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Brentford made it three wins on the spin after an impressive performance at The Valley – goals from John Swift, Alan Judge and Lasse Vibe secured a fully deserved victory in South East London, a result that prompted the sacking of the Addicks’ manager, Guy Luzon, after the game.

Lee Carsley set his stall out as he’d done for the victorious trip to Wolves in midweek, and apart from an opening ten minutes or so in which Charlton wasted a couple of guilt-edged chances, Brentford imposed their passing game and dominated proceedings. Alan Judge was in superb form again, setting two up and scoring a beauty himself.

John Swift headed the Bees ahead on 26 minutes, drifting in to nod home Judge’s pinpoint cross, and the away fans were on their feet again before the break when Alan McCormack’s pile driver from distance cannoned off the bar with the keeper well beaten.

After the break Brentford turned the screw again and the patient pressing game we were so used to seeing last season paid off big time… Alan Judge cutting inside his man on the run to curl a stunning shot into the top corner, which sent the Bees fans wild.

The atmosphere in the away end had been bouncing all afternoon, the players had certainly made the trip east worth it this season, and Lasse Vibe’s clinical strike with five minutes remaining was the icing on the cake. Judge once again picked out a man in space and the popular Dane showed his class to beat the keeper at his near post after tricking his way past a defender.

Brentford have certainly worked up a head of steam going into the derby with QPR next Friday, and the nine point haul this week has pulled the Bees well away from the drop zone.

However, the most satisfying aspect of this winning sequence is the return to confident, attacking and entertaining football, and the beaming jubilant faces as Bees fans left the ground shows there is real belief returning to the camp. The Pride of West London podcast and Beesotted video (links above) sum up the mood on the terraces right now and raise some interesting thoughts on the negativity that some fans are clinging on to for some strange reason.

Bring on the Rangers.

Dave Lane