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Match report |
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Brentford 0-2 Swansea (agg 1-3) | |
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Brentford 0-2 Swansea (agg 1-3) - Report by Nigel Gigg - Match Pictures by Andrew Thomas
 My younger daughter, Sophie, was unable to attend being unable to change her shift at Clark's, for her 4 hour a week part time job. I'm afraid I would have thrown a sickie or told Mr Clark to stick his shoes where the sun doesn't shine, but it seems that some of the youth of today are more honest and more prepared to make sacrifices than their parents. So after following the Swans through thick and thin poor Sophie missed out on the end of season climax at Brentford. The ground at Griffin Park has changed somewhat since my last visit with the away fans now being at the opposite end of the ground to previously. The seated away area resembled a cow barn with cramped ancient seats and rusting corrugated sheets all around. Still if you're surrounded by Jacks you never mind where you are.  Brentford after bringing so few fans to our stadium did little better at their own with a crowd of only 10,652 which included 3,500 travelling Swans fans. The empty seats highlighted why in support terms alone why Swans so deserve to go up more than Brentford. Kenny Jackett made the one anticipated change with Shaun MacDonald making way for Kris O'Leary as Kenny sought to 'beef up' his midfield to compete with Brentford's physical approach. Side- Gueret, Tate, Monk, Austin, Ricketts, Britton, Jones, O'Leary, Robinson, Fallon, Knight. Subs- Murphy, Williams, Forbes, Trundle, Akinfenwa. The game started in a more subdued atmosphere than perhaps one would expect as a result no doubt of the early kick off. Brentford had an early chance after just 20 seconds when Jamie Smith had a shot from 15 yards which he thankfully didn't get hold of and Willy Gueret made an easy save. Swans looked determined not to give up the midfield battle with some fierce tackles early on and looked ready to fight for everything with a couple of Brentford efforts blocked by Swans players prepared to put their bodies in where it hurts.  On seven minutes, after surviving Brentford's initial storm Swans took the lead. A long clearance from Willy was missed by both Rory Fallon and Brentford's Sodje. The ball bounced once and the defender looked odds on to clear but Leon Knight bravely went in and lifted the ball over Stuart Nelson in the Brentford goal and into the net. It was a real striker's goal and Knight's celebrations showed just how important goals are to him. The celebrations of the Swans fans also showed just how important that goal could be for Swansea City. Brentford came straight back at the Swans but they were reliant on athleticism and power which the Swans seemed prepared to match. Andy Robinson became the first player booked after 2 awful challenges inside a minute both of which could have produced a red card. Swans then struck again on 15 minutes with another goal of super quality. It started with Kris O'Leary making a stray pass on the half way line. Brentford's full back Andy Frampton intercepted and then gave the ball to Leon Britton after his attempted pass inside came off his standing leg. Leon took one touch and played a sublime ball forward picking out a run by Leon Knight.  He had a defender on both shoulders but one touch left both for dead and put the ball in perfect position for a strike on goal. The strike on goal was clinical and left Nelson clutching at thin air as Knight's shot from the edge of the box flew into the top corner. The finish was Premiership quality and was celebrated in Premiership style by the Swans fans. Brentford now looked somewhat forlorn and Swans defenders seemed to grow in confidence with the two goal cushion. Martin Allen reacted by removing midfielder Ricky Newman and bringing on a third striker in Calum Willock. The change did little for Brentford as an attacking force as Swans now seemed to gain control of the midfield. Swans were prepared to let Brentford have the bulk of possession but still had the best efforts on goal in the remainder of the first half with Rory Fallon having two great opportunities. Willy Gueret had been the busier of the keepers but had not really been called into action to make a serious save, and Swans were good value for the 2-0 half time score.  Brentford made their last substitutions at half time with left back Andy Frampton replaced by Sam Tillen and Jamie Smith replaced by Paul Brooker. Brentford's first real strike on goal came on 55 minutes when a free kick from just outside the area by Kevin O'Connor was well saved by Willy. Swans began to sit deeper and deeper but contained Brentford to the occasional shot. Leon Knight hobbled off on 67 minutes to be replaced by Adrian Forbes and Andy Robinson also limped off 7 minutes later to be replaced by Tom Williams and Swans now played a 4-5-1 formation but were not under the sort of pressure you would have expected. Swans had a couple of half chances to finish the game off but looked content with the two goal lead. Rory Fallon, who had run his legs off as the lone striker, made way for Lee Trundle with 5 minutes to go.  The 5 minutes added by the referee Mr Laws brought no scares as Swans completed a highly professional job on Brentford to secure their place in the League One play off final. I and many others felt cheated at full time as the Metropolitan Police decided to enforce a no-go zone for 40 yards from the Swans fans behind the goal, with a line of 6 police horses lined up across the pitch between 2 lines of police each with around 30 officers. The players and fans were kept 40 yards apart and unable to enjoy any form of celebration. It was heavy handed and unwarranted and nothing that had happened all day could account for such actions. It left a sour taste on what had been a Champagne performance.  Ratings- Gueret 8 - What he had to do he did well. Tate 9 - Mr Cool in defence again and superb throughout. Monk 9 - Battled and led from the front or back in his case. Austin 8 - Brentford had nobody with pace required to worry big Kev. He'll never let anybody down in a physical battle. Ricketts 8 - Excellent all afternoon. Did blot his copybook with a few wayward passes. Britton 8- The vision he showed for the first goal was incredible. Jones8 - Hard working display. O'Leary 9 - Never let any Brentford player settle on the ball in midfield. Robinson 8- Calmed down after his booking and looked a better player then. Knight 10 - Two goals of the highest quality. Fallon 8 - Again had little change in the aerial exchanges but ran his heart out all afternoon. Subs- Forbes 8 - Helped shore things up. Williams 8 - Did really well and got forward to support both Fallon and Trundle. Trundle 8- Helped frustrate Brentford late on with his control and holding of the ball. Finally, a thanks to the staff at Clarks for allowing Sophie to spend most of the afternoon in the stockroom with the radio. Brentford 0-2 Swansea (agg 1-3) - