Brentford 0 - 2 Swansea

Last updated : 14 May 2006 By Smallsy
With hopes high after a 1-1 draw away at the White Rock Stadium, Brentford returned to Griffin Park full of hope ahead of their second leg tie with Swansea. The winner knowing that they would have a chance to fight for a place in Cardiff and with the tie tightly balanced a mistake or a piece of genious could give them their moment of fame.


As it turned out, Brentford's performance was far below that expected by the manager and Martin Allen, from the moment Leon Knight scored a sumptuous chip the supporters knew it wasnt going to be their day.

Doubling his tally with an impressive second Knight's goals effectively settled the tie as Brentford offered very little in the way of an attacking threat and gave the fans little to shout about.

A massive crowd inside Griffin Park did their best to cheer the Bees on but as it ended it was Swansea and their huge away support who were left dreaming of a trip to Cardiff and once more Brentford stumbled towards another end of season disapointment.

Brentford's players did their final lap of honour of the season and trudged off the pitch led by their manager Martin Allen who for the second season in a row was left to wonder what might have been.

What the manager said?
Martin Allen was proud of his players despite the defeat,

"The players did all they could and on the day it wasnt to be."

"We got off to a bad start and that didn't help, but we didn't create enough chances to give ourselves a chance and in the changing room the players are disapointed because they feel that the game was there to be won."


Allen said,

"We felt that we approached the game in a positive manner and we learnt from last years games with Sheffield Wednesday that it's important to be concentrated the whole 90 minutes. Unfortunately that late goal on Wednesday night appeared to suck the life out of us."

The manager however did state,

"We've come a long way this year and now it's time for the players to go an enjoy a break and come back refreshed. Of course changes will be made but the players can be proud of everything they've done this year and we'll be back to have another crack at it next season"

What the players said?

Understandably all the players involved were upset that their season had come to such an abrupt end,

"It's a real blow," said Sam Sodje

"I felt we had a great chance with the result we got on Thursday but unfortunatly it wasnt to be"

Stuart Nelson echoed his thoughts,

"We were undone by the early goals and we couldn't seem to make any head way in the attacking zone. They didnt threaten much in the second half but we just couldnt unlock their defence to score that vital goal."

What the fans said?
Fans leaving Griffin Park were upset and disapointed with the way their side performed today but one told me,

"It's come from a long spell of poor performances. Today wasn't great and consistency has been a problem in the last two months of the season."

"Congratulations to Swansea, I think they'll go up now but I so felt that it was finally to be Brentford's year."