Beesotted contributor and former Brentford programme writer Ian Westbrook looks at Wolves – the Bees’ first Saturday visitors for four weeks.
INTRODUCTION
Wolves and Brentford meet again on Saturday after enjoying promotion alongside each other in May.
Last season’s League One champions made a tremendous start to the season and were third in the table at the end of September with 18 points from their first nine games.
But they have found things harder going over the past two months and have only averaged a point a match over the following nine fixtures.
November has not gone well for them so far as, after beating Middlesbrough and Leeds inside five days at the end of October, they have lost three and drawn one of their four games this month and only scored one goal in the process.
The month started with a goalless draw at home to Birmingham and they then lost 2-1 at Ipswich three nights later.
On the Saturday before the international break they suffered a 5-0 hammering at Derby and last Saturday went down 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest to slip to 11th in the table.
Wolves were in the Premier League three seasons ago but after suffering relegation in 2012 went down again the following season before bouncing straight back to this level 12 months ago.
Brentford failed to score against them in 2013/14 – drawing 0-0 at Molineux after Alan McCormack’s brilliant late shot was tipped over by Carl Ikeme and then losing 3-0 at Griffin Park in the match which ended our 19-game unbeaten run.
WHO’S THE GAFFER?
Kenny Jackett is in his second season in charge at Molineux having been appointed at the end of May 2013.
Earlier that month Jackett had resigned as Millwall boss after six years in charge. During his time with the Lions he led the club into the Championship via a play-off final win over Swindon.
He has also been in charge of Swansea and Watford, where he spent his entire playing career before he was forced to retire because of injury aged only 28.
PREVIOUS VISIT
As mentioned earlier, Wolves won 3-0 on their last visit here in February.
James Henry scored just on half-time and although Adam Forshaw and Alan Judge each came close to equalising with long-range shots, the visitors wrapped up the points with two late goals from Michael Jacobs.
It was our first defeat since the loss at Stevenage – the match which led to the dressing-room discussion which sparked our 19-match unbeaten run.
Mark Warburton said: “I think we lacked a bit of belief in the first half. I don’t think it should have been 3-0 but we have to learn from this.”
Bees: Button, McCormack, Bidwell, Dean, Craig, Douglas, Judge, Forshaw, Saville (Grigg 86), Donaldson, Trotta. unused subs: Lee, O’Connor, Dallas, Reeves, Tarkowski, Yennaris.
Att: 11,309.
MEMORABLE MATCH
SATURDAY JANUARY 18, 1986 – DIVISION THREE: WOLVES 1-4 BRENTFORD
Molineux was a very different place and Wolves a very different club when the Bees earned a huge win in the Midlands nearly 30 years ago.
We were in our familiar 1980s mid-table position but Wolves, relegated in each of the previous two seasons, were rock bottom and already six points adrift of safety.
The Bees were without a win in four matches as they arrived for their first visit to Molineux for 39 years while Wolves had only won one of their previous nine fixtures.
Robbie Cooke gave us a 16th minute lead after Jamie Murray headed on a corner by Andy Sinton, who doubled the lead 11 minutes later after good work by George Torrance and Rowan Alexander.
Cooke chipped in the third just before half-time after Alexander headed on a long clearance from goalkeeper Richard Key and Sinton, who went on to play for Wolves, made it 4-0 after taking the ball off a defender and firing home.
Dean Edwards hit Wolves’ consolation in the 81st minute.
Bees: Key, R Joseph, Murray, Salman, Evans, Hurlock, Torrance, Sinton, Alexander, Cooke, Lynch.
Att: 3,420.
STAT ATTACK
Brentford’s league record against Wolves:
At Griffin Park:
Bees wins – 5 Wolves wins – 3 Draws – 1
Last Brentford win – 2-1 (17/8/85 – Division Three)
Biggest Brentford win – 4-1 (18/1/47 – Division One)
At Molineux:
Bees wins – 3 Wolves wins – 5 Draws – 1
Last Brentford win – 2-1 (6/2/93- Division One (now the Championship))
Biggest Brentford win – 4-1 (18/1/86 – Division Three)
THE WOLVES VIEW
Wolves midfielder Tommy Rowe has told the Express and Star that his side must be brave to halt their poor run of form.
“We watched Brentford on TV and they’re in that position for the right reasons. They play good football,” he said.
“It’s going to be a hard game but every game’s hard in this league and right now we need a win.
“Confidence breeds confidence. As soon as you get one or two players confident, they pick the rest of the team up.
“But we’ve got to make things right first so let’s go back to basics and see what we need to work at.”
BEES CONNECTIONS
George Saville, who played a key part in our promotion last season, joined Wolves permanently from Chelsea in August on a three-year contract.
George spent the whole of last season on loan to us and was involved in all but six of our League One games – scoring four goals.
He joined Wolves having previously played for manager Kenny Jackett when he was in charge at Millwall where George had a brief loan spell in 2013.
DANGER MEN
Wolves have some dangerous attacking players in their squad although Nouha Dicko is likely to miss Saturday’s game after suffering a hamstring injury.
Their top scorer is midfielder Bakary Sako who has hit seven league goals in 15 full and two substitute appearances while Dicko and James Henry have three apiece.
Sako will make his mark because he has had some special boots made to celebrate his 100th appearance for Wolves this Saturday as can be seen.
Apparently they contain some Swarovski crystals!
Wolves have also just signed recent Brentford target Danny Graham on loan from Sunderland. He scored six goals in 18 games for Middlesbrough last season.
Midfielder Kevin McDonald, goalkeeper Carl Ikeme and defender Danny Batth are all ever-present so far this campaign.
DID YOU KNOW?
Wolves are one of only two clubs, along with Burnley, to have won the title in all four divisions of the Football League.
They were Division Three (North) champions in 1924, won the old Second Division in 1932 and 1977, were League champions in 1954, 1958 and 1959, won Division Four in 1988 and completed the set by topping Division Three a year later.
Since then they have also won the Championship in 2009 and League One last season.
Beesotted pre-match podcast
Ian Westbrook
@ianwestbrook
Pubs in Brentford
For Wolves fans coming down, you are probably aware there plenty of pub options pre-match. There four pubs around the ground. The Griffin is closest to the away end and is very popular with away fans – but also very busy. The New Inn is on the other side is also popular with away fans. The Princess Royal and The Royal Oak (normally home fans only) are the other two options.
Other pubs slightly further afield for the more creative amongst you include (and this is by no means a definitive list) the … The Globe (Windmill Rd) & The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd) – both incredibly friendly and cozy away-frienly pubs .. frequented by away fans in the know – and The Plough (Northfields Ave) in Northfields is a decent stop-off if you are coming by tube to Northfields before making your way down to the ground (normally stopping off at The Globe and Lord Nelson en route).
There is also a pub right by Brentford station always referred to as … the Pub by Brentford station.
For ale head to the Magpie and Stump real ale pub on Brentford High Street. The Royal Horseguardsman can probably hold 15 of you at a push. The Brewery Tap is a cosy boozer by the river. There are loads more too.
The Bree Louise near Euston Station is a decent stop off en route back.
A quick google search and you’ll find them all. There are many many more too if you have an early start (or all evening)
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