does that feel now?).

It appeared in response to the same allegation being made by Cardiff City in their publication the previous game.

We all know who our celebrity fans are. Adam Devlin, guitarist for popular music’s The Bluetones. Natalie Sawyer. Richard Archer from Hard-Fi / newly formed pop combo ‘Offworld’ (do check them on Spotify et al). Rhino from the Quo. Likewise comedian Nathan Caton, Rick Wakeman and  Dean Gaffney (Wellard from Eastenders). Amongst others. 

Sadly, Cameron Diaz is not amongst their number. Or, certainly, wasn’t unless she has since paid a clandestine visit. A popular urban legend finally debunked with those fatal words a few years back after a tip off from, errr… The full story on that one is here.

Yet like the ever popular Charlies’ Angels star, the Phil Collins story is one that pops it’s head above the parapets every now and again. A story based on nothing more than his youthful visits to Griffin Park. A story that has been clarified by the singer himself. Apparently. 

First glance at his autobiography – where the locally born slush-merchant notes that as the closest big club to Hounslow he used to attend our matches – suggest this may have been true,

Yet scratch below the surface and a different story emerges. In an interview, the Groovy kind of love singer has been quoted as saying that he “used to support Brentford when I was a small boy as I lived not far away. I moved closer to London and lived close to Queens Park Rangers, and had a season ticket for a few years during the great Stan Bowles, Phil Parkes years. I have to say though that I always had a soft spot for the Spurs team of the 60’s with Greaves (a real hero of mine) and Mackay etc….(I could name the whole team but I won’t !!! ) However I lived in West London and Spurs over in North London was too far to go as a lad.

More recently (70’s!!) I’ve kept a close eye on Liverpool and befriended Kenny Dalglish, David Johnson and Ray Clemence. In fact one year they one the championship, we played in Liverpool the same day as the deciding game, and we all got together after the show and had a few drinks. So as you see I’ve spread my affection around a bit !!!”

As the aforementioned Bluetone would opine on Twitter following the Cardiff City publication, “So basically he supports any team that accommodates his current geographical location and touring schedule. There’s a proper fan.”

“I support Brentford you say? ” But seriously,  no fan would wear this..

Instead, Phil would seem to have more clubs than Nick Faldo and the loyalty of a half and half wearing snake.

As for Fulham, it’ll be interesting to see who comes out of the woodwork tomorrow night. Their own list is hardly a galaxy of stars. Lily Allen. The pointless chap. Hugh Grant. Brian Guest. 

David Mellor used to support them in the 70s (to the extent of even writing programme notes) before committing the lowest of low acts, that of a grown up cheating on their own team, and transforming into a Chelsea supporter. Nobody deserves that – not even Fulham. Well, almost nobody deserves that.

Brian Guest – Fulham note him as a fan despite the pain inflicted by the Bees

Nick Bruzon

Will Lewis celebrate like he’s won The #UltimateQuaranTeamCup ?

Unusual times (must. avoid. use of unprecedented) call for unusual measures. Football is off the agenda for now with no end in sight. The Euros and the Olympics have both been put back by a year and unless people listen to the lockdown messages, one can only see things on the health front getting worse for the foreseeable. Those are the facts of life at the moment. Yet it doesn’t mean we can’t get our Brentford fix. Even if it is against less traditional opponents such as St. Mirren, Finn Harps and QPR. And it’s all thanks to Leyton Orient who are doing their bit to keep football going with their online video game tournament – The #UltimateQuaranTeamCup.

Whilst appreciating we’re a few days late to this party on these pages (well, the weekend trip to the hospital has been a bit of a distraction), it is something that has proven to be compellingly addictive. E-sports are the next best thing at the moment and with supporter Lewis Frampton representing Brentford in the 128 team knockout competition  – played out on FIFA 20 for the PS4 – the Bees are already through to the second round.

An epic opening fixture against St. Mirren went to replay after replay before the Bees finally progressed with a 6-2 victory. I was glued to this one  – amongst two thousand fans watching the opening round unfold – and we’ll now play League of Ireland side Finn Harps in the round of 64 (happy, FIFA? ) tonight. I believe kick off is at 7pm, on ‘Twitch’ (whatever that is) but the streaming does work fine and can be accessed through Twitter. 

