It was a warm Easter Monday afternoon as Brentford took on Peterborough in
front of 6,341 fans at Griffin Park, London.
Martin Allen made four changes from the side that lost to Blackpool.
Andrew Frampton was struck down with flu, Deon Burton suspended for
picking up a red card at Blackpool. Chris Hargreaves was injured. Jay Tabb
was on the bench after playing 90 minutes in Israel for the Republic of
Ireland Under 21s. Michael Dobson, Eddie Hutchinson, Stephen Hunt and
Scott P. Fitzgerald being drafted in.
The game started positively with Sam Sodje heading wide and Mark Tyler had
to be alert to stop a Stephen Hunt volley. After this the game became a
more midfield battle. Peterborough's back five were able to soak up the
Brentford pressure. Peterborough only were able to create a couple of
chances from Curtis Woodhouse. One went over the bar and the other was
blocked by Sam Sodje. Curtis Woodhouse was booked for a poor challenge on
Stephen Hunt.
The game then ended up petering out until half time with the score at 0-0.
Martin Allen then decided that Jay Tabb would come on in place of Stephen
Hunt. This turned the game in Brentford's favour.
Shortly after the half-time interval Andy Legg brought down Isaiah Rankin.
Andy Legg was booked for not retreating ten yards at a set play. Isaiah
Rankin was then booked along with Shane Huke for having a scuffle off the
ball. Despite the yellow card Peterborough did not look 10 yards back.
Brentford did not make great use of the free-kick.
Darren Pratley launched a 20 yard shot except it was blocked by Sean St.
Ledger which went out for a corner. From Jay Tabb's corner Michael Turner
was adjudged to have fouled Andy Legg.
Then came the most controversial moment of the game. Isaiah Rankin, after
a great Sam Sodje through ball, fired a cross which Christopher Kanu
deflected past his own keeper into the net. However the linesman and the
referee had adjudged Rankin to have taken the ball out of play.
Eddie Hutchinson was adjudged to have fouled Sean St. Ledger. Paul Danson
deemed this to be a yellow card offence.
Brentford continued to up the pressure on Peterborough with Darren Pratley
at the centre of it all and Isaish Rankin at the end of the moves. Rankin
volleyed over the bar and had a shot blocked by Sean St. Ledger. Eddie
Hutchinson had a header saved. Kevin O'Connor shot wide and Talbot had a
shot which went over the bar after Dobson's free kick was blocked.
Peterborough made only one meaningful attack with Fola Onibuje. He out
muscled Sam Sodje and Darren Pratley. However Stuart Nelson saved his shot
and Michael Turner blocked Wayne Purser's rebound.
Christopher Kanu and Fola Onibuje both received yellow cards for bad
tackles on Isaiah Rankin and Sam Sodje respectively. This meant that
Peterborough face an FA fine for having five yellow cards in a game.
Brentford threw everything at Peterborough and Martin Allen brought on
Ryan Peters to try and break the deadlock. Isaiah Rankin had two goal
bound efforts blocked. Sam Sodje had a header cleared off the line by Mark
Arber after a long Stuart Nelson free-kick.
There was a sour note at the end when Stuart Talbot went down after a
clash of heads. Blood was gushing from his head except despite Mark Tyler'
s admirable efforts to get the referee's attention.
The game ended 0-0 with Peterborough happier with the point than
Brentford. Brentford can rue the decision by Paul Danson to disallow the
goal.
Teams:
Brentford
Stuart Nelson, Michael Dobson, Sam Sodje, Michael Turner, Kevin O''Connor,
Eddie Hutchinson (Y) (Ryan Peters 74), Stuart Talbot, Darren Pratley,
Scott P Fitzgerald, Isaiah Rankin (Y), Steven Hunt (Jay Tabb h/t)
Subs Not Used: Ademole Bankole, Andy Myers, Scott B Fitzgerald,
Peterborough
Mark Tyler, Andy Legg (Y), Sean St. Ledger, Mark Arber, Christopher Kanu
(Y), Curtis Woodhouse (Y), Steve Thomson, Shane Huke (Y), Mark Coulson,
Calum Willock (Fola Onibuje 57 (Y)), Andy Clarke (Wayne Purser 57)
Subs Not Used: Andre Boucaud, Ryan Semple, Ahmed Deen
Possession:
Brentford 49% - 51% Peterborough
Shots:
Brentford 10 - 3 Peterborough
Corners:
Brentford 6 - 0 Peterborough
Fouls:
Brentford 13 - 21 Peterborough
Bookings:
Brentford 2 - 5 Peterborough