A little under three weeks ago I wrote a piece for Beesotted entitled ‘Three Into Two Won’t Go’ that questioned which, if any, of the three leading teams in League One – Brentford, Wolves or Orient – would hit the proverbial buffers in their quest for automatic promotion this season.
At the time all three sides were going toe-to-toe in an unrelenting win-fest, but based on experience, it seemed unlikely that situation could continue without one team falling by the wayside, or another team emerging from the chasing pack.
After a magnificent, and record breaking, run of results, Brentford had reeled in the other two clubs and secured a slender lead at the top of the division, but there were few signs of cracks showing in either East London or the West Midlands as the transfer deadline dealings were wrapped up.
Since then, however, Orient have taken just one point from a maximum 12-point haul, a sequence that included three consecutive defeats, two of which coming on home turf, with the single point coming against a Preston North End side who are starting to eye up third place themselves.
Orient have blown a gasket, plain an simple, but with three consecutive home games ahead of them, the O’s have the ideal chance to drag themselves back towards the summit if the top two draw this Saturday. At least that’s what their fans are hoping.
Those games at Brisbane Road will, I wager, also possibly decide Brentford’s fate this season -assuming our unbeaten run continues. If Orient’s challenge is actually ‘done and dusted’ it would appear there are no other serious challengers. Admittedly Preston and Rotherham are very good sides and could go up in the play-offs – but neither look likely to emerge as champions, or indeed runners’ up this season.
Wolves and the Bees are still looking strong – draws at Walsall and Shrewsbury did not dent our title aspirations – and the reds dominated from start to finish at Crewe… Which tees up a classic six-pointer against Wanderers this weekend.
But nothing, absolutely nothing, should be taken for granted… Orient will be looking at the points discrepancy that has appeared between themselves and the top two and hope their home form returns – if so – they are back in the hunt…
Stevenage are first up tonight, a fixture that looks to be a home banker. Three points to Orient’s talley this evening and it all hots up again… Fans of the leading sides beware… Mind The Gap folks, Please Mind The Gap.
Dave Lane
Hi Dave, Wolves fan in peace.
Over the past few weeks i’ve been visiting your site and reading over the articles. They are always a good read and full of excitement for how well Brentford are doing this season. And they are doing fantastic…
However, there is a constant theme.. arrogance. I don’t mean to get your back up here, but you’re really playing up Brentfords chances of title winners when there is so much more football to be played. The articles always start with how good Brentford are, and how other teams will fail (I remember Orient being picked on a few weeks back) – then right at the end – an air of caution.
I understand it’s a Brentford fansite, but when you’ve played in the lower leagues since the end of the 1930’s, i’d be tempted to keep my shirt on until the P is next to your name.
Again, came in peace and do enjoy reading over the site. You guys will win this weekend I feel, but the wheels hopefully won’t come off our bus.
Wolves, Brentford then Preston for me.
Cheers!
Hi … I appreciate your friendly intentions… You are welcome to add comments any time. I assure you I am not intending to be arrogant… Just look at our run of results and the squad we have… Now tell me why I shouldn’t be confident? I’ve seen the Bees mess up royally too many times to count chickens… But Wolves and the Bees are clearly strong and showing no signs if faltering. It is now up to orient that their bubble hasn’t gone pop… Cheers
Hi Dave,
I appreciate the run of results is sublime, but your points total is not more than a cats whisker more than ours, and we’ve been playing damn rotten football up until the past month. In fact – away to Tranmere on New Years day was a sad time to be a Wolves fan. My point being, while you guys are flying, i’m not overly confident we are nailed on certs to go up, so I’d have to say i’d be careful not to get over excited just yet.
Score prediction for the weekend? I’d take 0-0 right now.
Home banker? Brave comments considering your recent form. Football is a confidence game, from what I have seen your confidence is in short supply and Stevenage have nothing to lose and are scrapping for their lives. 1 – 1 draw all over it.
A tad silly … 🙂
What’s your prediction for Saturday WWFC so we can ignore it?
Dear WWFC
This is a Brentford site not an Orient site. So Dave (a Brentford supporter) was suggesting without prejudice that it looks like a home banker to him.
Hi
Orient fan here, and whilst I agree, that we appear to have hit a brick wall, you should note that our defeats came when we had goalkeeper issues, which invariably makes the defence edgy. So, with a decent keeper back between the posts, we are hopeful of a return to form.
Although as Bees fans you probably won’t like me saying it, I see little difference between the status now or historically of Orient and Brentford. Both, almost permanently lower league, both in the shadows of more illustrious neighbours. The only difference I see currently is that Brentford have a chairman more willing to spend money, so you have a bigger and more expensive squad than us at the moment.
Personally, I see the season panning out much as it is at the moment. I think Brentford will come top, and if we are to sneak into an automatic place, it will be at the expense of Wolves, who have only 6 home games left. They are vulnerable away, and with ten matches to play away, there is a small chink of light for us, but only if we win tonight and at the weekend. Anything less, and it is almost over and done bar the shouting. And of course a win for Brentford over Wolves would do us no harm ar all should 6 points come to pass our way for the next two.
Preston I do not think are good enough, and nor are Rotherham, and soon they will slip further behind.
TT
I’d be tempted to agree with you in this. Wolves do have some tricky away games left, but you don’t stay at the top of the league all season if you haven’t got something about you. We’re still stuck in 4th gear too.
Noticeable away games for us being: Brentford, Swindon, Walsall and Orient.
Having just looked at Orients fixtures, you do have a really easy run in. You might be able to bring it back. Hope you don’t though ^^
Well, we got the first 3 points last night, in what was not a great game, and marred by poor refereeing against a team of trolls who took no prisoners. Needed a few yellow cards early doors, but that didn’t happen, so they continued in the same vein.
IMHO, I think we shall fall short, although I sincerely hope we do not! It would be good for it to be a Brentford / Orient duo for the top two spots, and good for both clubs too. Wolves have too much money, so they will rise again, irrespective of what they do this year, whereas for Orient and Brentford, that is not necessarily the case.
Here’s to two more three point hauls against Swindon and Colchester at home, for the next two games, which hopefully will start to put some pressure again onto the mob in Old Gold.
ATB, TT
Thanks for a honest update…
It’s gonna be a thrilling run in for sure…
Any Wolves fan that has been to Molineux knows that we invariably play just as well away from home. 18000 tetchy wolves fans at Molineux have always affected our play. The thousands that attend away games however get behind the team from start to finish.
Of course you can play well away from home but do the results back that up? Currently Wolves are averaging 2.3 points from 17 home games and 1.9 from 13 away games. An excellent total indeed but still considerably better at home than away.
Savvy – would that leave us on 99 points then if we continue on those points per game ratings? I’d say that’s title winning?
Savvy – would that leave us on 99 points then if we continue on those points per game ratings? I’d say that’s title winning?
Sorry – my reply wasn’t worthy of duplicates
That as maybe but we have also played our worst football at home and our “rut ” centred around our home form. Having watched our home and away form I have no fear playing anyone away and we still have Leon Clarke to make an impact……as has been well documented we are playing our best football at the moment. Someone is going to get a right spanking soon.