I presume the club, who have fully thrown their weight behind this one, will also have a link. They’ve conducted press conferences with Lewis, run a match report whilst even Peter Gilham got involved last night as Lewis prepared to play some ‘friendly’ games against the team from Shepherds Bush . If such a fixture can ever be described as ‘friendly’.

Good to see some things never change for Peter 

Mr Brentford x @MrFrampton147

Pre-match pep talk from Peter Gilham ✅

All Frampy, aren’t we? 👊 #UltimateQuaranTeam | #BrentfordFC 🐝 https://t.co/BNn5oaK8cf pic.twitter.com/lgWj3nRTQi

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) March 24, 2020

Fair play to Leyton Orient who have organised and co-ordinated the tournament. ASwell as already raising £55,000 on their JustGiving page it is providing some very welcome and much needed relief at the moment. Lewis is doing Brentford proud and I can’t wait for the next game. The EFL may be on indefinite hold (although at least we know it will be played out – at some point) but until then, Lewis is our B,M and W rolled in to one. FIFA 20 our chance to keep football alive – no matter how unorthodox the competition. You can find out more by following the Bees, Leyton Orient or Lewis on Twitter. Likewise, there’s always the hashtag #UltimateQuaranTeamCup.

The reason we’re having to do this is evident to all – the C word. And, for once, not one of the usual suspects. Urghh, Coronavirus. We spoke about the amazing work being undertaken by the NHS last time out following our own (unrelated) trip to the hospital. Harry is in great form now and fully back to his usual self. He even brought back the (unsused) sick bucket he’d been given telling me afterwards that it may come in handy as “It holds a thousand mils of vomit”. Good news indeed.

I really don’t want to see this filled

Looking at Brentford official this morning, I saw their own NHS related story. Namely, an appeal to help West Middlesex hospital as the ongoing challenge takes hold. The hospital are looking for people to donate to CW+ , the official charity of their NHS Foundation Trust . They’ve set up a  dedicated Rapid Response Fund to support staff and patients and are asking for any help whatsoever to back this. Primarily to assist in the provision of new equipment, new technology and most important of all, giving some extra support to those staff on the frontline .

Things are a tough at the moment. No question. Yet having seen first hand the amazing work being done at West id in the most challenging circumstances, I can’t back this enough. Every penny counts. Please do get behind this if you can. The full story is here or you can jump to their page via this link. Thank you.

It’s not just Brentford doing good deeds. My good friends at Beesotted are doing there own bit to help the Hounslow food banks. They are offering a free copy of the Brentford Cult Bees and Legends book to anybody who is able to help out those who probably need support even more than ever at present by making a donation. Again, the link to their story is here.

Life is strange at the moment. No question. For crying out loud, we’re getting excited by an online game of FIFA. We’ve also missed the chance for Brian Guest to represent Fulham – curses !!

Yet to see how people are looking out for each other, and continue to do so, is immense. With everyone from the NHS to our fans doing their thing to help friends and strangers, it has put a huge smile on my face this morning. As noted the other day, I’ve had some low points over the last couple of weeks. I’m guessing we all have. Keep talking. Keep in contact. Keep looking out for each other. Keep smiling as much as you can.

Until then, it’s simply a case of saying good luck to Lewis. I can’t wait for this one.

See you there, on line…

Nick Bruzon

It’s even tighter at the top as pressure grows.

A 0-0 draw at Huddersfield Town keeps the Brentford streak going. That’s one defeat in eight games as The Bees kept up the pressure on the top two. With Leeds United falling apart (again), their own 1-0 loss at Loftus Road yesterday means the gap from us to second is now down to 5 points from the 12 that it was just a few weeks ago. Hoping for a QPR win wasn’t the most enjoyable way to spend a Saturday lunchtime, and one which could be better translated as more praying for an away disaster, but events transpired in our favour and that’ll do me looking at the table this morning. Whilst Fulham remain fractionally  ahead of us, there was at least the consolation of watching their supporters spend all day crying on social media over the ‘clappers’ video’ from yesterday’s piece. There, there – mummy will kiss it better. Factor in the added bonus of Leicester City being next up in the FA Cup and its all happening in TW8.

