Three Wins in a Row for The Bees

MK Dons 1 - 2 Brentford (Sat Mar 31)

Brentford recorded their third win on the trot - for the first time under Uwe Rosler - and saw on-fire Clayton Donaldson bag another goal.

MK Dons came flying out of the traps and had total control of the game for the first ten minutes piling balls into the box and unnerving Lee on occasion but he also made a couple of excellent vital saves.

On 12 minutes Clayton picked up a pass from Saunders about 35 yards out, turned his man beautifully and lashed the ball passed the keeper with a wonder strike. Four in three games for Clayton.

Again more pressure from MK Dons and again Brentford get another goal, this time starting with good work from Thompson and a combination of Logan and Saunders feeding Douglas on the edge of the box who smashes it into the top corner. We've seen those go high and wide on more than one occasion! Two up 26 minutes gone.

MK Dons came battling back again this time a little too literally as former Leeds, Newcastle and Man United man Alan Smith starts throwing his now considerable weight around and crying foul to the ref at every opportunity. Once a cheat, always a cheat.

Brentford had the best of the first half of the second period, playing the better football but in an increasingly fractious environment. Tackles were getting stronger and later and the bookings on both sides mounting up.

Brentford should have made it 3-0 when Logan ran the length of the pitch and found himself one on one with the keeper only to poke the ball at him. McGinn had made up ground by this time and would surely have scored if Logan had tapped the ball across to him.

With 5 minutes of the ninety to go the bombardment began and a disputed penalty was awarded to MK Dons when Charlie MacDonald hit the floor under a Karleigh Osborne challenge. The challenge looked outside the box to everyone other than the ref.

Lee was sent the wrong way and all hell was set loose as MK Dons looked for the point. It was all bodies on the line, not pretty at all, but gutsy and nervy and when the board went up saying 6 minutes of injury time would be played there was an audible gasp in the Brentford end and a 'what-o, that's golly good' from MK Dons.

The Bees held out and deserved their third win on the trot.

Man of the Match I'd give to Bidwell. MK Dons targeted our left side and Bidwell was magnificent and aided and abetted by Forrester who was strong in the challenge when needed but also tricky and creative when going forward.

Douglas, again put in a good shift and Dean played his best game so far for the Bees. Lee produced some cracking saves and was immense in the second half. McGinn bottled his first tackle after replacing the injured Forrester which didn't help in a blood and thunder game like this one.

With Oldham and Bury coming up at home we have an opportunity to get a good run going, unfortunately 6th placed Carlisle won again meaning we are still eight points adrift of the play offs.

Lee; Thompson, Osborne, Dean, Bidwell; Logan (sub Legge 90 mins), Dave, Donaldson, Forrester (sub McGinn 64 mins); Saunders (sub Bean 77 mins); Donaldson

Subs (not used): Morrison, Berahino.

Preston North End 1 - 3 Brentford (Tue Mar 27)

Brentford won at a canter at Deepdale with in form striker Clayton Donaldson scoring a brace.

Brentford took the lead after about ten minutes when Shaleum Logan - playing wide on the right - headed home a Harry Forrester cross after Donaldson had a chance saved.

Clayton repeatedly caused trouble behind the home defence with some well timed runs and he was eventually hauled down by Daniel Devine for a penalty after the defender made a hash of a clearance. Donaldson dusted himself down to score from the spot.

Preston hit back with a penalty of their own just before half-time - Harlee Dean the guilty party - but Donaldson scored again just after half-time to restore Brentford's lead, heading home a Jonathan Douglas lobbed pass.

Brentford were pretty dominant tonight and it was a deserved three points - our first league win on the road since November.

Bees - Lee, Thompson, KO, Dean, Bidwell, Logan, Saunders (McGinn), Dave, Douglas, Forrester (Morrison), Donaldson

Unused Bees - Moore, Legge, Berahino

Brentford 2 - 0 Rochdale (Sat Mar 24)

Brentford beat a lacklustre Rochdale side 2-0 at Griffin Park.

