Swindon Town FC v Brentford FC Official Matchday Thread

[Batch]

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!

[sonicyouth]

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?

[Iffy's Onion Bhaji]

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.

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.

[Dr Pierre Chang]

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.

[sonicyouth]

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.

[chalkies_shorts]

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.

[Bathtime]

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....

[Bob's Orange]

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!!)

[Bukkake Regiment]

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

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.

[FormerlyPlymRed]

Funny end to the game at Huddersfield

[Bukkake Regiment]

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?

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

[SuggWillSugg MBE]

I'm very hungover.

That's about it really.

[Nomoreheroes]

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?

[Honkytonk]

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?

[kerry red]

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!