Brentford ‘official’ sum it up on Twitter

First up, Huddersfield Town. It was a performance that Thomas Frank would describe at full time as ‘average’ , saying he wasn’t happy with a point. Good man – high levels of expectation and long may that continue. Personally, 0-0 doesn’t look great on paper but this was a team missing both Pontus Jansson and Mathias Jensen. Both were deemed to be injured although one does then wonder if it leaves them fresh / available for the Leicester game. You know, just to keep the legs ticking over. Thomas would suggest in his interview (below) that it may be a game too soon for the midfielder but we’ll see. 

As for positives, it was another clean sheet to the Championship’s tightest defence. In a game of few chances, Brentford arguably had the majority. Josh Dasilva coming closest as he hit the post late on, albeit we all know that shots at goal count for naff all if you can’t put them away. But, it’s a point on the road. It’s another game unbeaten. It’s even more ground gained on the top two. It’s further psychological pressure applied to a Leeds United side who continue to astound with their ability to hit the meltdown button. 

Thomas tells it how it is.

We’re never going to pick up three points EVERY game. That’s not how football works, generally. Albeit, the memory of Liverpool and Manchester City matching each other win for win last season as the Premier League rolled out to that relentless conclusion  is still fresh in the mind. Liverpool are doing it again this time around whilst everybody else around them has reverted to what is considered the norm in footballing form. At least, for teams competing at the business end. Win most games, draw a few and slip up every now and again. Just look at the defeats for Leicester last weekend (Southampton) or Chelsea yesterday (injury hit Newcastle). So a point for Brentford is something I’ll embrace. Moreso in the bigger picture of how the season end table may play out. The key thing at this juncture is not to be hitting the skids. Not to be ‘doing a Leeds’. Not to have a record akin to West Brom, who are currently experiencing similarly patchy form.

I’m just gad that the emotional investment in proceedings at Loftus Road wasn’t wasted. Nobody wants to hope for an away defeat there, in the normal course of events, although this is anything but a normal season. So things couldn’t have turned out any better than hoped for. At least, from a Brentford / Leeds perspective. Patrick Bamford saw a penalty saved and Kalvin Phillips was shown a straight red late on for a horror challenge that summed up the wretched state of affairs currently being enjoyed / endured (delete as applicable) by the Elland Road outfit. They host Millwall next Tuesday with the Lions looking to go one better than their current position just outside the play-off zone. That promises to be fun. 

At the same time, we’re home to Nottingham Forest with the FA cup sandwiched in between. Excitement levels continue to build in this part of West London as the denouement of Griffin Park life draws to a thrilling conclusion. Fighting a battle on two fronts is going to mean some tough decisions are made on Saturday when that team is announced late in the morning. Go for broke in the cup? Stick with the B team? Or play a mix of both? Either way, I can’t wait for the next chapter of the Brentford story to unfold.

See you there.

Things are getting tight at the top

Nick Bruzon 

What would Peter do?

It’s very much two sides of the same Championship coin today. On the one, we’ve Brentford where victory at Huddersfield Town will take us to within four points of table toping West Bromwich Albion. On the other, there’s the somewhat distasteful situation at Loftus Road this lunchtime where Leeds United visit. Nobody ever, ever wants the home team to pick up points there yet, somehow, in this instance would it be the worst thing to happen? As for last night, there was the horror show at Neverland where Fulham hosted Middlesbrough. Not so much the narrowest of 1-0 victories for the hosts but the awful, awful reminder of clappers. If Matthew Benham is reading (unlikely, let’s be honest), please can we make sure that along with goal music and giant flags, these remain on the list of things NEVER to bring to Lionel Road. See also: foam fingers, run out music for the warm up, gin bars, neutral stands, light shows, giant statues of ‘suspect’ individuals.

First up, Brentford. There’s not too much to say on this one today. We know that with West Bromwich Albion playing on Monday night, there’s everything to gain should we get the win. Three points, obviously, but also another chance to increase the psychological pressure on the league leaders. Going into the latest round of fixtures, they’ve only managed to win once in their last 7(seven) league fixtures. Leeds United are once out of 6. It’s a figure we keep repeating but it’s one of vital importance and has seen that 12 point lead slashed. With both teams still to visit Griffin Park, that slim chance of automatic remains within our hands if they continue to assist by falling apart, again.

