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Brentford kicked off their new campaign picking up an away point from a 1-1 draw up at newly promoted Port Vale. However, they will be kicking themselves that they didn’t come home with all 3 points as once again they lacked that clinical edge that cost us dear last season.

There’s always something special about the first day of the season. Glorious weather. Sunburnt shorts-wearing fans congregating in buzzing pub gardens. An air of excited anticipation with that added touch of fantasy.

Before the match, Brentford fans were in positive mood. The pain of last season was well and truly behind them. Ten new players was enough of a sign of intent that Brentford really meant business. Some fans even indicated they felt that maybe last season, we weren’t quite ready for the step up and were now much better equipped.

The pre-match predict-a-score ranged from a conservative 2-0 to 4-0 and 5-0 and beyond. Expectations were running high. This wasn’t the Brentford we all know and love. It was glaringly obvious that anything less than promotion would be seen as a huge disappointment by everybody. Last season we over-achieved our pre-season ambition. This season we have to go one step beyond.

Port Vale fans were quietly confident. Having scored 34 goals in 4 or 5 (they couldn’t quite remember. Sunstroke?) pre-season matches, they were confident that their team would carry on where they left off – scoring goals for fun and holding their own in a higher division.

The Port Vale team may be ready for Division 1 on the pitch but off the pitch their administration needs more work. With no advanced tickets sent down to Brentford, fans turned up at the stadium before midday to purchase advance tickets on an attempt to beat the queues only to be told the ticket machine was broken.

Cue kick-off time. 200 Brentford fans queuing up to get into one turnstile while the 2nd turnstile operator sat there twiddling his thumbs. Would common sense prevail? Of course not and Bees fans were left queuing 15 minutes into kick-off much to their anger.

Brentford fielded the same team that started against Cardiff with Donaldson, McAleney and Grigg in attack. Saville, Forshaw, McCormack in midfield. Bidwell and Logan full backs with Dean and O’Connor in the centre. Button between the sticks.

An exciting game of end to end football saw chances from Donaldson, Logan, Grigg. Forshaw should have scored with a weak shot to the keeper after great build up work from Logan and Grigg. Brentford were playing their free flowing football and a fit Port Vale were working hard to shut them down.

Port Vale looked like the away team but looked dangerous on the attack. Pope and ex-Bee Gavin Tomlin both came close for The Valiants. Then on 27 minutes a moment of pure magic. Logan picks up a loose ball on the wing, goes on one of his dinking runs and rifles the ball into the far corner of the net from 35 yds. What a goal to start the campaign.

The lead wasn’t to last though as 5 minutes later, Loft scored a simple goal in the area after the Bees defence failed to clear an attack.

Half Time 1-1

The 2nd half saw Brentford really take the game to their hosts. With 53 minutes gone, Saville made a sublime pass over the top to Donaldson who cleverly from 18 yds or so dunked the ball over the oncoming keeper and onto the crossbar.

Port Vale really were playing like the away team now. Brentford were dominating the game with Vale happy to hit the Bees on the break. Great chances from Grigg, Saville, Forshaw, Donaldson and subs Reeves and Fillo went begging as Brentford went on a mission to nab those 3 points.

However, it was Will Grigg who had the best chance to score after fantastic work down the wing by Donaldson. He lays the ball off to Grigg on the 6yd box who skies it when it seemed easier to score.

Full time 1-1

So full time and points shared. The Brentford team and their 758 travelling fans were left once again to rue more missed opportunities on the road. Groundhog Day some will say as someone was sure they spotted Bill Murray in the crowd.

We played some great football but fair play to Port Vale, they didn’t allow us to completely play our free-flowing-football game that we saw against the likes of Celtic and Cardiff. Port Vale fans were complimentary saying they doubted they would see a better footballing side down there this season.

Lovely to get the plaudits but we would rather the points. And Vale aren’t going to be the only team this season to hamper our playing style. We have to learn to deal with it. We have to get a wee bit tougher. Is that where Alan McCormack comes in?

So two points dropped or a good away point gained? Guess we won’t really know until we’re biting our fingernails down to the bone once again come next May.
 

BillytheBee
@billythebee99
 

Port Vale: Neal; Yates, Robertson, Dickinson, Jones; Myrie Williams (sub Mohamed 76 mins), Griffith, Lines, Loft (sub Dodds 90 mins); Tomlin (sub Hughes 76 mins), Pope

Subs (not used): Johnson, Williamson, Duffy, Birchall

Bookings: Dodds (90 mins)

Brentford: Button; Logan, Dean, O’Connor, Bidwell; Forshaw (sub Reeves 81 mins), McCormack, Saville, McAleny (sub Fillo 71 mins); Donaldson, Grigg

Subs (not used): Bonham, Venta, Nugent, Hayes, Saunders

Attendance: 7,579 (758 Bees fans)