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Another game against Middlesbrough, and another defeat, despite a spirited and determined Brentford performance.

The Bees’ sixth loss to Aitor Karanka’s side in two seasons is pretty galling and the sense of déjà vu as Boro soaked up all the Bees could chuck at them, then pounced to steal the points, shows they have a system and level of experience that we struggle against…

And the cynical way Boro stamp out any threat with rotational fouling when they go ahead is obviously part of the game plan, and it is certainly effective, no matter whatever your views on the visitors’ tactics are.

The Bees started really brightly, with the returning trio of Judge, Toums and Tarkowski, adding the quality that was evidently missing from the Walsall game at the weekend, and the hosts really should have gone ahead when Lasse Vibe failed to make the most of a great chance after he’d done well to nick the ball off a defender then homed in on target… Alan Judge then had a snap shot that was well saved.

Brentford were really going toe to toe with the league leaders, but there was a certain sense of inevitability when Boro took the lead… David Button, who has been so consistent in the last couple of years, failed to get a decent punch on the ball from a corner, and instead of clearing, it was directed into his own net.

Both Hofmann and Djuracin came on as the hosts tried to salvage the point they fully deserved, substitutions which looked remarkably like 4-4-2 in the later stages, but it wasn’t to be, despite refusing to give up until the final whistle.

As you’ll see in the Beesotted terrace video, and hear in the Pride of West London post match podcast, in the nicest possible way, Bees fans are now sick of the site of the Boro team. I think there will be a collective West London groan if Boro fail to go up again this season.

On the plus side, Brentford put in a much improved performance, and have the