Brentford saw off fancied Sheffield United in impressive style at Griffin Park on Saturday – but the 3-1 victory was no more than Uwe Rosler’s team deserved and, in truth, the margin of victory should have been even greater.
The Bees, with just one change from the opening day draw at Port Vale, really set their stall out and played the Blades off the pitch for much of this encounter, with Will Grigg poaching a brace on his home debut to add to Adam Forshaw’s stunning opener.
Brentford were clearly the more positive of the two sides from the off, and with players of the quality of Forshaw, McCormack and Saville pulling the strings in midfield, with Donaldson, McAleny and Grigg testing defences, the class of 2013 really does look exactly that… Class. Sheffield United, who will undoubtedly be up there challenging this season despite this setback, looked a poor side in comparison.
Forshaw’s opener, on 35 minutes, underlined the former Evertonian’s ability – driving forward and with options to his left, the Blades’ defence made the mistake of backing off, which allowed the Bees’ number four to pick his spot and curl a peach into the top right corner from 20 yards out. And although the Bees went in 1-0 up at the break, it was clear that it would take more than one goal to beat United.
And so it proved… Eight minutes into the second period the visitors were on level terms after a period of pressure, the second of two successive corners led to Neill Collins heading the leveler, but Uwe will be asking his side how he was allowed so much space in the area. After going so long without conceding goals from corners using the zonal marking system, the manager will be urging his players to nip the trend in the bud.
The set-back didn’t seem to phase Brentford however, and any fears that the goal would see the outcome of the match flipped were completely unfounded. The reds upped the ante again and had their noses in front again inside six minutes – the impressive Saville teeing up Grigg who supplied the killer finish from eight yards and register his first goal for his new club.
The former Walsall marksman then doubled his tally following another slick Bees move, a real poachers goal, but then squandered the chance of a dramatic home debut hat-trick when his weakly-struck penalty was saved one-handed by George Long.
Nobody who was at this match will be in any doubt how one-sided and deserved this victory was for Brentford, a team who have certainly stamped their credentials down for the rest of the division to see.
The Bees travel to Martin Allen’s Gillingham next week unbeaten and hopefully full of confidence in their ability to secure another win in their quest for promotion.
Dave Lane