Brentford won their only competitive match of their German training camp tour – beating VFL Bochum 1-0 with a goal from Scott Hogan.
Bochum. who finished 5th in Bundersleague 2 last season, looked lively in the first half – playing an impressive high-pressing, passing and moving game that Brentford are aspiring to incorporate into their game this season.
The Bees, who were probably a week behind Bochum in their pre-season training schedule, did not look quite as sharp as their German opponents in the first half as debutant Daniel Bentley showed why he was so highly sought after this window with a series of quality saves – the one from ex Arsenal and Fulham player Thomas Eisfeld was stunning as it unbelievably ricocheted off his diving hand and onto the crossbar before being cleared.
The day started fairly early for the Bees fans who found plotted themselves up in Haus Sternemann bar in the centre of the small town of Bochum – much to the delight of the owner who was quite literally run off his feet for the whole afternoon.
Peniel Malapa was a constant threat for Bochum. Strong, fast and direct. But he was unable to find a way past the ex Southend stopper with most of the action being in Brentford’s half.
But, against the run of play, it was just before half time that Brentford took the lead. McLeod got the ball across to Colin who cut the ball in from the byline for Hogan to poke it past the keeper. 1-0 Bees.
Kerschbaumer cleared a ball off the line and Bochum also had a goal disallowed for offside. But the Bees held onto their lead at half time.
Hard to say how many Bees were at the match but I would guess between 100 and 150 – some of whom were in Dortmund the night before. Others who were staying in Dusseldorf. Enthusiastic to the max, they made their voices heard from the far terrace much to the confusion of the Bochum fans who were gobsmacked that so many folk had flown over from London to just to come to a pre-season friendly in a small town north of Dortmund.
The second half – Bjelland, Egan, Hoffman and McCormack came on to replace Colin, Barbet, McLeod and KK – saw the match even itself out somewhat with the Bees switching to their experimental 5-3-2 formation for the second game running.
With chances few and far between, Nico Yennaris would have been a tad gutted to not have planted his effort in the back of the net after good work from Josh Clarke.
Romaine Sawyers got a run-out with 20 minutes on the clock – replacing Hogan and looked useful on the ball. But the game petered out with the Bees holding onto their 1-0 win.
All in all a good run out of the Bees. And a good social for the Bees fans who were on fine form – many of them not even seeing the match to be quite honest with you.
What was most refreshing about this match was the atmosphere around the match – completely free from negativity. 150 characters on holiday there to get behind their team and welcome in the new season. Similar in a way, but not quite hitting the same levels, as the enthusiasm for the Uwe Rosler season when he went to Leipzig that year.
And as you will see from the video that will go live in a day or so, many fans were unbelievably optimistic for the forthcoming season. But then I suppose you would be to fly all the way to a small village in Germany to see your team in a pre-season friendly.
Roll on ….er … the next team we play (whoever that may be)
Billy Grant
@BillytheBee99
Brentford: Daniel Bentley; Maxime Colin (Andreas Bjelland 46 mins), Harlee Dean, Yoann Barbet (sub John Egan 46 mins), Tom Field; Nico Yennaris (sub Lasse Vibe 75 mins), Ryan Woods (sub Jan Holldack 66 mins); Josh Clarke, Lewis Macleod (sub Alan McCormack 46 mins), Konstantin Kerschbaumer (sub Philipp Hofmann 46 mins); Scott Hogan (sub Romaine Sawyers 66 mins)
Subs not used: David Button, Jack Bonham, Andy Gogia, Josh McEachran, Sam Saunders,
VFL Bochum 1st Half: Manuel Riemann, Tim Hoogland, Felix Bastians, Anthony Losilla, Thomas Eisfeld, Peniel Mlapa, Stefano Celozzi, Kevin Stoger, Tom Weilandt, Timo Perthel, Marco Stiepermann
VFL Bochum 2nd Half: Felix Dornebusch, Russell Canouse, Johannes Wurtz, Jan Gyamerah, Gorkem Saglam, Tim Krafft, Maxim Leitsch, Tom Baack, Evangelos Pavlidis, Hayk Galstyan, Nil Quaschner
