BillytheBee finds himself hanging with the best-dressed football fans pre match .. And almost having heart palpitations in injury time.
Brentford showed true heart and fighting spirit ’til the end to come away with all three points at a Griffin Park today. Despite having the lion’s share of the play, fans had to wait until the 2nd minute of injury time to see the ball dispatched into the back of the Preston net to seal the win.
Preston fans turned up in numbers dressed to the nines in bowler hats, crombies and all sorts as they celebrated their Gentry day. Unfortunately for them, that would be the only thing that they would be celebrating on the final whistle.
The game started sprightly for the Bees. They were definitely on top of their game and took the match to Preston. With Sam Saunders starting, after his great subs appearance on Tuesday, and Bradley Wright-Phillips also getting a start alongside Donaldson. Coupled with Diagouraga in the midfield to try and sure things up beside Adeyemi, Bees were flying.
Preston goalkeeper Rudd was mighty busy keeping out chances from Saunders and Donaldson. A wicked Harlee Dean header was well saved before Saunders and Donaldson were back for more – both shots well saved.
Brentford had many other chances and near chances. Meanwhile Preston managed to create one or two half chances on the break but in reality Simon Moore was a spectator and his main job was to ensure he mopped up any loose crosses and through balls that came to him.
Dean had a great flicked header from a Saunders corner saved on the line by the defender with keeper well and truly beaten. The Bees were so much on top, the Preston Gentry behind the goal must have wondered how they got to half-time without conceding. Brentford were industrious in that first half. The midfield of Diagouraga, Douglas and Adeyemi closing down and mopping up creating chances. With Logan’s dangerous runs forward, Saunders shoot on site attitude, Donaldson’s never give up attitude and Dean’s new attacking prowess, Preston were struggling to know exactly who to contain in the Brentford team.
The second half started pretty much as the first had ended up. Bradley Wright-Phillips had a shot well saved and Diagouraga had a great header cleared but as Preston tired with trying to cope with the buzzing Bees, Uwe switched it up bringing on a creative pair of fresh legs in Forshaw for Adeyemi as well as Bidwell for Craig. Trotta also came on for Bradley up front. The new impetus had Preston on their back heels again and Rudd saved a Saunders free kick, a ball dropped to Douglas who’s free header on goal went miles over and a Logan fantastic cross was inches away from bring delivered by Trotta on the edge of the 6 yd box who really should have done better.
Bees started getting desperate. Ball in box. Defender makes tackle. Trotta decides 3 seconds later to make an awful dive. Booked. Forshaw was clipped in the D. Free kick but referee never gave it. We thought our luck was running out. Then up pops the talisman. A man of experience. Leading the young pups by example. Ball played into the attack zone, knocked onto Sam Saunders who picks the ball up and darts into the area before being felled by a clumsy and unnecessary Preston challenge. Penalty given. 2 minutes into injury time.
Cue the longest three minutes of our lives as the referee gets things all set up. Fans crowd down to the barrier at the front of the Ealing Road. The tension you could cut with a knife. Sam Saunders stepped up and smashed the ball home to send the home crowd into an absolute frenzy.
As the referee blew the final whistle, everyone knew in Griffin Park that this result was a game changer and both the Swindon and this win will have seriously turned around our season. Other teams are chasing us now. We know what we have to do.
Next week’s trip to Sheffield United is definitely now one of the most important games of the season. Three points would be nice but we’ll settle for a point to keep them at bay. As for the Gentry … They didn’t seem that fussed in the end. They had had a good day out and will return home to tell their mates they almost .. Almost … Held the Barcelona .. Of the lower leagues.
Brentford: Moore, Logan, Moore, Dean, Craig (Bidwell 55), Douglas, Adeyemi, Diagouraga (Forshaw 65), Saunders, Wright-Phillips (Trotta 71), Donaldson. Subs not used: Dallas, Gounet, Forrester, Reeves.
PNE: Rudd, Connolly, Huntington, Robertson, Buchanan, Wroe, Welsh (Mousinho 35), Holmes (Keane 46), Garner, Beavon, King (Cummins 87). Subs not used: Monakana, Procter, Foster, Stuckmann.
Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey)
Attendance: 6,512 (inc 818 Gentry)
BillytheBee
@billythebee99
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[soccer-info id=’21’ type=’results’ highlight=’722||Brentford’ /]
