BillytheBee and Dave Lane find themselves hanging around a car park in Gatwick with their pens and iPhone cameras, talking to delighted Bees fans who saw Brentford plunder yet another three points.
Brentford travelled down the M23 to the Gatwick region and professionally carved out another 3 points on their march back up the table – beating Crawley 1-0.
Brentford were fielding an unchanged team for the 3rd consecutive match. Finally the fans were seeing the continuity in the team that they had been asking for and the results were starting to show.
This wasn’t the prettiest of games with very few chances being created by either team.
There must be something in the Gatwick air as for the second season in succession, the referee blew up for a penalty within 5 minutes of the kick-off. The lively Kadeem Harris was floored in the box by Crawley’s self-proclaimed ‘best defender in the division’ Kyle McFadzean. Up steps Adam Forshaw to succeed where Clayton Donaldson failed last season – rifling the ball straight into the back of the net.
From there on in, the Bees were happy to play the ball around nicely in midfield – without the necessary bite up-front. Crawley didn’t seem to have the passion to get back into the game and created very little – their best chance coming from Drury who caused Button to make a fairly easy save.
The 1200 Brentford fans in the house were in fine voice. New songs a-plenty were emanating from the away end. “We all agree .. Heathrow is better than Gatwick” and “No noise from the Gatwick boys” we’re big favourites. And needless to say “Uwe Rosler’s barmy army” was also in full effect. Crawley fans were silent in their response.
HT – Crawley 0 Brentford 1
The second half saw Diagouraga come on for Saville who apparently had been sick all the night before. Crawley were now coming at the Bees and had a number of half chances to get the score back on even pegging. The Bees were happy to sit back and hit Crawley on the counter-attack. Forshaw, Donaldson and Trotta were denied great opportunities to increase the lead.
The introduction of ex-Brentford striker Gary Alexander saw the comedy moment of the day. Trying to barge Harlee Dean off the ball, he ends up on his arse …. defeated.
The Bees saw out the 5 minutes of extra time professionally with no further threat from Crawley attack to secure all three points.
FT – Crawley 0 Brentford 1
All credit to Uwe Rosler. He’s been under pressure. The team wasn’t performing. And he’s turned it around. Still no-where near as good and exciting as last season yet …. but we’re getting there.
One positive aspect has been the tightening of the defence. We have been subject to defensive mistakes from the very first game of the season (away at Port Vale). OK we game away soft goals against Colchester and Bristol City but in general, defensively we have been much tighter with McCormack in the right back position.
And in defence of Brentford fans, it has to be said that the support away from home has been spot on. It’s really refreshing to be amongst people getting behind the team as opposed to constantly whinging. Yesterday was pretty much non-stop singing from the Bees faithful .. and the support for Uwe as a manager has been vocal at every away game without fail – something that Uwe should actually give the fans credit for.
So heres to the end of a great fortnight. Up back in the playoff places – 5th position with the same points as 4th placed Preston. Next week sees us play Staines in the FA cup. A bit of a shame really to break the run. Will Uwe decide to change a winning team – disrupting the momentum – or will he stick with the same 11 players who have put together this run? Cardiff may dictate the team to an extent by not allowing Harris to be cup-tied.
Then it’s back to the league. And looking at the table, things are so tight that there is absolutely no let-up for bad form at the moment. We need to continue to get results to enable us just to keep up with the chasing pack. We’ve just played four teams with below-par form and got the results. Many a decent side has slipped up against lesser opponents. Our next league opposition have equality poor form which hopefully should tee us up nicely confidence-wise to face two of the form teams of the division – Wolves and Peterborough.
The Wolves/Peterborough combination will be the real true test as to where we stand in this league. Four points will be decent. Six points will be unbelievable. Three points will be acceptable.
Anything less and it’s back to the long hard grind for the Bees as we look to keep our promotion hopes alive this season. No pressure then!!
BillytheBee
@billythebee99
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