Thetownend.com

The opponent:  Brentford

So, for the 3rd time this season, soon to be the 4th, I find myself putting together a matchday thread with Brentford as the opposition. Now let’s be honest, the build up to this play off campaign has been very low key round about Town. Possibly a sense of disappointment at what could have been? Who knows?  One thing that does become apparent is the fact we have got nothing out of Brentford on the 2 occasions we have met this season. Uwe Rosler has his team set up well, playing crisp passing football, but they will need to bounce back from the disappointment of losing the final automatic promotion spot on the last day of the season. It could go either way. Personally I hope Brentford capitulate within the first 15 minutes, 3-0 down and playing with 10 men, But we are Swindon, and things never seem to go quite as planned, in fact, if this season is anything to go by, there are still a few up’s and down’s to be had over the next 2, potentially 3 games of football. I really am buzzing for this evening, I just hope we throw everything at them and the crowd get behind the lads from the word go. All the talk of what a shambles we would be if we were to make The Championship needs to be put aside for now.

I thought I would take a somewhat irrelevant look at Brentford’s fabulous local rag, The Richmond & Twickenham Times.  It has to be one of the very few papers I have read that make the Adver look even slightly interesting. The most popular items include “Mega rally organised in protest over Heathrow expansion”, “Dyke appointed F.A Chairman” (Clare Balding?) and then this fabulous little story. Think a Tea Cosy, but one that sits on a parking meter.
A colourful crocheted creation intended to put a smile on people’s faces has been removed by parking wardens. Passersby were delighted to see that a parking sign in Bridgeman Road, Teddington, had blossomed into a flower over the Easter weekend after it was decorated by a mystery yarnbomber. But the knitted cover was removed and taken to Teddington police station by a parking warden employed by Richmond Council’s contractor Vinci Park on Tuesday, April 23. A Vinci Park spokesman said the woolly creation was removed by a member of staff due to concerns the colourful creation may obscure parking time information. The council, which promoted the yarnbomb flower on its Twitter feed, has come to the rescue and offered to bail out the street art from behind bars. A council spokesman said: “Richmond Council did not authorise the removal of the knitted sign cover. “We have now spoken to the police to retrieve the cover and will reinstall it on the sign as soon as it arrives.” Thank fuck for that.

What are they saying about us? –

“I am going to the home leg, not the away leg - financial reasons mainly !
I think we will win and hope we get Sheffield United in the Final.

As both teams are less agricultural than Yeovil, and we struggle against the more direct teams.
Saturday was a prime example.

Will be watching on Sky hoping we can get aq goal or two advantage for the home leg”

Read more: http://www.brentford.vitalfootball.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2752&posts=12#ixzz2SGuHPpwT

Brentford Last 6 –  DWWDLL (Brentford finished 3rd on 79 points)

The Threat – Once again. Clayton Donaldson will be looking to put another past us. He finished the regular season on 22 goals for The Bees.

An Extra Warm Welcome To – Jonathan Douglas, tosser.

The irrelevant stats –  Brentford are looking to go 5 unbeaten away from home and we are 5 unbeaten at home. Anything likely to give?

Head to Head – Despite the 2 previous victories this season, Brentford still find themselves behind us. In 76 league encounters, we have won 31, drawn 18 and lost 27.

The Odds – Swindon 6/5    Draw 12/5   Brentford 13/5  Do the bookies feel home advantage for the first leg is that important? 13/5 is a reasonable price for today’s visitors baring in mind the 2 results so far this year.

The Son Says – I feel negativity setting in. He is so excited and has to wait for me to get back from work clearing the minging gardens of Swindon before he can really get in to the spirit! He said, “I think we might lose this one Dad”, then when he remembered his prediction appears on The TEF he changed his mind and said 3-0 
 
The Prediction –  2-0, we will go at them like a horny hound, with goals from Gary Roberts and Adam Rooney. 12’322 in attendance.

And Finally –  Brentford players held a clear-the-air meeting on Monday some 48 hours after Marcello Trotta’s last-gasp penalty miss meant they missed out on the top two. Trotta, on loan from Fulham, hit the bar after insisting he took the kick rather than club captain Kevin O’Connor. “There are no issues in the group,” Rosler insisted. “We needed to come together, address certain things so we don’t carry them with us.” In other words they all hate each other and are ready to implode.

COYR COYR COYR

Believe...and we'll dick them 2-1!!! A Rooney and Williams with the goals, 12,423 with only 1791 from Brentford. C.O.Y.R!!!

We need a 2 goal advantage or more in my opinion. 1 goal won't be enough to take back to West London on Monday. Hoping for a Tranmere like home performance where we just blow them away.

I have an unbeaten record this season, which means nothing!!

1-1

47-0.

Douglas punches the ref just after the whistle blows, and without his stern and not at all jelly-legged leadership, we put a goal past them every 30 seconds.

The return fixture is a boring, humdrum 0-0, and we win at wembley, only for the county ground to fall into a sinkhole uncovered during work to renovate the Town End during the summer, after a multi-billion pound investment led by Jed. The rest of the town of Swindon follows the football club down into the hole, and the area is declared off limits and unsafe for human habitation.

After a week of not really looking foward to this, I'm now really excited now, 3-1 Town infront of 13265.

I am just hoping for a nice early goal to settle the nerves and start messing with the Brentford mind.  Another goal on the hour and we will be a lot more confident tomorrow night

I'm hoping for a pleasant afternoon, with football to be the winner

BBQ at midday, including copious beers, followed by an hour or so in the CGH before falling asleep in the ground and missing a 0-0

Bliss!

seconded

On my way to Valencia for a stag do, hoping to return on Tuesday to find we're going to Wembley after a 2-1 home win today and a nervy 0-0 on Monday.

C.O.Y.R

'I've got a bad feeling about this. 2-1 defeat'

We can do this, we really can. So lets fucking do so.

First leg games are odd.  Half time at full time means everything still up in the air at the end...unless you're lucky enough to leave with a 4 goal advantage.  Pressure is on us to score one or two more than them today.  I don't fear Griffin Park as a venue for the return leg - we've done the business there many times before - so that will do.

Really don't have a clue with this one - depends which of our teams turn up. Very nervous though,

Massive day for the club on and off the pitch...if ever we could do with a good display it is today.

Will be very tough away so lets put it to bed today i reckon.

I am more excited about getting my haircut and that it's my nephews 1st birthday party today than the football.

I honestly can't see us winning over 2 legs. The excitement of football has dwindled in the last few months. Sadly.

Unbelievable.

Agree with IOB and Leefer.

We need to win today to have a chance and then it will be a case of hanging on at Griffin Park.

If ever we need our strikers to rediscover their scoring touch and our defence to become as solid as it used to be, it's today.

I feel nervous.  Let's not throw this damn season away.

Honest

Time for Niceties are out of the window, Hope  we batter the fuckout them from the off, (like Sheffield did against us) get the crowd behind them then and I think we could get a 2-0 lead. Hope Alan Mac and Wes don't feck it up today, Have a feeling a red  is due sometime soon , though I hope I'm wrong. So a 2-0 win with goals from A.Rooney and J.Collins
att: 12256  away: 1623

I don't agree with Jo . We can do it at theirs too. We need to find a purple patch of form that's all.

We don't do hanging on. Never have in the twenty something years I've watched us.

Is this the first McDonald Swindon v Brentford matchup, or did PRC leave before the game at theirs?

Charlton largely outplayed us in that 2nd leg.

All of a sudden the nerves have kicked in. I'm fucking shitting it.