Which is all well and good but counts for naff all if we can’t complete our piece in the Championship equation. To be honest, even having this conversation seems bonkers but the table doesn’t lie. The Christmas period saw the play-off chasing teams start to get a little bit more clear air and now the focus is in knowing that wins allow us to keep looking upwards rather than over the shoulder. Last time out on the road saw the obliteration of Bristol City, 0-4 at Ashton Gate with Ollie Watkins grabbing a brace. His next goal, on Saturday against QPR, saw him draw level at the top of the divisional goalscoring charts with Aleksander Mitrovic. Today could see him stride clear.

Ollie and the team are on a hot streak

Could. Of course, Huddersfield Town are no slouches. Anything but. We saw in November how they have set up and it wasn’t a great game. Brentford are designed to play free-flowing, attacking football with a rock solid core and defence. It’s fair to say on that afternoon, The Terriers embodied the term ‘industrial’. But, there’s no knocking them. Deep in the relegation they did what they had to and got the points. At the end of the day, Clive, the records books will show that they won. We lost. Knowing that you can be amazing is secondary if you are out played or outmuscled on the afternoon. Which is what happened and I won’t criticise anybody for doing what they need to do to win a game. No matter how desperate a spectacle it was for the home fans. Huddersfield didn’t care and why would they? Boot on the other foot and we’d rightly be celebrating the win. Frankly, if we don’t have the nous to get past that then we have to call it a learning curve and push on from there. Knowing that, at times, we won’t have everything our way.

To be fair, push on is what we’ve done. The quagmire of Millwall aside, it’s been nothing but great times for the last few months. The Bees have climbed the table and reeled in almost all above us. Only Leeds United, West Bromwich Albion and (temporarily) Fulham remain. For all the cracks about the top two falling apart, even they’ll pick up the points this time around. QPR crumbled under the slightest pressure last week – blown over by a puff of wind – whilst West Brom face a Stoke City side that have just offloaded their most overlooked asset, Ryan Woods, to Millwall on loan.

I’d love to have gone in to today in third place but it makes no real difference. We’ll reclaim that spot with a draw or win and, being honest, watching the Fulham game last was one done very much with hands in front of the eyes. Not so much through concern about the result (they were always going to pick up points) but more because of the cringeworthy clappers. They were out in force, again, with Tarquin, Piers and the rest of the gang beating their flappers as though it was the most exciting thing since being invited into the audience of Mrs. Browns Boys. 

Fulham.
Absolute joke of a club.
Come on Boro’ pic.twitter.com/wfao22cWGQ

— Nick Bruzon (@NickBruzon) January 17, 2020

My word, does this club have no shame? And people wonder why they are considered a laughing stock. Clappers, foam fingers, bells, drums and flags belong where the sun don’t shine. Not in a football stadium. If you think these generate an atmosphere or are some sort of personality substitute then take a long, hard look.

As for the starters before the main course of Brentford – Huddersfield Town, there’s the small matter of QPR – Leeds United for lunch. I have to look long term here and hope for an away defeat, no matter how awful that may seem. I guess the question here is, ‘What would Peter do’?

It’s one we may have to ask…

Could jigsaw side Leeds fall apart in the box, again?

Nick Bruzon

Just when things couldn’t get any more intriguing in The Championship….

There’s plenty happening on Friday morning and Brentford haven’t even got close to being involved, yet. Our weekend trip to Huddersfield Town is another opportunity to keep pace with / close the gap further on Leeds United. We’re currently third in the Championship table after humping QPR although know that should Fulham beat injury hit Middlesbrough at The Gin Bar tonight then they will, temporarily, overtake us. Although one point behind, a draw won’t be good enough thanks to their vastly inferior goal difference of +11 compared to a division’s best +23 for The Bees. Elsewhere there’s trouble for the club formerly known as Frank Lampard’s Derby County,  Wayne Rooney’s Derby County. Please. Stop sniggering. There’s nothing funny about being accused of breaching EFL spending rules.

Good times at Griffin Park last Saturday

First and foremost, Brentford. Not only does our game at Huddersfield Town present the chance to keep up the pressure on Leeds and West Brom  – both of whom are currently falling apart in the box quicker than a dropped jigsaw – but perhaps also there’s a slight element of payback. Anybody present at the Griffin Park Kickathon agaisnt the Terriers back in November can’t help but struggle to remember how awful it was. Our form since that point has been pretty much non-stop, but that encounter (ending in a 0-1 defeat) was horrific and best forgotten. It was described at the time on these pages as “A turgid afternoon in dank conditions” and has long since been consigned to the darker recesses of the memory. The place Where Mrs. Brown and her boys reside. Probably wearing Team GB tracksuits and drinking ‘expresso’. On Star Wars day, May the fourth.

