Brentford once again contrived to, somehow, snatch what felt like a defeat from the jaws of victory at Loftus Road on Monday evening. The Bees had fought to build what looked like an unassailable lead in the West London derby thanks to a brace of clinical second half strikes from Lasse Vibe – but it wasn’t to be.
And as the fourth official held the number four aloft to signal injury time at the end of the match, nobody inside the ground, and certainly none of the thousands of QPR fans who’d already left, would have had one grain of doubt that a Brentford win was inevitable.
After 90 minutes, in which the Bees looked composed and in control for large parts, despite a backs-to-the-wall 15 minutes spell after we’d taken the lead and QPR went all-out long-ball, Brentford’s Achilles heal was sorely exposed once again – the long ball in to the area must be widely known to be our undoing and there it was for all to see on the television in glorious high definition.
All the solid, hard graft… all the lovely expansive, counter-attacking football, all the great finishing and justified celebrations… all undone AGAIN because our defence, whoever we pick, can’t deal with route one basics.
Daniel Bentley won’t be happy with his late decision making – there’s been some uncharacteristic clangers – but its on the training ground that something is fundamentally not working… and you can bet your bottom dollar that Fulham will be practicing punting it long between now and the weekend.
Injury time aside, Brentford did so much right and looked classy and in charge even as the away team – I certainly know which team I would prefer to be watching every week – and there are few QPR fans who think otherwise in fairness according to social media and the supporters we spoke to back in the pub after the game for the Pride of West London post-match podcast.
The blue seat count told its own story, the home fans had walked out unable to watch the inevitable… they may have missed a miracle/disaster in injury time… but they know the Bees had battered them 2-2.
Small comfort in the end, and a point is scant reward after having the game ‘in the bag’, but if there are any positives to be had, its that West London is still ours.
Dave Lane
@beesotted100
MORE RECENT CONTENT
MOST READ CONTENT
Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown – Crystal Palace 1 Brentford 2
Beesotted contributor Jacob ‘The Gowler’ Gowler (@BeesBreakdown) gives us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s win against Crystal Palace. Thomas Frank made one change to the starting XI, bringing Schade on for Yarmoliuk. The Bees came out in a 4-2-3-1...
Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown – Brentford 0 Liverpool 2
Beesotted contributor Jacob ‘The Gowler’ Gowler (@BeesBreakdown) gives us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s loss against Liverpool. Thomas Frank chose a 4-4-2 to face Liverpool at the Gtech. Roerslev, Collins, van den Berg, and Lewis-Potter started...
Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown – Brentford 2 Manchester City 2
Beesotted contributor Jacob ‘The Gowler’ Gowler (@BeesBreakdown) gives us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s draw against Manchester City. Thomas Frank with a minor tweak to his starting XI for the midweek match against Manchester City. The Bees came...
Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown – Southampton 0 Brentford 5
Beesotted contributor Jacob ‘The Gowler’ Gowler (@BeesBreakdown) gives us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s win against Southampton. Thomas Frank made two minor tweaks to the starting XI that faced Arsenal. The Bees shifted into a 4-3-3 with...
Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown – Brentford 1 Arsenal 3
Beesotted contributor Jacob ‘The Gowler’ Gowler (@BeesBreakdown) gives us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s loss against Arsenal. Thomas Frank chose a 4-4-2 to face a talented Arsenal side. The Bees lined up Roerslev, van den Berg, Collins, and...
Bees Breakdown’s Tactical Breakdown – Brighton 0 Brentford 0
Beesotted contributor Jacob ‘The Gowler’ Gowler (@BeesBreakdown) gives us the tactical and statistical lowdown of Brentford’s draw agaisnt Brighton. Thomas Frank deployed a 4-2-3-1 with Lewis-Potter, Ben Mee, Collins, and Roerslev on the backline. Injuries to Pinnock,...
The Brentford High School End Of Year Reports
Beesotted’s supply teacher, Condorman, casts his eye back over the class of 2017/2018. The dust has now settled on another enjoyable year at Brentford High School with the pupils again setting some high standards against other places of learning who often...
Agricultural Derby And Hull City’s Offside Saga
Derby County’s ‘agricultural’ playing style at Griffin Park earlier this season really frustrated Brentford fans who were stunned that one of the division's biggest spenders and most illustrious clubs had resorted to such extreme negativity in the 1-1 draw. Whether it...
Play Or Stay Drama At Griffin Park
With the transfer deadline looming and one or two Brentford players having to make decisions about their futures at Griffin Park, we thought it would be interesting to delve into the brand new Big Book of Griffin Park again and contrast how transfer negotiations have...
Brentford Defeat Three World Cup Winners At Griffin Park
Griffin Park has witnessed many things in its long and eventful history, and although time is running out for the old girl with the new stadium about to be built, we all hope there’s some significant history yet to be made at our proud old home. However, I can’t see...
The Most Significant Event In Brentford History?
The most significant event to happen at Griffin Park after joining the Football League in 1920 was, without doubt, the appointment of Harry Curtis as the club’s manager – some may even go as far as to say it was the most significant moment in the club’s entire...
Brentford Legend Bob Taylor Interview At The Fullers’ Brewery
Ex Brentford striker Bob Taylor joined the Beesotted crew, Marcus Gayle, Kev O'Connor and a room full of Brentford fans at the Fullers’ Brewery for the traditional end of year Bees-Up. A hilarious evening in which he told of his partnership with Nicky Forster as one...
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
CastBox
Acast
TuneIn
Google Podcasts
Why oh why did Dean Smith take off Canos when he was the best player on the park and then also substitute Vibe when he was looking to get a hat trick. I naively thought that substitutes were supposed to improve a team not make it worse. If we were looking to shore up the defence then Mepham was the obvious choice to deal with the aerial presence of Smith.
The Sky commentators quizzically noted the attack minded substitutions, by Smith, during the latter part of the game.
Sadly, he just can’t get the tactics right; a Burton type shut shop, is the sensible ending to hold a lead, with minutes to go. Canos looked good to see the game out and Vibe had no visible problems. The only contribution Maupay made, was to clumsily foul and get booked.
The goalkeeper for Brentford, was inferior to his QPR counterpart; what a fabulous diving save to deny a stunning Canos attempt on goal. The BFC goalkeeper, looked confused and erratic, flapping at straightforward catches or punches. Not for the first time: his manner bothers me, not humbled by his errors, but a visage of arrogance.
QPR weren’t bad, considering their injury situaction. Kept battling and doggedly levelled; must have felt like a win for them, a defeat for BFC.
Oh, and QPR deserved a penalty for handball.
Smith will not get BFC promotion.
Got some sympathy with Deano. Bentleys fumble was a shocker which gave QPR hope when none was present and not the first time – think it is a cunning plan to avoid him being poached in the January Window! Watkins should have kept the ball a bit longer when he was at their end.
Credit to QPR – “it aint over till its over!” Lets hope we have that bit of luck come our way.