For us to stand any chance we have to take something to the away leg. I just can't see us winning unfortunately, they are just the better team all round...... But this is the play offs and this is Swindon Town so anything could happen, I just hope the players give it absolutely everything. C.O.Y.R!

Good point re the hanging on.  I've got a horrible feeling we won't win either leg tbh.  When I think back to the team from 2010, they were so much better in every department and it still wasn't enough.

McDonald was in charge when we lost 2-1 at Griffin Park.

Also, Brentford at 13/5 is great odds, I will have to stick a bit of money that which would help to slightly soften the blow if we lose.

I think we need to win... which means we won't. 0-1 Brentford.

Been pretty relaxed about the prospect of this game all week but woke up this morning and i'm shitting it, the odd kickoff time has also thrown my tried and tested pre-game routine for a 3pm KO game.

Haven't got the foggiest whats going to happen so i'l go for 1-1

BBQ :Ride On Fatbury's Lovestick: have you opened your curtains yet

keep the faith. Sunny day is a coming

I'll be happy if I'm still looking forward to going to Griffin Park on Monday after today's game.

Not expecting us to win, but will be dissapointed if we don't

I predict a 0-1 defeat.

Fuck me a lot of you are pessimistic cunts 3 0 battering of Brentford today COYR

Unbelievable

First post in ages and fuck all has changed on here. I'm with Lambourn Red, we'll put at least three past these fuckers this afternoon followed up by another two on Monday.

I hope all the people that are predicting a win are correct. Thinking we won't isn't the same as not wanting us too.

Town 1 - 2 Bees

Methinks even a 2 goal lead won't be enough to get through.

Still, looking forward to Monday a lot.

I'm surprised at how overrated brentford are. They're distinctly average. We can be shit hot on our day and have been quite a few occasions this season. They're recent form is nothing to write home about either.

Trouble is, Town can look good for the majority of a game, make the opposition look 'distinctly average' and still lose.

Not worth going now as your predictions are always spot on :) 3:1 town, 2:1  brentford at griffin park :pint:

0-2 and Donaldson dives, whinges, cheats and gets both. Like in the league games, he'll be the difference. The lack of pace at centre half will prove vital. What might make a bit of difference though is Macca in the centre giving it loads.
I want to be wrong.

A later start for me today, hoping to see at least a draw, but reckon we'll sneak it & same again on Monday.  11,000 plus today.

Andy Frampton is a knob.......

@Framps79: On my way to Wales M4 just passed Swindon turning and thought I'd wish all the boys at Brentford all the best #bees

Just woken up with a cracking hangover. Think we'll shade today 2-1.

I'm going to invest in a Town win by putting some money on Brentford, that usually works nicely.

I've got my buzz for football back for one day only.

Fucking come on Swindon

He played for them for 5 years so is bound to wish them luck isnt he.

But yes, he is a knob and a crap player to boot.

Will be a good game, hopefully we'll win 3-1 don't care who scores. I fancy another a trip to Wembley. Is the away goals rule used in the play offs?

That may be true, but they still took 6 points off us this season.whether they deserved to or not.

...and we took 6 off Yeovil and 4 off Bournemouth and they both finished above us.Not sure what my point is tho'

It's not even midday yet. Today is dragging.
2-1

I've been away all week. Are there tickets still available?

Home tickets,
as of 5 hours ago
 Swindon Town FC ‏@Official_STFC 5h

Tickets available throughout the day from the @STFCBoxOffice at The CG #COYR

 as of 2 hrs ago:

 Swindon Town FC Swindon Town FC ‏@Official_STFC 2h

Home match tickets for today's Play-Off game are still on sale and can be booked in advance by calling 0871 876 1993 #STFC

Just had good luck message on Facebook from a baldes fan up at our HO in Sheffield. That's the kiss of death just been administered then!

We'll win today, draw on Monday and win the final and you can all call me names for not going.

just called the ticket office to reserve some tickets for collection and I was told that this wasn't possible and all tickets that are avbl are first come first served at the box office.

Ta, Batch. Now to try and swing a pass out...

You could try what on unnamed forum member once did: Pin a note to the fridge saying "gone out for milk".

Cant make the game due to work on me ship off the coast of Jockland. However, hope to pick up the game via some young 'uns smart phone.

Its about time we played well for a whole game and I'll stick my neck out and say we will batter them 4-1.
Less of the negativity you bunch of fuckers and get behind the team and make some noise! COYRs.

I think we'll draw tonight and then do them at theirs.  Hope my shit internet connection holds out.

Nerves starting to hit in now. COYR.

DRS and Arkells fans, join in with the singing today instead of just clapping along. That will be all.

Ferry in for Devita, Williams in for Collins

4-4-2 then

hope Ferry hasn't been rushed back

Sky are doing a half price sports package at the mo. as I can't make the game I think it's £10 well spent for both legs and being able to watch the other play off games. Better than having to listen bbc swindon anyway

feeling a little nervous now.

Quiet here today. I suppose a lot of people are doon the pub!

No pubs here showing the game today due to Premier League and Tippeligaen, going to find a pub to watch it on Monday though.

It is quiet on here.

I am up in Edinburgh thanks to a step father in law being in intensive care but at least I can watch it on Sky, gonna be a tough game but Brentford are beatable.

Hope they're up for it today, nervous and going for my first beer to calm me down. The first ten minutes of televised town matches always seem to be a good indication of how the match will go - lets hope we batter them - come on town!!!

Form and history has little to do with play off games, its all about whoever is more up for the game on the day plus maybe a little luck.

Fucksticks. I can't find a stream.

Anybody?

http://cricfree.tv/live/live_football_streaming/swindon_town_vs_brentford/5760

Thanks

no luck then?

Nope :(

Afternoon all. I find myself in Leicester, anyone know anywhere near showing the game? On the match I've got a horrible feeling Wes is going to do something fucking stupid :(

You can always watch it online.....

http://blinertv.ucoz.com/247/skysp2.html

Thanks I'll try that...nervous now, coyr!

I hope Douglas has a stinker.

Ferry on the right again?

I really don't care, which genuinely worries me...

Let's fucking do this!

that's one shot on target!

Come on Swindon!!!

Championship and you fucked it up.

So did we!!

That's Brentfords win sorted then...

eh?

Doesn't look a great attendance - lots of empty sets  :(

Our fans chanting Championship and you fucked it up at Brentford...

yeah... I don't think that will be a factor in deciding who wins today

This feels like the flattest playoff game in memory and here I am sat in my pants.

Roberts has been pretty good so far. Brentford have hardly threatened.

Apart from just then.

...and as I typed that they opened us right up

Donaldson falling over again.

I'm going to stop looking at this thread as the stream I'm watching is clearly running a minute behind, and Sonic's predictions of future events are starting to unnerve me.

Yeah - I know what you mean. Usually I'd be excited for days. Just not feeling the love for it at the mo'.

How is that not a foul? Yet Donaldson throwing himself on the floor is?!

Fucking shit ref.

Harlee Dean is a dirty, ugly shit name wanker

How was that not a foul on Flint? FFS.

IF they score from this.

It fucks me off when sky commentators called Collins 'Jim Collins'. Anyone else?

Brentford being allowed to dive in every time, this ref should get a grip. Why do we never get a 'homer' ref?

massive shove in the back on Williams (I think) a few seconds ago, totally unpunished

Flat atmosphere. Awful for a play off.

How the hell can the ref book Roberts for that? Terrible decision, allowed himself to be talked into it by the Brentford tosser.

One word to describe Swindon in that first half

HOOOOOOOOOOFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

Not a great game and a very flat atmosphere! Really think we need a decent result tonight or it's game over! Think the bees will be too strong at griffin park

Think we've done OK myself. Should be 1 1 I suppose. The wind is a shit. We now have to play into it and the sun..

