Spread the love

 

Brentford’s impressive home record was improved upon under the Griffin Park floodlights on Tuesday evening when Dean Smith’s rampant Bees saw off Reading with style – a side that had gone six unbeaten going into the match.

Brentford made five changes to the side that was beaten at Wolves on Saturday – starting with Lasse Vibe alongside Scott Hogan, Bjelland at left back, and Josh Clarke coming in on the right wing – all of which had impressive games.

The match started brightly, with Reading carving out some decent attacks, but as we’ve seen in many games this season, the Bees’ impressive defence coped well, and after escaping from a Reading header coming back off the foot of the post, the home side made the Royals pay.

Two quick-fire goals before the break stunned the away end – the first coming after an intricate move involving Hogan, Vibe and Clarke, who was on hand to fire into the top corner, the second after Hogan had teed up his partner, who finished from close range with the outside of his boot.

Reading were not out of it however, and continued to look dangerous on the break, but after Maxime Colin had lashed home a third, it was unlikely they could mount a serious come back, despite Yann Kermorgant’s 64th minute penalty, which reduced the arrears for a short period.

It was an entertaining game throughout – contested between two confident, passing teams – but it was Brentford who always looked the more likely to increase their lead as they came at Reading in waves towards the end. In truth, the final scoreline could have been even more humiliating for Jaap Stam’s team.

Scott Hogan added a fourth after being played through superbly by substitute Josh McEachran, and on another night it could have been another hat-trick for the Bees hot-shot, who had been denied by a couple of finger tip saves by the erratic Al Habsi.

As you will hear on the Beesotted Pride of West London post-match podcast (click the link above) Bees fans were glowing after the final whistle having seen a ninth goal by their team in the past two home games and another devastating display of attacking football.

There were stand-out performances all over the pitch – Alan McCormack gave every ounce of energy in his come-back match at the heart of midfield, Josh Clarke came of age by scoring a great goal and making a couple of crucial tackles at the back, Sawyers looked good out wide, Vibe and Hogan combined well with two up top, Dean and Egan were rocks at the back, and Maxime Colin has international class written all over him.

The Bees look forward to welcoming Wigan to Griffin Park on Saturday, hoping that the recent run on home soil continues and our fourth place league position can be improved upon.

Come on you Bees!

Dave Lane
@beesotted100