We digress, but that’s how awful it was . Possibly rivalling September’s 0-0 with Stoke City for a text book demonstration of anti-football. That was then, though. We’ve since gone on to dump Stoke out of the FA Cup with our B-team and I have every confidence that the first XI will do similar tomorrow. Or, at least, have a much better chance of showing what they can do on their day.

Last weekend’s blitz of QPR saw us devastate our neighbours in a 15 minute first half flurry of non-stop attacking football. A goal apiece for the much touted WMB was bookended with further chances to extend the lead. Former Chief Executive Mark Devlin, watching on from the Director’s box, could only share the bemusement of his fellow Rangers’ fans as their world fell apart. It was yet another stunning performance from Brentford and I’d bet on more to come tomorrow.

Ironically, Mark will be watching on again. This time in his new guise as interim Chief Executive of Huddersfield Town. I’ve a lot of time for Mark – who was always extremely approachable when at Griffin Park – and whilst wishing him all the best in this role, will perhaps delay those good wishes until Sunday. There’s no room for sentiment when there are points at stake, especially with so much riding on this one.

Plenty to mull over for the Huddersfield Chief Exec last weekend

Yet my faith in this team is unshakeable at present. My knowledge of their ability and pleasure on watching them breaking at 100mph sky high. Honestly, and this isn’t arrogance, such is the way we are playing I’d back us to pick up the points anywhere at the minute. Thomas Frank can do the job of keeping the player’s feet on the ground and telling them there are no easy games, take each one as it comes et etc. For the fans, optimism is a good, good thing and I’m loving it.

Fulham do have that chance to see us start the day in fourth place, should they get the home win against Middlesbrough this evening. Sadly, they will. Even without Aleksander Mitrovic they’ll have too much in them to come away with anything less than three points. But that’s all by the by as long as we do our thing on Saturday. Especially given as Leeds have a trip to Loftus Road – if ever a game said ‘away banker’ it is that one. On the plus side, with West Brom not in action until Monday evening, there’s further opportunity to close the gap on at least one of the top two, IF we can do our thing. No pressure lads 🙂

But these are good times. Lionel Road season tickets are flying off the shelves with the Twitter hashtag #MyNewHome showing plenty of smiling faces. The latest I saw using that one saw Alex Austin and his family now booked in, meaning the helpful advice and reminders of the rules offered to linesmen will continue long into our new home and, all being well, The Premier League. Magnificent news.

Season tickets for the new ground sorted #mynewhome @BrentfordFC pic.twitter.com/BggbJExIi1

— Alex Austin (@ausalex) January 15, 2020

We’re doing all of this on budget and within the rules of the EFL. Something Birmingham City have already fallen fall of and now, it seems, Derby County (can we just take the “Wayne Rooney’s” as a given?) are facing trouble. The charges brought by the authorities relate to losses in the three years up to June 2018. With rules allowing clubs to lose up to £39m over a three year period (still, wow),  the controversial deal to sell Pride Park to owner Mel Morris for £80m continues to attract scrutiny. As the BBC reports, “The Rams have leased back the ground, which was said to have been independently valued at £80m despite it being on the club’s books as an asset worth £41m, from a company owned by Morris.” Hmm, sounds legit.      

 This one is sure to rumble. I’m just glad our own set up is one which is so tightly controlled. Sure, it always hurts short term when we see our heroes sold (emotionally, more than on the pitch) but I know whose shoes I’d rather be in. Sustainable, improving, getting stronger by the season and with a new home imminent. Or the club now having to answer some very awkward questions.

There’s not much more to say here. I’m sure The Rams will argue they’ve done nothing wrong. Mind you, so did QPR when they got fined. And that didn’t work out too well for them.

Instead, all the focus for us should be on events in Huddersfield. Perhaps with half an eye on Loftus Road and The Cottage…

Saturday’s goalscoring heroes – accelerated like a Porsche off the starting line

Nick Bruzon