You don't know what you're typing.

Never been as unbothered about a game of this magnitude in my life where Swindon is concerned.  It's not a nice feeling.  Even when we were shit I was bothered about what was happening, but this time, we are in the play offs, I should be buzzing.  I'm not.

I don't hold out any hope of promotion, which might not be a bad thing.

I think I need the end of the season to come and hopefully I'll get my appetite back...

Really, really need to be making the most of this pressure.

Blimey Batch, I know hoofball is one thing but it's 93 million miles away!

Gary Roberts is a jug eared embarrassment. First man on every cross or corner for an hour and counting.

If we score today I will fly to Norway and sit on sonicyouths fist. Drab.

I'll get the lube ready.

I really hope you have big hands SY  :D

Got more chance of K Mac changing it to a proper formation or making an attacking substitution (fuck all, for those in doubt) :)

Make a fucking change Mcdonald for fucks sake.

5-5-0?

need Collins and maybe L Rooney on for Ferry and Williams

Criticism withdrawn he's found the car park.

I feel like dosty, need another sherbet.

Keep pumping high balls into the box when the 'keeper's a giant and will take them all day long ::)

FUCKING GET IN!

I knew that would work :D

Enjoy!

Get in there!!!!

Someone's getting fisted tonight haha

Hope your passport's up to date, Dave.

beautiful finish

Are you at the CG Sonic?

Take that you moaning fuckers.

nope, unfortunately DMR will have to fork out for flights

Get in!!

Need a second (at least)!

Another goal would be huge

2 defenders climbing all over Flint... no penalty. Figures.

 :)

I see we scored 2 mins after Wright Phillips was subbed, was that a tactical change for them?

Edit. That's not specifically directed at you SY

Oooh, cheeky handball that. Didn't see that in real time.

Who the fuck is Jim Collins?

why the hell do they call him Jim?

10,500 :/

Super Alan Mac :)

It's so we don't confuse him with the other James Collins

Fucksticks.

Which spastic cunt dived in???

Last minute penalty to Brentford again...

did nobody else notice the Brentford player off the ball in the box blocking  from reaching the cross?

I fucking hate the playoffs.

Fucks sake

bollocks. I still think Brentford looked wank and we've got a good chance on Monday.

My overriding sentiment will be that on that evidence, neither side would accumulate more than 20pts in the championship

Yes.

away goals don't count, right?

Well that was fun....

We deserved the win today. We'll just have to fuck them up Monday. Even Wilson's team did that.

Not a fucking penalty,

I felt all the way through that Donaldson (what a diving cunt) would get one. Turned out to be somebody else.

That was not a fucking penalty.

Well thats 3 times we've played them now, 3 times we were the better side, but 3 times we havent managed to win.

In a weird way i think conceding the goal may work in our favour.  We probably would have played 4-5-1 to try and hold onto a 1-0 win.  Now we will play with a more attacking mentality.

Brentford's to lose, but would be disapointed if we didnt get to Wembley as Brentford arent as good as us imo

right

shouldn't have even got the opportunity to cross, one of their players held Byrne back in the box to prevent him from closing down the man who crossed - not a surprise given how shit the ref was

Sorry flash but that was a definite penalty

You clueless blind cunt

whatever we do on Monday, there's no point pumping it into the box or giving it to Roberts to cross...

just seen it from a different angle now and yeah, it was a penalty.

Nathan Byrne was blocked off and we should have had the free kick,we should have had a penalty when O'Connor handballed and Rooney was pulled down just outside the box in the first half.We got nothing from the ref today who was spineless and shit

I'd feel a little less pissed off about their pen if we'd been awarded even one of the two that we should have had within about a minute for the defender doing all but prop a ladder up Flint's back while a mate held him on the ground, and then the most fucking obvious handball I've seen in ages.

Kicking off down Manchester road. Sort of.

Well we didn't lose so still all to play for which is the positive imo. Good goal from luongo, stupid tackle for the pen.

Brentford are nothing special so we can easily beat them at their place, we did for 70 mins in the league, keep the faith!

Well, that was a shit game contested by 2 shit teams with a shit ref.

And a poor turnout of Town fans - 9000 really isn't good enough for a play-off semi.

Got neck ache with all the hoof ball

I do concede that the penalty given was a penalty, but fuck me is Donaldson a diving cunt.

Gutted. Absolutely gutted. I just can't see us getting even a draw down there.

Re. the pen, Byrne was taken out in the build up, so we should've had a free kick.

We should've had a blatant pen with a massive push on Flint right in front of the lino who did absolutely bugger all.

And why do we always get shit refs?

I can see the next leg going to penalties.

First off, that was never 10500, two shit teams trying to play football, hoofball by us, we don't seem to bee able to run with the ball it's all a bit HOT potato yeah I'm pissed, Brentford were dire overall can't complain about the result, yes we looked like we wanted it But we ain't good enough IMO, where has that Williams thread gone, because he is shit :badmood:

Sort of?  ???

What a challenge from McCormack to deny their lad when he was through!

We were easily the equal of Brentford. IMHO we deserved a narrow lead, which in a strange way would worry me about us trying to sit back and handing them the initiative.

It's a battle and you don't get to Wembley by playing pretty football but losing the battle.

well there were a fair few coppers legging it down Manchester road after what looked like a group of town fans. But I didn't  see a Massa brawl or anything like that so no idea if it had really kicked off.

Oh  :(

Maybe there were some reduced price doughnuts  :I'm a complete mofleakin Deak

The standard of officiating was made clearly evident when Massimo(?) was blatantly tripped when tracking back yet the linesman gave a free kick to Brentford. The Ref overruled it on that occasion but what the fuck was going on in the lino's mind at the time is beyond me. He was in the right position to see it as well.

We can berate the ref for the decisions that we did not get but he is supposed to be helped out there and at least one of his two assistants wasn't at the races today.

The one on the Arkells side couldn't make a decision to save his life.

The blatant puch on Flint was right in front of him...did nothing.

Not only that, but there was a blatent handball from Douglas.

We were the better of two pretty poor teams. Neither anywhere near good enough for the Championship.  Brentford did next to nothing, but still came away with a goal.  That's the sort of luck you need in the play offs.

Shit ref and linesmen yet again.

One substitution, 10 mins from the end.  Ferry out wide.  Shit managerial decisions.

We'll lose on Monday, because we can't convert pressure into goals and the momentum is now with Brentford.

I let the whole the of the DRs knowy feelings on douglas haha

I could hear blokes telling their kids to cover their ears

We dominated them, and they got lucky at the end.  That makes no sense.

We are the better side. We will win at Griffin Park. Keep believing.

Very frustrating, the last 10 minutes were painful viewing much like at Griffin Park but just when it looked like we had weathered the storm Luongo makes a ridiculous challenge.  

I was happy with the set up, our right side offers fuck all in terms of creativity but due to our inactivity in the transfer market to bring in a winger leaving us with one decent option in Roberts, Ferry is the best of a bad bunch. Devera is awful on the ball but then again he is a centre half playing right back.

I am not confident for Monday, there is going to be an onslaught one way or another and I can't see us coping with it.

Then again, a goal down with our captain sent off and only 20 minutes left to play at The Valley I wasn't confident either....

I thought we did ok, positive approach to the game.

Ref was awful - 3 fouls in the build up to the pen - shocking.

Only positive to take is that at least we don't have a lead to defend as we don't do that very well and we can go and give it everything.

That attendance was absolutely embarrassing. I think the average Swindon football fan's interest in the local club went with Di Canio.

Shocking turnout.

