Jim Levack looks back on Wednesday’s win over Preston, which heaps the pressure back on a spluttering, flat West Bromwich team that could be one more wobble away from imploding.
Most people who know me will confirm that I’m seldom lost for words.
But as I scoured my mind for potential angles in the wake of our incredible squad’s 1-0 win over Preston, I could think of nothing that would even begin to do them justice.
Should I write about the shoulders slumped and downbeat body language of West Brom’s players and Slaven Bilic after they nervily fired blanks against a depressingly unambitious Fulham outfit?
Should I fire a return salvo on behalf of Brentford’s press in the mind game media battle being waged by sports hacks in West Bromwich and Leeds, whose fans are starting to turn?
Or would a better, more timely article be to extol the many virtues of a Bees side that is indisputably now the best ever to collectively pull on the famous red and white stripes?
How about a piece spotlighting the fact that the Preston win was, in my opinion, our best of the season where we dug deep, won dirty and showed barely any hint of nerves?
Maybe an article about Emiliano’s emergence as a pivotal figure, Norgaard’s consistency, Pinnock’s power, Rico’s rampaging? That’s before you even start with Watkins’ workrate and incredible goal instinct. As for Said and Bryan, again there are no words.
Or the other unsung heroes from Dalsgaard to the skipper and anyone coming off the bench, whose workrate and commitment to the cause has been total?
Or the directors, loud and proud in the final minutes… our voices inside Griffin Park.
Ultimately I decided it was simply impossible to put into words just how happy this squad is making thousands of us Brentford fans at home.
I genuinely hope the players realise the effect they’re having because it truly has been a massive, massive antidote to the madness we’re experiencing right now.
From this side’s unequalled technical ability, slick build ups, rapid counters and angled balls through the lines to its stubborn, defiant meanness in defence – the cornerstone of this incredible tilt – you have lifted our spirits.
So what to write?
In the end, I think my feelings are best summed up by Natasha Judge, a lifelong Brentford fan, who captured the current mood perfectly with a post-match Facebook post.
She wrote: “I’m a tad concerned to see so many posts suggesting that an automatic promotion spot has now disappeared. I’m not entirely sure I can agree. Unlike WBA we are in a position of no pressure. Play off place is secured, we therefore have nothing to lose and potentially everything to gain. WBA on the other hand have second to lose. They also have a far greater weight of expectation from fans and media alike.
“And there are a good few WBA fans who are not particularly confident in the way they are currently playing. Lastly it looks to me like Bilic is feeling the pressure and I’m sure if I can see it his players can too.
“We can only do what we can do. Try to win all our remaining games. Keep the pressure on and see what happens. If it’s the play offs so be it – put yourself in the shoes of the other teams. Would you want to play us? Whatever the outcome, if one considers where we were a mere 10 years ago… I’ll take it. And then some.”
Thanks Tash.
Jim Levack
