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A trip up the motorway to Pride Park, Derby seemed like a jolly evening out despite the result. But BillytheBee is not quite sure what Uwe Rosler and his team may have gained from getting such a trouncing.

So where do I start?

Brentford’s second string team leaks 5 goals to Derby’s first string (as good as) team.

Doesn’t really read well does it?

When it comes down to simple facts and figures, all most people will see is the scoreline. Derby 5. Brentford 0

A bit of a dilemma this one.

It’s a strange one for me personally. Since the heartbreak of losing DJ Campbell after we beat Sunderland in the 4th round of the FA cup nearly a decade ago which inevitably cost us promotion that year, I’ve always been wary of cup runs … Until we get out of this division that is.

Last season, even before we drew Chelsea, I wrote that I hoped we crash out of the cup as I believed any cup run would detract from our ultimate goal – promotion. And I still firmly believe if Southend had beaten us in the FA Cup 3rd round, we would now be playing our football in the championship.

However, I’m a fan. And this is my dilemma. If my team is in the cup, then I’m in it with them. I want them to win. If they just happen to lose (which is out of my control), then the decision has been made for me.

So once we beat Southend, of course I wanted Brentford to beat Chelsea. And today, along with 500 Brentford fans, I made the trip to Derby – to see a victory … knowing well that victory could do us more harm than good.

At the same time, I also felt the same for both games – if we happened to lose them, I wouldn’t be that fussed. Weird eh??

That’s the conundrum of being a fan. However you may feel on match day defies all logical thinking.

So why, after our trouncing by Derby, do I feel disappointed?

Rosler made a conscious decision not to pick any players who may start on Saturday against Carlisle, with the exception of Barron who needs match fitness.

The line up lumped experienced 2nd and 3rd choice 1st team players (Saunders, Barron, Diagouraga, El Alagui O’Connor) alongside a mix of young fringe players (Reeves, Dallas) and rookies (Clarke, Mawson, Norris, Nugent).

The message from Rosler was clear. Go and prove yourselves lads and fight for a first team place.

After holding itself together for the first 20 minutes or so, the experiment started to irreparably break down.

Debutant Josh Clarke’s appearance in the starting line-up prompted whispers of “Who?” amongst the Brentford massive. But he wasted no time in taking his game to Derby – ripping into them down the right wing. His pace was causing the Derby left back real problems. Unfortunately, after beating his man his final delivery wasn’t quite up to scratch. But he’s young. And he will learn.

Brentford missed a few half chances from Reeves, Dallas and El Alagui before Derby went ahead in the 20th minute from a Chris Martin header after the defence was unable to clear and Bonham failed to cut out the cross.

Derby were hitting the Bees on the break, playing some flowing football and taking advantage of Brentford constantly losing the ball in midfield.

Derby’s 2nd goal was a quality move – a one-two between two Derby players then BANG ..Sammon’s shot hit the back of the net with the advancing Bonham beaten.

And moments later, Bonham was beaten again, this time by £10m rated England Under 21 midfielder Hughes, as Derby looked to run up a cricket score.

Half Time. Derby 3 Brentford 0

The second half saw Brentford rally for a short while with half-chances falling to El Alagui, Saunders, Venta and Reeves. But as the game wore on, Derby started to take control and it was no surprise when they banged in goal number 4 and 5 – a second for both Sammon and Martin. In reality, it could have been more.

As the fifth goal went in, the Derby tannoy blasted out “Hawaii 5 O” and the Brentford fans did a conga.

Full Time: Derby 5 Brentford 0

Soundly beaten on the night. Out of the cup. No more injuries for our league campaign which continues against Carlisle on Saturday. Everything is hunky dory.

So why do I feel disappointed? Surely everything has gone to plan?

I totally understand Uwe’s theory about not risking any first team players. And I understand his theory about competitive games being better experience than any reserve match for the fringe players. But there were a lot of things about this game that were not very good.

The defence made some terrible mistakes. The goalkeeper’s judgment in coming for crosses left a lot to be desired on more than one occasion. The midfield kept on giving balls away. Up front, we just didn’t look like cutting it.

Something inside me feels that this was an opportunity lost. I’m not sure how much was gained by throwing this set of players into the lions den against a well organised championship side. Losing 5-0, surely they will come away deflated with their confidence knocked. Heads went down especially in the 2nd half. Wouldn’t it have been better to have mixed inexperience with a few ‘mentor’ 1st team players? Balance it up a bit more.

Would Clarke, Dallas and Reeves benefitted more with a midfielder such as McCormack in the centre of the park? Would Nugent have benefitted more with a confident keeper like Button marshalling his defence and Craig beside him showing him the ropes?

My disappointment stems from the fact that I don’t feel this experiment gave the up-and-coming players enough of a chance as they were exposed.

Obviously the management see things that the fans can’t. But our little posse came away from that game struggling to see many positives with the one shining light being the performance of previously unknown Josh Clarke.

Saying that, if this cup defeat results in him regularly coming off the bench and terrorising full backs up and down the country for the rest of the season then job done I suppose.

One last thought for the fans. Derby supporters were telling us they felt sorry for us travelling up in reasonable numbers on a Tuesday night to watch a much weakened side being pulled apart. Is it all now about gaining loyalty points as compensation for our efforts and does that make it worth it?

So back to the league on Saturday and back to our 1st eleven (after injuries). The reality is, by the time most Brentford read this match report, the defeat will be all but forgotten as we concentrate on what is most important for us – the league.

Lest we forget, we still have the ‘JPT and FA Cup dilemma’ bridge to cross now. But like an ostrich burying it’s head in the sand, we’ll deal with those ‘problems’ when they come.

 

BillyTheBee
@billythebee99

 

DERBY COUNTY: Grant, Smith, Keogh, Buxton, Forsyth, Coutts, Eustace, Bryson (Davies, 72), Hughes (Jacobs, 75), Sammon, Martin (Bennett, 78). Other subs: Legzdins (gk), Freeman, Ward, Russell.

BRENTFORD: Bonham, Venta, O’Connor, Nugent, Barron (Pierre, 46), Clarke, Saunders (Mawson, 71), Reeves, Diagouraga, Dallas, El Agagui (Norris, 61). Other subs: O’Brien (gk), Saville, Adams, Norris, Rodney.

REFEREE: D Bond (Lancashire).

ATTENDANCE: 9,076.