How Luongo got mom of the match is beyond me, ok he scored, but other than that I thought he was poor tbh. 

Just looked at the penalty again. Byrne was obviously blocked off, but I saw that in the ground. But I'm not 100% sure that Douglas did handball it from the replay. Looks chest.

It was a ridiculous challenge though. No need to make it. Still while I don't think Luongo was MOTM, I do think he had an otherwise good game.

edit: soapy tit wank , just read JoTR's post. Just me that thought he did OK then!

unfortunately I have to agree

Ward was our best player by a mile. Had donaldson in his pocket ALL game

Do you believe everything you hear, that was never 10500, ground capacity 14700, 964 empty seats in the arkells ,a few seats hear and there, I would say it was 12500 to 13000

I didn't think it was handball myself at first but they showed it at another angle after the match and it was definitely a handball. It appeared to be deliberate as well. Even the pundits went 'oooh, yep' in unison when the replay was shown.

Thanks, just replayed it in game so will take a look later.

I am going off what the official announcement from the club was. About as 'reliable' as it can get, surely?

awaits chang reliable source joke

:) He seemed to get in McCormack's way a fair bit and the number of times he hit the ball up in the air to nobody in particular seemed a lot.

Haven't watched the penalty again yet, but it was def handball in the build up.  It was right in my line of sight and everyone around me in the Arkells called it as well.

Really poor crowd as well as others have mentioned.  Loads of empty seats by us in the Arkells even some normally occupied by Season Ticket holders, which is odd.

Agreed, very sloppy at times and I think it was his dwindling on the ball and getting tackled which led to the Brentford one on one the lad should have scored in the first half.

I criticised Byrne the other day but I thought he was very good today, in fairness the whole back four was solid.

Big thing for me was Douglas hand balling in the ball back into the box in the build up to the pen. It looked blatant to me and I fully expected the pundits to pick up on it but they didn't. Man of the Match performance from Byrne for me, thought he was superb. If we take the game to them on Monday like today then we can beat em

So you think we could have got another 4200 in there today, Fuck off

Same in the DRS. 7 or 8 empty seats in a row empty behind us plus the 2 next to my son too. Plus strangers in season ticket holder seats.

Most odd. Can only think its people going away for the bank holiday...

Your eyes must be playing up, there were shed loads of empty seats in the home areas of the Arkells, way more than 964. Quite a few spare in the DRS and plenty of room on the bank as well

10,500 looked about right to me and its a shocking turnout

I would take the club's word over the attendance, if anything surely they would over play it and not announce it smaller than it was.

A piss poor turnout - simple as that. There were plenty of empty seats around as mentioned above.

Fucking hell I think we even got more fans in for the Barnet JPT match last season...

Agreed. Didnt lose a header at all.

Roberts did well i thought

No, actually. Between you and the bullshitting wideboy who currently masquerades as Chairman of our football club I struggle to think of who I find least reliable.

Although that said, I'd have guessed 12000 at the most so 10500 might well be correct.

Yep mostly, final ball often lacking though.

Agreed Ward played well, MOM for me.

The crowd would have been much higher if Di Canio was still in charge.  The fact we've limped into the play offs and now have a totally uninspiring man in charge won't have done anything to bring the fair weather fan along today.

Next season will be worse I fear, the excitement we had under Di Canio has totally faded.  I can see attendances dropping to 6,000-7,000.

And Rosler is a knob if he thinks that was a fair result.

He's a winger who can't kick/cross the ball off the floor, it's hilariously pathetic

Brentford were true to form - fouling, cheating, diving, whinging. the ref was true to form, ignoring feet left in, elbows, blocking, fouls and handballs. The ref really was a shit cunt of the highest order. Some of the decisions were ludicrous. the late challenge by Donaldson in the first half given as play on to Brentford was truly woeful. The handball by Douglas in the box and numerous others.
Brentford were fucking crap and we absolutely shat all over them in the 2nd half. Some of our crossing ( Roberts ) was fucking awful.
Regardless of whether it was a pen or not, how many times do we want to clear the ball into row Z. Also, we knew what we'd get from Brentford and we got it.
There were a fair few season ticket holders near me who didn't show today. 10500 is an embarrassment as was Brentfords support.
Neither team really deserves to be in the Championship.
I still think Wembley is up for grabs. I was really negative going into this game but Brentford are fucking shit.  

Made the point before, but there is nothing in the least bit surprising about that attendance figure given that there was a free alternative on TV.  Only the most committed would choose to pay £20+ to watch live when they coold do so for free in the pub or at home.  The TV coverage would have affected the gate significantly.  Shouldn't underestimate that.

All to play for on Monday.  I saw very little from Brentford today that concerns me.

Me neither.

But they did still manage a score draw at our place...

The two previous home play offs have seen near full houses despite TV coverage and similar prices.

I think 'joteddyred' hit the nail on the head above.

I think they will murder us on Monday, hope I'm wrong, BUT then again do I want to spend my hard earned watching us under perform at wembley  again

Here's another excuse that you may not have heard previously. A 1720 kick off is the worst timed kick off for parents of little people. Tea time and bed time routine period. And when I'd already missed last night's one due to going to the Wyvern, watching it on TV was the only option. And it saved me money, lovely.

This is the result of the sport being controlled by TV companies.

Odd as I counted the unsold tickets on the online ticketing site friday evening while had some down time. Inc the 984 from the arkells away section there were 1795 unsold. ( 79 TE, 437 arkells and 295 in DR )Not including the bank. If the away fans were an alleged 1592 that should leave around 600 tickets returned from bank ( altho Brentford tweeted they had 350 tickets to sell on the day at SN1 ) Doesnt add up

Plus we had 9515 against Stevenage with the bank virtually empty

Nothing to do with the revenue being shared between clubs  :hmmm:

How do you come to that conclusion on today's showing?

Brentford were shit, we should have hammered them, if only for a clinical finisher.  All to play for Monday, will be betting on them lot to go through though, made a nice return from in play betting on the draw, should have been more but I bottled it in injury time. Stupid boy.

Brentford view:

http://www.griffinpark.org/forums/showthread.php?t=105209&page=1

Because we run around and get know where, as I said I hope I'm wrong, but having watched Them all season it's all so depressing, as for today's showing what do you think

Yeah Brentford were shit but Town weren't much better. Too much in the way of hoofball. Panicked in the last third firing balls in to no one inparticular. Their keeper made taking crosses look easy. Another woeful shift from Williams, he is obv devoid of both form and desire. Can't see us getting murdered monday but can't see us getting a win either

On today's showing if we're dead come Monday evening it's far more likely to be suicide than murder.

I can't believe how negative everyone is being.

We were the better side and Brentford did nothing aside from foul us and score their onky attempt on target when we should have had at lesst one penalty.

We looked solid at the back for the most part and Brentford are there to be beaten.  The pressure is on them in the second leg and given their capitulation last week and with Captain Douglas leading the way I fancy us nicking a win.

Admittedly my optimism ends there but I have fisting DMR to look forward to.

Like fook we can't

I hope you've registered a formal complaint, like I have.

"We have plans" actually meant "We had a plan, but a little bit of rain and some wind put paid to our original plan, so we'll do something really boring instead, and you still can't go to the game". Or something like that.

Didn't even manage to watch the game on TV either, ergo grumpy as fuck, and that has nothing at all to do with the result. Some of you moaning fuckers will do well to think how lucky you are to watch us in a play off semi final......

Luongo was mint,  so many important tackles and interceptions today.  Brentford are gash and we will beat the cheating fuckers on Monday.

COYR

Yeah, I'm going to be negative...

