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Two short, perfectly-chosen words, spoken by a fellow Bee back in the boozer after the Brighton game, summed up all you need to know about Brentford’s arrival in the Championship and the win over The Seagulls… “We Belong!”

Brentford fans are going to have to get used to some nail-biting moments this season, and it doesn’t appear like there will be an awful lot of nil-draws served up along the way, but some of the football played by both teams at Griffin Park yesterday was exceptional and, in truth, the final scoreline could have been 6-5 either way if the chances created were converted. Thankfully, though, it was the home side who came out on top in this hum-dinger of a game.

Moses Odubajo and Andre Gray looked a potent force up top, both seizing the chance to impress further whilst the carrier pigeon carrying Betinho’s paperwork is making its way slowly between Lisbon to London – the duo were a real handful for the Albion defence, and if a comedy refereeing decision from Steve Martin (not sure if he was a Dirty Rotten Scoundrel or just a Jerk) had been as enthusiastic as Robert Madley was to use his red card during the Birmingham match three weeks ago, then Gray’s trickery would have seen the Bees have a numerical advantage from as early-on – the former Luton striker being Slammed by Lewis Dunk on the edge of the area when he was clearly the last defender.

The Bees started slowly again though, and could have gone behind within a couple of minutes – a dangerously-bad throw-in by Alan McCormack finding its way straight to Brighton’s Andrew Croft’s… his shot cannoning off the post with Button beaten. Brighton got behind the Bees defence far too easily on a couple of other occasions too, but once again, Brentford grew into the half and started to look the better side. On another day we could have been at least a goal down, which is something that Mark Warburton referenced after the game.

Two goals in a sweet 15-minute purple patch had Griffin Park buzzing – Odubajo’s cracking shot gave us the lead, then Gray converted a quality cross from Jake Bidwell – and it could have been more. The two-goal cushion couldn’t be maintained though, Brighton’s defender Gordon Greer ghosting in at an undefended far post on 39 minutes – a sloppy goal in truth with all the defence magnetised to the near post for some reason.

Brighton’s long-distance passing was excellent, and they always looked dangerous on the break, but with the two sides attacking end to end throughout, the game was always in the balance – the next goal was going to be all-important. Brentford can thank Jake Bidwell that it was us that scored it – the full-back sliding to keep in an overhit pass out on the left flank, before a great one-two with Jota – Jonny Douglas lapping up a brilliant cross by heading home into the bottom corner. Quality.

Brighton won’t be beaten easily though, and upped their game once more – ex-Bees loanee, Teixeira, dribbling around the Reds’ defence before tee-ing up Holla, who gave the visiting fans something to Shout about (oh dear), curling home a lovely goal from 20 yards.

The final 25 minutes were very nervy – the Bees really needed another goal – but it was Brighton who went closest to scoring next… thankfully a hearts-in-mouth-moment ended in a fluffed shot, otherwise it would have been 3-3… and God knows how the game would have ended then!

Brentford swapped Gray for Big Nick Proschwitz in a failed attempt to hold the ball up front for longer – but the Bees stood firm – surviving a late volley scare from Brighton’s goalie, David Stockdale, the shot flying high and wide.

There were some massive plus points to be taken from yesterday…  the tempo and quality of the Bees matched and beat one of the stronger teams in the division… we converted more of the chances we created… we won at home… the crowd edged over the 10,000 mark… Fulham lost again.

On the flip side… we are going to have to score at least two goals per game at this rate to avoid defeat… our defence looks exposed and on more than one occasion there was too much faffing around at the back whenever Button rolls the ball out short to defenders (we’ll screw up at some stage you mark my words – scoring goals is hard enough so no gifts to the oppo please lads!)… Big Nick is looking a bit of a square peg at the moment if I’m honest… But who was really expecting there to be no concerns after taking this big jump up in standards? If you were, then you’re unrealistic.

WE BELONG!

Dave Lane