The visitors were pretty poor and showed little attacking endeavour but did have a couple of players who were pretty efficient at breaking up attack - the athletic Amankwaah producing several timely blocks at the back.

Brentford took the lead on the half hour mark when sub Toumani Diagouraga - on for Adam Forshaw who has apparently broken his jaw - followed up a Clayton Donaldson shot which had hit the upright.

There was a lovely ball from Jonathan Douglas in the lead up to the goal which was only bettered today by a frankly sublime cross-field Karleigh Osborne pass from the back to Saido Berahino which saw the young striker fire over.

Brentford dominated the second half and there was a sense of celebration around the ground when Clayton Donaldson headed home a fabulous Sam Saunders cross in the 85th minute to net his first goal in twelve matches.

Clinton Morrison made his Brentford debut with a ten minute run out at the end of the game and looked both a real communicator and happy to be at Griffin Park.

It was great to see Karleigh Osborne back at the heart of Brentford's defence today whilst fullbacks Logan and Bidwell provided a lot of support to our attacking play.

The win takes us to the magical 50 point mark and should more or less guarantee League One football next season.

Brentford - Lee, Logan, Dean, Osborne, Bidwell, Douglas, Saunders, Forshaw (Dave), Bean (Legge), Donaldson, Berahino (Morrison)

Unused Bees - Moore, Forrester

Attendance 4919

Bournemouth 1 - 0 Brentford (Tue Mar 20)

Brentford put in another substandard display at Bournemouth, losing 1-0.

The only goal of the game came on the stroke of half time when Fogden was given plenty of room to curl home his shot.

Brentfords best chance fell to Niall McGinn after the break but the Celtic loanee opted to shoot wide of the gaping net.

Uwe Rosler left Saido Berahino out of his squad tonight after a spat on Saturday and some naive ranting from the young loanee on twitter.

This left Clayton Donaldson ploughing a lonely and fairly unsuccessful furrow up front, although Antonio German did provide some second half support after replacing the largely anonymous Diagouraga. Brentford did even muster some mild pressure towards the end but Bournemouth frankly deserved the three points.

The home team had a number of chances in the game with Harry Forrester clearing off his own goal line in the first half.

All in all it's pretty rubbish right now and a number of players need to man up a bit.

Bees - Lee, Thompson (Logan), Bidwell, Osborne, Dean, McGinn (Saunders), Forshaw, Douglas, Diagouraga (German), Forrester, Donaldson

Unused Bees - Moore, Eger

Orient 2 - 0 Brentford (Sat Mar 17)

Lacklustre Brentford were beaten 2-0 at Orient.

The first chance of the match fell to Saido Berahino but the young loanee spurned the chance and was later subbed at half time.

Orient - who won for the first time in six games - took the lead when Kevin Lisbie headed home just before the half time mark.

Niall McGinn had chances to score either side of Lisbie's goal but failed to do so and was also hooked at half time by an unimpressed Uwe Rosler.

The home team had doubled their advantage just before the interval through Jimmy Smith. The second half was largely uneventful and barely deserves even this sentence.

Uwe talked after the game about his concern at the lack of passion and promised changes to the team for Tuesday's match at Bournemouth.

Uwe's options might include Sam Saunders (who was injured yesterday) plus a proper recall for Karleigh Osborne - the Legge and Dean partnership isn't working. Simon Moore made another fairly poor kicking error yesterday too so it might be wise to bring back Richard Lee, certainly until we are mathematically safe.

About 800 Brentford fans made the journey across London yesterday but despite being pretty vocal in their support during the first half were unable to provoke any positive reaction from a group of players who look steadily more gutless.

Antonio German made his Brentford debut yesterday but didn't really impact on the game. He did at least look a bit more keen to work hard than some of the other more 'senior' players.

One also wonders whether the likes of the injured Kev and Bean plus departees such as Wood, Macdonald and Hunt would have showed so little effort in a London derby.

Bees - Moore, Logan, Dean, Legge (Osborne), McGinn (Forrester), Dave, Douglas, Forshaw, Donaldson, Berahino (German).

Unused Bees - Lee, Thompson.

With thanks to beesotted for their match reports

April 3, 2012