We never looked like scoring really, Ferry is wasted on the wing, Roberts couldn't put a decent cross in as long as he has a foot on the end of his leg, our strikers are fucking awful. Regardless of bad refereeing decisions, we didnt deserve to take a lead to their place.

Oh, and the attendance was an embarrassment.

Apparently kicked off in County Road, but the fucking stewards got involved in the road, nothing to do with them and they inflamed the situation.  Then the law arrived big time and it was run, run, run time!!  What was the problem in the Town End early doors.  I saw a lot of stewards and coppers in there and a guy being marched out - and guess who was in the thick of it - that cunt who claimed he was a serving soldier in Iraq, but turned out to be a tea boy/handyman in a solicitor's office.  He run down the side of the DRS to get involved!!!

Most sensible thing I have heard since the final whistle.

Cunting cunts had one cunting shot on cunting target all cunting game. Lucky cunts.

Chalkies post has been quoted on that thread, haha they come across as a bit naive (must be all that, "is there a wider world outside of London?" routine)  :)

Quote "I'm just glad I escaped from Wiltshire without ending up in a wicker man". Their geography is obviously shite too  :sherlock:

Maybe we're going for the smash and grab at Brentford

Well that was one I'm not looking to seeing on the TV, if it confirms we should have had 2 penalties and their goal should not have stood ! And the ref in general…I’ll save my breath…

There was an inevitability to the game, with the 'classic' end of season strong wind and bouncing ball. It's good to see how many Brentford fans 'fessed up to how lucky they were, but given their penalty was their only shot on target....

Unlike most of you I was impressed with Roberts and had him as MOTM. Some of the crosses were shite I agree, but he was our most creative midfielder and really put in a shift. Central defence did well and Byrne was superb. Worked well with Roberts.

My concern was not so much the long balls to the front men (though that of course wound me up, but given the conditions...)

but the general brainlessness of it. If you were in the DRS and heard someone screaming 'edge of the box' for most of the 2nd half, that was me... Why they felt it necessary to bang high crosses in with a central defence that was strong and a goalkeeper as good as he was, Gawd knows. Pull the bastard thing back to the edge of the box, for f***k's sake - oh look we just did, and ooh look, we've scored... So did we learn how the second goal could be scored ? Nope...

Which inevitably brings us back to Ferry being stuck on right side of midfield (OK he spent the 1st half looking lost somewhere between the wing and the middle... and ironically did better when he actually played on the right in the second half...). But jeez, KMac, if you can't see why he needs to be in the middle, you should get the next coach back to Birmingham...

Much as I was interested to see what Macca offers in midfield, right now he is clearly more suited to playing on the right and using his energy in relatively straight lines (!) At the very least he and Ferry could exchange places during a game, especially since we can offer little down the right. Or have Williams on the left and Roberts on the right.

That's the tactical moan. But given the luck {and the ref} they had, overall I felt fine about staying behind to clap the lads off. As did most people at my end of the DRS, which was good to see. But I was shocked to see how many of the Town End didnt stay behind to do so....

As for Monday, well fitness is going to play a big part if this stays tight, and Macca has clearly hurt himself - he was a giant to keep going like he did.

By far the longest running internet romance in history. Can't believe its taken so long for you both to hook up.....

To be fair not many supporters had much faith in us progressing, you can see that in the poll thread on here. It's on TV, if we get to wembley then the fans will probably come.

If we win it, they will come.

Why, oh why, is our leading scorer sat on the bench?  

How the fuck did Rooney miss that chance in the second half, how the fuck did the ref escape from the CG?  The lino was even worse, one goal kick in the second half was taken at least half a metre in front of the six yard boxm and the useless lino was level witht he 18 yard line and couldn't see it!!

I have to be honest, I wonder what McDonald is seeing.  Him and Cooper spent a good 15 minutes debating and sending several players backwards and forwards down the touchline before Collins was finally brought on.  1 sub used 10 minutes from the end when the game was crying out for some fresh legs and a bit of pace is frankly shit management.

His delay in making changes when required and general cluelessness around tactics is a major concern.  As much as I try, I'm really struggling to warm to the man.

Apart from the fact we were winning with 10 mins to go and if it wasnt for a cunt of a ref...

Touch of the MM's do you reckon Jo?

I do unfortunately.  Filling the shoes of an extrovert like Di Canio was never going to be easy, but they've gone for the total opposite and got somebody who comes across as extremely introverted, which borders on seeming almost disinterested. It's just too much of a difference, we needed something in between.

"As for our support, who wants to go to Swindon? I can't think of many worse places in the country"

This is a quote from Salford Bee.  :footinmouth:

I lot of people seem to think like this, I don't get it.

Im guessing it stems from his touchline behaviour. The last bloke we had jumped around like a kid overdosed on haribo whereas KMac seems to act like 90% of other managers to me.

Admittedly he is a dull bugger to listen to in interviews.

Very good.  :D

Be honest and admit that you haven't given him a ghost of a chance since he took over.

If football was as simple as extroverts are successful and introverts are unsuccessful then you might have a point.

It is his post and pre match interviews that are doing my head in.  His standard answer to all questions seems to be "ah well, that's football"

Even Wilson came up with better than that.

Having just seen the highlights, if you can them that, there was definately some hand to ball action going on

Blatant pen though

This - 95% probably

And this too...Rooney looked exhausted for 10-15 mins before Collins came on :-( 
[and he didnt even replace him]

I've said it 10 times and I'll say it again. It's no surprise when you take into account the fact that it was £25 for a game that was on tv. Only diehards are going to go. We had more home fans in against Oldham, Carlisle and Hartlepool. All games with reduced prices/incentives.

He was our MOTM.

Outplayed them 3 times and not won once, our luck has to change sooner or later. As long as we don't play 451 I think we will win at their place, it's fucking Brentford not Barcelona. Even though it was a low crowd the atmosphere was much better than normal. Good to see people in the side stands actually singing rather than just clapping along to songs. Why can't it be like that every week, it's really not that hard to join in.

Oh and the ref was a cunt. Good night.

Cant believe some are blaming the ref. It was a blatent pen and a needless one to give away. Utterly stupid. The fact is Brentford have the knack of not losing to us. They have a better defence and are better organised than we are. Given they have the best home record in the league a win was vital today but once again we crumbled when it mattered. Really dont fancy us at their place on Monday.

As for the crowd surely there were more than 10,500 there. All stand were full bar the arkells away section. Seems very strange to me. Reminds me of the diamond mike fake attendance days.

We should have had a penalty of our own, not contesting the Brentford one. The worst decision of the day was in the first half when Dean brought Rooney down just outside the box. Not even a foul, let alone a booking.

Seemed about right to me.

Not when you include more away fans. It was a lot more than Stevange and that was 9,500.

I think that wes really needs to practice his penaltys, instead of waiting to see wich way the players going to kick the ball he needs to try and read the player and guess. There's a high chance this could go to pens.

Brentford penalty - Although a wild challenge by Luongo, the reason it wasn't a penalty, as anyone in the Arkells could tell you, was because the ball broke towards the Brentford player felled, from Douglas's left hand and a patently deliberate control of the hand at that.

We're not talking about some incident in the build up but the last touch of the ball before Luongo's tackle.  A shocking decision?

Unfortunately the ref was not in the Arkells but was in fact perfectly obscured by Douglas himself so he could not have called the handball.  No criticism of the ref on that decision therefore.

We will however need a very decent slice of luck on Monday to make up for the other key calls that went against us in what was otherwise a shocking display by the ref.

Wait till we're in the Premier league  ;)

The fisting of DMR notwithstanding, I agree with this. Most people seem to be on a bit of a Debbie Downer and I can't see why.

