It’s FA Cup day. Brentford needed a cup run to keep their season bouncing.
They came up against a resolute Walsall side. Organised. Free-flowing.
They scored a goal in the first half .. and hung onto it.
Did Dean Smith play the wrong hand against his old team? Did Brentford simply get outplayed? Could the team not be bothered?
We chat to Brentford & Saddlers fans in the pub after the game
A look at an exciting future…
Brentford fans saw a team that Dean created perform admirably. He signed every one of those players – rest assured other clubs weren’t desperate for them – and created a way of playing that is both pleasing to watch and ‘successful’. First half, they kept the ball very well and had great movement. Second half, they were disciplined, determined and unified. Dean has inherited a side and is yet to sign a single player. Brentford were poor first half and a reluctant half time change, given the priority of the league games, saw the side transformed in terms of intensity and pace.
Dean had a very low budget and fees weren’t played for players. Imagine what could now happen with some money to spend and a reputation that means players will want to work with him.
Be disappointed at the cup exit, and the performances of a few players first half, but be excited about the future – you saw signs of it yesterday….