Brentford-Mad.co.uk Season Review 2005/06 - March

Last updated : 31 July 2006 By Smallsy
After a traumatic February had seen Brentford lose their way in the League and beaten in the FA Cup by Charlton it was time for Martin Allen's men to regroup and start re-focusing on gaining promotion to the Championship.


Impressive performances had seen Birmingham snatch DJ Campbell away from the club but with Turner shining, Tabb pulling the strings in midield and the loaned talent of Darren Pratley helping the club to push forward it seemed clear that with two games in hand, six points gained from those games would push them back towards the top of the table.

Sitting in foruth place at the start of March, Brentford's first task was to overcome a struggling Yeovil side away from Griffin Park. With the Glovers fighting at the wrong end of the table and the bees looking for the points to push them closer to Southend and Colchester it took a battling performance from the away side to come away with anything.

As it was an Alex Rhodes goal on the hour mark was enough to lift the bees past their opponents as he added to a Rankin goal in the first period to give Brentford a much needed win and a very much needed three points as for the first time in two months the club jumped back into the automatic promotion positions.

The following Saturday, Brentford faced off against Barnsley who were looking to keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a win. It wasnt to be for the Yorkshire side as the bees brushed past their opponents with a sweeping 3-1 win at home. Now full of confidence the side started to show exactly what they could do and since the win over Southend in the previous month, it was as though some confidence had returned.

An early goal from Ricky Newman gave the bees an excellent start before Owusu added to the tally before half time. Barnsley pulled one back in the second half but a second from Owusu, who was seemingly thriving since being given the main target man role, was enough to secure three points in the race for promotion.

Seemingly though as with all Brentford's little streaks during the season, their run was to come to an end in untimely fashion. Having failed to win three games in a row since the seond month of the season the bees failed to capitalize on their current good run and were beaten 2-1 away by Swansea on a Friday night in Wales.

With Brentford's rivals not playing until the Saturday and with Swansea suffering from some poor form themselves, it was disapointing that the club could not take advantage of the situation. Despite a heroic performance from goalkeeper Stuart Nelson goals from Akinfenwa and Robinson late on were enough to cancel out a Frampton goal on the 30 minute mark.

With hopes of automatic promotion once more dented the Bees had to pick themselves up before another game in hand to be played three days later once more away from Griffin Park.
Sadly for Brentford, it wasnt to be and another game in hand went to waste as the club were supprisingly defeated 3-2 by a nine man Gillingham team in need of a win.

The club appeared to be stuttering once more in their bid to gain promotion as an early goal from Sancho was equalised by Michael Turner ten minutes later. Byfield scored crucially on half time before adding a second in the second period, Jay Tabb instantly replied for the bees but it wasnt enough to help send Brentford back into the automatic promotion places.

Back to Griffin Park it was for Brentford who were now in desperate need of a win. It wasnt forthcoming however and the bees slipped to yet another frustating home defeat with Sean Thornton scoring the winning goal in the second half. Sliding to 6th, their lowest position of the year, it was clear that Martin Allen and his troops had to start finding form before they were overtaken by their close rivals.

The final game of the month gave them a chance as they battled against an MK Dons side rooted to the bottom of the League. The game itself was an edgy encounter as both sides feared that defeat could cost them dearly. Through Lloyd Owusu however the bees managed to get a 1-0 win and give them hope travelling into the final two months of the season.

After such a turbulent run of games and suffering three League defeats for the first time under Martin Allen's leadership it was time for the club to refocus and aim high as March ended and April began.