We didn't play amazingly well but played reasonably well and would been good value for a one goal lead going into the second leg.

Just a couple of observations player-wise...

KMac - please in the name of all that is holy, stop playing Ferry on the right, it's killing him and it's killing me watching him. On Monday, swap Ferry and Alan Mac around and I'm sure we will look a vastly improved side. On the subject of Alan Mac, I don't think anyone's mentioned his world class tackle on the Brentford player bearing down on goal 5 minutes from time. That was fantastic.

Luongo - He's a strange one - he'll do something brilliant one minute and utterly crap the next. I thought his two major contributions summed him up really. A beautifully taken goal and a horrendously conceded penalty six (yes, count them, that's SIX) seconds from the end of stoppage time. Two of his three corners were laughably bad as well.

Whilst it was a complete kick in the balls to concede so late, I think it's probably done us a favour in terms of approaching the second leg.

In '04 when we lost the first leg 0-1 at home to Brighton, I perversely felt more confident of going down there and getting a result than if we'd won 1-0. As it was, we had to go down there and have a bit of a go and take the game to them. This is what happened and as we all know, we would have pulled it off had it not been for some random snooker player popping up in the last second and taking the tie to pens.

Had we been 1-0 up we would have gone down there and tried to be all cagey and clever like we were Juventus in the Champions League semi final and we would never even have made it to extra time. I reckon this is how we would have approached the game tomorrow had we been one up. As it is, we have to have a bit of a go, which of course is the right way to approach it.

I don't know about anyone else but I'm loving the fact that the first and second legs are so close together and we don't have 4 days to wonder what out fate is going to be. I personally think that these L1 play offs are a microcosm of the season as a whole which has been as tight as a gnat's chuff at the top end of the table. I would not be a bit surprised to see the tie decided by those dreaded pens. I hope we've been practicing.

If it gets to pens we're out. For all his strengths, when it comes to penalties Wes is no Phil Smith.

....and there manager's a fucking German.

That's not fair.  I was pleased when he was appointed and felt quite positive he'd see us across the line.  I only started to have doubts when he messed about with formations and played players out of position and I certainly wasn't alone there.  He's continued to play a loanee from Tottenham in central midfield and shoved Ferry into a position he's clearly not comfortable in.  Everyone else can see it, why can't he?  Ferry will probably play his last game for us tomorrow if fit.

I can honestly see us playing for the draw tomorrow and hoping we'll win on penalties.  Risky tactic that doesn't work.  You've only got to see how many late goals we've conceded since he took charge.


That's what the linesman is there for, but his only contribution appeared to be to award throw ins.  Utterly pathetic display by the officials.

:)

Speaking of which, player selection and tactics aside, I'm not getting this obsession some people have with KMac's perceived lack of passion or the fact that he doesn't jump up and down or wave his arms around enough.  Uwe Rosler is hardly the most demonstrative of managers but I doubt that Brentford fans are complaining.

Look at these examples...

Pensive Uwe...

[url width=470 height=300]http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/hounslowchron/jul2011/2/1/uwe-rosler-image-2-807030670.jpg[/url]

Happy Uwe...

[url width=470 height=300]http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/hounslowchron/jul2011/2/1/uwe-rosler-image-2-807030670.jpg[/url]

Sad Uwe...

[url width=470 height=300]http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/hounslowchron/jul2011/2/1/uwe-rosler-image-2-807030670.jpg[/url]

Angry Uwe...

[url width=470 height=300]http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/hounslowchron/jul2011/2/1/uwe-rosler-image-2-807030670.jpg[/url]

...and so on. You get the idea.

In KMac's defence he's pretty limited with who he can play on the right if we're criticising him for playing players out of position. I love Ferry but I can understand why KMac's picking the team as it is with the personnel at his disposal. Ferry and Luongo in the middle likely to be too lightweight. Paolo was lucky he had Richie!

I would like to think that even KMac will be more positive than that - we shall see. I agree about Ferry, it's mind blowing that he persists in playing him there. I said earlier that him and Alan Mac should swap positions.

We had spare seats all around us in the DRS, and the Arkells had loads of seats available, probably only two-thirds full in the Arkells not including the away section that, predictably, had no cunt in there.

Absolutely too lightweight. I'd liked to have seen Ferry and Luongo  swap places but it's a bit late in the day to try things out.

But we can still do this. Absolutely convinced of the fact.

I think, as has already been alluded to, people have said to themselves "OK, I can shell out £25 per ticket to go to the game or I can stay at home and watch it on Sky which I'm already paying for any way, why should I pay out even more" or if they don't get Sky, "OK, I can shell out £25 per ticket to go to the game or watch it down the pub for the price of a few pints which, even by today's astrnomical prices, will not equate to £25".

I hadn't considered that - it was a bit short sighted of me really - I probably wouldn't be a very good manager ::)

Agree though that we can do it, we can win the whole thing without any shadow of a doubt.

Caddis rolled into county ground car park post match.  I would gamble on Monday and play him on the right wing as have had no width post Ritchie.

Really?

He was milling about at the back of the Arkells at half time talking to the radio commentators.  Anyone listen on the radio?  Who were the commentators?  One of them had a flat cap on, looked familiar, but I couldn't think who he was.

Caddis can't play, he's still on loan to Birmingham.

Why have we got to accommodate Luongo?

Collins and Rooney up top, Williams on the wing, Ferry and McCormack in midfield or Williams and Rooney/Collins up top, McCormack on the wing, Ferry and Miller in midfield?

I have a feeling today is going to drag on forever. Like someone else said, i'm glad there isn't 4 or 5 days before the second leg.

I'm working on the assumption it's contractual!

Some of the comments in this thread are baffling.

We may not have played like Barcelona yesterday but we were still the better team and unfortunate to not win. We could be atrocious (which we're not) and still be likely to win provided the other team are worse (which they are). Unless Brentford improve for the next leg or we fuck up (as we did at their place in the season), I can't see them scoring.

In some peoples minds it seems Brentford= barca Bayern and we are chippenham .

I'm calling bullshit. We can still do this.

I agree we didn't play badly but when you look at their home record and our recent away results you worry about tomorrow. I still doubt we can go the whole game without making a big mistake like we did yesterday and like we have done in other away games recently. This was always my worry before the tie kicked off. We have to stay very focused and disciplined tomorrow. Also as I said earlier they have the momentum now which we would have had if we hadn't have conceded late on.

I'm with Rik Mayall. Based purely on yesterday's showing, we are more likely to get a result tomorrow than they are.  Which means not a lot, I know.  The biggest determinant of who is going to get to Wembley is probably going to be luck.

I am dreading another penalty shoot out. Got a feeling it could all the way again. If it does we'll have to hope Trotta's on fine form from the spot again.

This sums it....let's all get pissed and if the lads pull it off then yippee!

We don't have to (unless it is contractual which I doubt). He's a decent player though as shown by his goal yesterday. He's also properly match fit unlike the rest of our centre mids. The joys of being a football manager. People have moaned about playing players out of position but surely sticking Macca or even Williams (I know he's played there before) is doing exactly that.

We outplayed Brentford yesterday without being brilliant. Not a lot wrong with that IMO.

I think they will improve, I just can't see them messing up at home again like they did against Doncaster. I expect them to be far more attacking than yesterday, which won't be hard.

We've played them 3 times this season and been the better team each time, but somehow managed to lose twice and draw once.  I think that's where some of the comments and negativity derive from.

I'm buzzing for Monday...think they'll bottle it under pressure (just like they did with Donny) and we'll do them 2-0! Believe!

