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Brentford came from behind in emphatic fashion against Portsmouth today as our charge towards the Championship continued with the capture of three potentially vital points.

Rosler tried to keep the momentum from Wednesday’s win at Crewe going – with Diagouraga for the injured Adeyemi the only change – and Brentford had the better of the early exchanges with a Saunders free kick touched onto the bar.

The Bees eventually took the lead through the in-form Bradley Wright-Phillips after keeper Eastwood flapped at a looping Logan cross.

Unfortunately the lead didn’t last long when a ball bounced unkindly away from Harlee Dean into the clutches of the experienced David Connolly who finished smartly.

The goal knocked the wind out of Brentford a bit – both on and off the pitch – with Portsmouth’s decent away following making their presence heard whilst their team barged their way back into the game.

It was the visitors who scored next when Shaun Cooper was given the freedom of the Griffin Park pitch. His long distance shot was decent but should frankly have been closed down earlier.

Rosler then made three changes which changed the shape of the match – Reeves, Hodson and Trotta replacing Douglas, Saunders and Forshaw. The addition of a third striker in Trotta (who looked “up for it”) coupled with Hodson’s willingness to run and Jake’s eye for a pass started to improve Brentford’s attacking possession.

One peach of a pass from Reeves narrowly eluded Wright-Phillips but, with Bees fans starting to mentally check the play-off dates, it was BWP who fired home our equaliser and his second of the game after a good old fashioned goalmouth melee

Brentford’s supporters had by now refound their voices and, sensing blood, The Bees poured forwards again with Donaldson beautifully dinking the ball over the onrushing Eastwood. Who says he can’t score one on ones? A barmy 60 seconds caused a massive outbreak of pottiness among both fans and supporters.

The game stopped briefly for a flare thrown from the Ealing Road to be stubbed out but by now Portsmouth’s hopes of getting anything from the game had also been extinguished.

Home celebrations at the final whistle were slightly marred by a pitch invasion by a couple of hundred Pompey fans allegedly celebrating their move to a fans-owned club this week. Several supporters tried to make their way towards the home stands which would appear to be a strange way to celebrate. Brentford may need to reassess their stewarding needs for bumper crowds.

With Doncaster and Bournemouth both winning, the three points up for grabs at Sheffield United on Tuesday become ever more important. The good news is that we’ve got some in-form strikers and good options on the bench although we might miss the power and craft of Tom and Harry who were both absent today.

It’s still in our own hands. Three wins and we’re champions.

Condorman

Bees – Moore, Bidwell, Logan, Dean, Craig, Saunders (Hodson), Dave, Douglas (Reeves), Forshaw (Trotta), BWP, Donaldson

Unused Bees – Gounet, SuperKev, Dallas, El Alagui