Well, first thing's first, how good was it to see a committed team performance for 90 minutes this afternoon? I don't know what's happened since Tuesday but either Guy Luzon has managed to focus his charges, or else self-preservation has kicked in. I'm inclined to think the latter but hope it's the former as that might be more sustainable and justifiable given what's gone on at our club over the last couple of months.
Secondly, it was great to see our first win in a hundred days, my third win of the season and my wife's first win. Our first win of 2015 and our biggest victory of the season. All achieved against promotion hopeful Brentford, who were made to look very ordinary.
For the first time since signing him six weeks ago, Tony Watt started with Igor Vetokele and we carried a real attacking threat from the off. The pair of them work well together and it was Watt who teed Vetokele up for the crucial second goal.
After some woeful performances recently, Frederick Bulot put in a shift today and was a thorn in Brentford's side. With Gudmundsson busy on the other flank, Brentford had to sit much deeper than many an opponent this season. Whilst Pritchard and Douglas saw plenty of midfield ball, they were unable to get the space or positioning to hurt us at the back.
The only surprise in our line-up was Bikey returning to the bench and Roger Johnson getting his first start alongside Ben Haim. We were so relatively untroubled in the first-half that it was hard to pass judgement on Johnson but he came more into the game in the second and played his part in defending the clean sheet.
The performance was all the more impressive because we lost both Rhoys Wiggins and Captain Jackson in the first-half. If you were going to lose two players, then probably none better as Morgan Fox and Yoni Buyens slotted in quickly.
Tony Watt had our first chance when he picked up a ball in the box after Wiggins had fed Bulot and he had cut-back for the big Scot. Watt had a full second to pick his shot and it took a smart one handed save low to his left by David Button to turn it around the post. Our opening came early enough and it was from a smart counter-attack which ended with Gudmundsson curling a left foot shot beyond the stranded Button.
After the break I expected more from Brentford but we didn't really see and around the hour mark a long ball out left from Henderson was picked up by either Bulot or Cousins who tore forward with Watt and Vetokele in support. Watt duly collected the pass and drew a defender to give Igor a yard more space before teeing him up for a low pass home.
Two-nil and we looked home and dry. Brentford did commit more men forward and tried everything, including a triple substitution but we weren't yielding. At the death a long punt from Henderson dropped beyond the Bees high backline and Bulot was steaming in from the left flank. He took the ball in his stride and ran on before beating Button across the goal.
Happy times, no booing and 12,000 home fans sent home smiling for once. More please.
I am left hoping Scotland can match Charlton's performance tomorrow and beat favoured Wales at Murrayfield tomorrow.
Secondly, it was great to see our first win in a hundred days, my third win of the season and my wife's first win. Our first win of 2015 and our biggest victory of the season. All achieved against promotion hopeful Brentford, who were made to look very ordinary.
For the first time since signing him six weeks ago, Tony Watt started with Igor Vetokele and we carried a real attacking threat from the off. The pair of them work well together and it was Watt who teed Vetokele up for the crucial second goal.
After some woeful performances recently, Frederick Bulot put in a shift today and was a thorn in Brentford's side. With Gudmundsson busy on the other flank, Brentford had to sit much deeper than many an opponent this season. Whilst Pritchard and Douglas saw plenty of midfield ball, they were unable to get the space or positioning to hurt us at the back.
The only surprise in our line-up was Bikey returning to the bench and Roger Johnson getting his first start alongside Ben Haim. We were so relatively untroubled in the first-half that it was hard to pass judgement on Johnson but he came more into the game in the second and played his part in defending the clean sheet.
The performance was all the more impressive because we lost both Rhoys Wiggins and Captain Jackson in the first-half. If you were going to lose two players, then probably none better as Morgan Fox and Yoni Buyens slotted in quickly.
Tony Watt had our first chance when he picked up a ball in the box after Wiggins had fed Bulot and he had cut-back for the big Scot. Watt had a full second to pick his shot and it took a smart one handed save low to his left by David Button to turn it around the post. Our opening came early enough and it was from a smart counter-attack which ended with Gudmundsson curling a left foot shot beyond the stranded Button.
After the break I expected more from Brentford but we didn't really see and around the hour mark a long ball out left from Henderson was picked up by either Bulot or Cousins who tore forward with Watt and Vetokele in support. Watt duly collected the pass and drew a defender to give Igor a yard more space before teeing him up for a low pass home.
Two-nil and we looked home and dry. Brentford did commit more men forward and tried everything, including a triple substitution but we weren't yielding. At the death a long punt from Henderson dropped beyond the Bees high backline and Bulot was steaming in from the left flank. He took the ball in his stride and ran on before beating Button across the goal.
Happy times, no booing and 12,000 home fans sent home smiling for once. More please.
I am left hoping Scotland can match Charlton's performance tomorrow and beat favoured Wales at Murrayfield tomorrow.
There will not be one supporter including some of us naysayers that will not be 150% happy tonight. Can only read the editorial from California but seems like a comprehensive win and more important 3 goals. Maybe the screaming for two forwards was the real difference today.
ReplyDeleteA very important win obviously but that. 6 pt gap and style and effort of today just as critical.