I'd also like to say their support was fucking shit and didn't hear them sing once all game! Then again, that's a bit hypocritical of me considering we only had 9k fans...atmosphere was good in the Town End though!

Horrible drive home last night, feeling really low.  My poor missus had 3 hours of "shit ref", "not playing the conditions", "we were the better side" etc.  

In the light of day, having read most of this thread everything's been said, however, I fail to understand with a match 2 days later why we didn't use our subs.  Admittedly, we were on top, but I thought Louongo should have been replaced, push Ferry into the middle & give L Rooney a run on the right, alternatively after the goal get Miller on for the same player.  A Rooney was knackered last 10 mins & I thought maybe Storey would have changed the dynamics a bit, not sure how the Brentford defence would have dealt with him last 10 minutes or so.

Back 4 all played well (except Devera, who is not a RB) & Roberts had a better game, I accept his crossing wasn't great, but him & Byrne are improving very game.  MoM for me was Macca, his endeavor & energy is outstanding & his block 2nd half was brilliant.

I'm still upbeat for Monday, Brentford will play more offensive, but they're no better than us & although it's at their patch, we'll get behind the Town and pull it off.    

Oh yeah, how frustrating was it that Rooney  and not Williams was the man on the end of a couple of passes that left him 1-on-1 with a defender!

I think I forgot to mention earlier but was really impressed with Byrne yesterday, got caught out of position a couple of times but he's quick enough and has the intelligence to get back in the right place to recover. Regardless of whether we're in League 1 or the Championship next season I think he can only improve.

And I don't understand the criticism Flint has received on here lately, he looked very solid yesterday alongside Ward - has he been much worse or am I just being selective?

Spot on. As I say they are better organised than us and know how to limit our chances. They did it very well in the league game here this season and played the same tactics again yesterday and surprise surprise they got what they wanted. We need to play very well tomorrow as they'll set up to be a bit more open and attacking at home.

Changes will be crucial Monday. Brentford have the likes of Sam Saunders, Harry Forrester and Marcello Trotta likely to come into the side who are all very handy players for League 1, Forrester in particular is attracting interest from bigger clubs.

I think we will see Navarro come in to the side, I fear Kmac may shut up shop early doors and we will be in for an onslaught.

Storey could be crucial late on against tired legs.

Collins should come in for one of the forwards and unfortunately I think we may see De Vita start. Although saying that, yesterday would have been the perfect time to bring him on at 1-0 up as his best attribute out wide is giving the full back good cover.

I really wish people would stop going on about Ferry playing out wide, our lack of activity in the loan market (hindered by embargo) to bring in a winger is to blame for that.

I thought Gary Roberts was impressive yesterday and the only player who looked like creating a chance for our strikers.

It's going to be tough but we are visiting Griffin Park not the Nou Camp. Be typical Swindon to go there and give them a thumping.

I guess the fact I didn't see either of the league games doesn't add much weight to my opinion but I really believe that we were the better team yesterday and we have a decent chance tomorrow.

It's a nice feeling knowing that a win is basically a bonus and losing isn't going to be anywhere near as gut wrenching as 2004 or 2010.

I think two things will define the result.
First of all they're a dirty cheating bunch of cunts and if we get a decent ref who stops them leaving the foot / elbow / any other part of their body in then I would be confident.
Secondly if flint / ward can keep Donaldson quiet again then we've got every chance.
I also think there is a weight of expectation on them now and are they up to it.

Worried before the start we would not be in the game....needed a bit of luck and a decent ref ( first timer on play offs apparently ) but we took the game to them. Rooney is never going to be a prolific scorer and neither is Williams...the team will be gutted by penalty so late but surely the power is with us to go on and win this game....keep the faith and get off their backs....

Scrappy game of football. Brentford are a frustrating team. Their keeper was time wasting from the off, personally I thought on the few occasions they got the ball forward on the ground they looked quite dangerous.

For us, plenty of effort, macca was so fired up and that challenge to save a clear goal was worth a goal itself. I thought luongo was poor, great goal from a lovely move though. Byrne is a Thompson mk 2, only missing 1 challenge the whole game. Ward is a monster but I think he gets away with murder sometimes, their was a blatant push which he somehow got away with in the second half when he realised the ref wasn't going to penalise him!! Williams is an enigma, I thought he played quite well and got in some good positions, if only he could put the fucking thing in the onion bag!

All to play for Monday. Brentford of course have the edge with the last minute pen but we can do it. Think it could be settled on pens!! (I correctly predicted 1-1 yesterday!!) :)

But that included all season ticket holders, regardless of whether they turned up or not. There were probably more people in the ground yesterday, but unless every season ticket holder bought a ticket, they wouldn't all be in the counted in the attendance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Opu9ohET4

Funny end to the game at Huddersfield

I'm not Flint's biggest fan but he was very good yesterday.

I'm very hungover.

That's about it really.

Managed to watch a recording of the game at 10pm last night without having heard anything about the game or result. My thoughts are:

- We dominated the game and should have come away with a comfortable win. But, not for the first time, we 'huffed and puffed' but have no quality whatsoever in front of goal
- Luongo was poor other than a great finish for the goal. He's probably cost us the tie with that stupid and unnecessary challenge at the end
- The penalty shouts at both ends were 50/50 calls. We would have been disappointed if any had been given against us
- It worried me how threatening Brentford looked in the last 5 mins. We will not be able to stand that for 90 mins at their place. Apart from that we looked very solid at the back
- Their keeper looked very good. They defended corners very well.
- I thought Roberts looked lively and dangerous in midfield but with little end product. Our corners and crossing was dreadful, but that might have been due to the wind.
- How Williams did not make it 2-1 at the stroke of full time I'll never know.

At the end of the game I felt physically sick. It was a nervy game but we should have put the tie out of sight. The fact that we didn't shows our attacking frailties. If we had a Parkin, Austin, Paynter, Fjortoft, Quinn, Bamber, White, Mayes, Rowland or the like in the side we would run up a cricket score. In fact, we would have been having a promotion party a few weeks ago! I thought Brentford would have been better than that and much more dangerous on the break. Not sure if they weren't because they were concentrating on defence or whether we defended so well that we snuffed out their threat. If we can do the same at Griffin Park I will be pleasantly surprised.  

Where I think that we may fall down is that we'll have to score at least 2 at their place as I can't see us being able to defend a single goal lead if we get one. (Brentford, however, look as if they could). So, can we score twice in the second leg?

I spent 11 hours working a wedding reception last night, so I've missed all this.

Reading back through is, well, confusing (as always), but if I might try and boil the match down into some quick points people can tell me whether the impression I've got is right or not.

1) HOOOOOOOFBALLLLL!

2) Shit Officials

3) Kmac doesn't like substitutions

4) Brentford are dirty cheating cunts, it shouldn't have gone to the penalty because Douglas is a twat.

5) We played better, but not at our best. (kind of ties in with the first impression)

6) Nobody can agree on which players were good, but Roberts can't cross for jack shit, and Luongo is being made out as the villain of the piece.

On a side note, is there any way I can see the game? Sky Go Catch Up On Demand Player or whatever they call it?

Collins for Rooney is a must - can't leave our top scorer on the bench for 75 mins.

Williams must play - even if he is at his most frustrating it forces their defenders to worry about him.

These late goals we concede is very worrying - talk about all piss and panic at the back.

When we go 1-up tomorrow everyone (players included) will be waiting for the inevitable cock-up leading to a goal.

Ferry's hamstring looked to be a bit of a problem yesterday - hope he is fine for Monday.

I take heart from the fact we pissed all over them at Griffin Park for the majority of the game - surely we can't fuck it up again!

I think Rooney has to play as he is our most natural finisher.

Am expecting Williams to have a better game tomorrow as i cant see Brentford sitting back at home.  Williams should be able to find more space. 

Be interesting to see what formation we play, as our away record recently has been awful !

Answered between your comments:

Williams does seem to play better away from home to be fair. Id like to see a 4-4-2 but i think it will be 4-5-1 again. It didnt do us any harm yesterday.

Ta NMH. RE:Penalty, it does sound from description like it was a clear one, I was talking about how the build up play apparently should have been stopped two or three times due to fouls committed.

I really don't understand waiting till the last ten minutes to swap out a player who you're trying to keep fit though. Not using all the availiable subs when we have a game on Monday seems almost masochistic to me too. Obviously we don't have many central midfield options with Ferry being bubble-wrapped, Navarro having just come back after injury, and Tommy Miller's legs having gone, but there's still Luke Rooney, Collins, De Vita (and I suppose Storey) on the bench who could have come on and given some attacking players a rest, or rotated them to a different position so someone else could have come off.

I'm not a hater or anything, I think he'll be a good manager once he's had a summer with the players and building his own team instead of chucked in at the deep end with a threadbare team that is struggling to finish the season without collapsing inwardly because  of injuries, but Kmac doesn't seem to like substitutions, and that worries me slightly.

I'd be happy with 4-5-1 if it meant tucking Ferry inside a bit and pushing Roberts further up with Williams playing the opposite flank.  We are struggling to get two wide players in a 4-4-2 and while Williams could be used in 4 man midfield, you'd probably only want to do that towards the end if pushing on.

Not feeling all the love for Williams. I watched him a lot during the Stevenage game instead of following the ball esp when town on the attack. He just doesnt offer himself as an option/outlet. his finishing is woeful and dread to think what his shots to goals ratio is.He does posses pace but not seen it in any evidence last couple of months, his confidence is shot which is maybe why his best performances are away from the critical home fans. Personally I would play Collins and Rooney up front tomorrow and use Storey as replacement. The right side needs an overhaul as the devera/ferry combo doesnt provide anything up that flank. Player wise we are down to the bare bones and options are limited but would like to see L Rooney have a run out down that flank. He will take men on and with Roberts on the left should provide some width.What was lacking yesterday was pace on the break - gave them time to get back in numbers.

To be fair we bypassed the midfield a lot anyway Saturday playing hoofball. I know the conditions were windy but ffs play the thing on the floor. To our strengths. We moan about every other pitch up and down league one as not being conducive for playing our game yet when at home on the best ptich in the league go the aerial route. Their keeper had a near 100% collection rate for crosses and the only time we did make it count was a cut back to the edge of the box.

We had some utter morons in the row behind yesterday. Rooney missed that first chance and was branded 'useless'.

Anyone would think that James Collins was the messiah, the way they were banging on about how he should have been starting!

Felt sorry for some Brentford fans after the game. They looked like One Direction, and we told them the best way to go to the train station without being attacked.

That's the problem with all seaters - especially with a ST

Stuck with whoever is around you for the whole season.

And wherever you sit there is always a bloke who knows everything about everything and is not backward in telling everybody

Kind of like on here then.

The old chap and his friends who sit in the row behind us weren't there yesterday, which was slightly strange as they're all season ticket holders.  It was strange not hearing the incessant babble and moaning that comes out of his mouth and in a funny sort of way, I quite missed it.

RESPECT MAH AUTHORATAH!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=gx4jn77VKlQ&NR=1

I found it odd that the 2 seats next to me & the 2 in front in the DRS were empty, for the 1st time this season?  They are not ST holders seats & when I tried online to buy one for my lad they weren't available?  Strange.  Also, got told to sit down by a steward (I'm at the back), I explained that I never sit down & haven't all season, then duly sat down, because I felt sorry for the lad.  Obviously stood up as soon as he left.

K mac go for the throat on mon as you will get more respect from the fans for doing so.We don't do the safety first shit and make the subs earlier please in case you did not know we are allowed 3.Roberts -please tackle and don't take the extra touch prove PDc wrong about the tippy tippy.Luongo you got a great goal but mom no chance but make sure you and the whole team don't take 35mins to crunch a 50/50(flint or ward were mom)k mac don't even bother to put miles as sub if you are not prepared to use him.ferry and macca to swap please if you don't agree k mac watch the games back the fans are not stupid.

And finally JED you got abused in the tap and barrel.What really is your game mate.Saving the football family of stfc?
Answer the questions honestly can we only afford the youths hence kmac s history but be fucking honest please because we will accept the truth so long as we have a club
 
Finally to the playeeeeers we are so fucking proud of you so do your best as that's all we do and can ask of you

 :-[
I think you answered what is wrong with Williams. He is dangerous, and can score goals (I know, I know). But he's not offering himself or doing what he was doing simply because his confidence is down, he's gone hiding a bit to protect himself.

I still think he is our match winner.


I must be stupid. As I said earlier Ferry and Luongo in the middle, Douglas would piss himself and run the show.

I respect your opinion batch but jd was invisible yesterday we know he's good at times but really it's time to go for the throat.Alway better to give it some even if we go out fighting!

Wouldn't be so bad if we were free scoring we could afford for Williams to hide but we aren't, we aren't even creating the chances we were earlier in the season

As Ferry is not working out on the right I would have used L Rooney out wide, keep macca in the centre or midfield is too weak.
Tho that would imply an attack minded formation  :zipped:

Nothing would please me more than for Williams to pop up and score the winner tomorrow but cant see it, still am often wrong so who knows

When is the last time Williams scored?

9 March (that's 2013 !)  Home to Walsall (2-2).

He'll score tomorrow then. Can someone bring along some flares tomorrow, some pyrotechnics would be good for the atmosphere.

This. Absolutely this.

Oh, and anyone who wants Ferry and Luongo playing together in the middle wasn't at Brammall Lane...

The first few games Williams looked excellent and we regarded him as unlucky in front of goal. He also looked a lot stronger. As the season has gone on, he's not unlucky in front of goal, just crap. Also his workrate has reduced and any time a player challenges him he goes to ground. Hiis body language is fucking awful, like he expects things to go wrong.
He's got it there to be a good Championship player but mentally he's Sunday league.
Him and Roberts have been the two biggest disappointments this season.
Hopefully now they'll shove those comments up my arse.

was on fire v Tranmere with 2 goals but still hit the most timid penalty ever for what could have been a hat trick.  Wouldn't fancy him in a penalty shoot out.  Lets hope we - and he - can settle matters beforehand

Agreed! I'd try Luongo, out wide.

We weren't great but the bees were fucking shit. Still reckon we can  do it.

Strange when luongo scored the goal. Brilliantly taken but I thought he was wank all match apart from that. Fucked up multiple free kicks and corners and generally gave the ball away too much. Ward and Devera I thought were also god awful when playing the ball. I thought they'd swapped their boots for sand wedges the amount of times the managed to scoop the ball into the air just passing it. Glad I was some way up the stands or I'd be nursing some neck ache otherwise.

Aside from that though I thought we weren't too bad, and although the final ball or finish is often lacking, I still think Roberts and Williams make things happen. I thought the difference between the left and right side when we were on the ball was night and day with Byrne and Roberts natural wingers and ferry and Devera not. I'd give luongo a go on the right just to get ferry in the middle tomorrow with macca still buzzing about next to him.

Brentford must be feeling sheepish to still be level gong into the second leg but all the pressure is on them now. I just hope we go hell for leather tomorrow and try and scare the shit out of them, from what I've seen we've still got the better quality on the ball and are more likely to produce something special than them.

2-0 second leg to us.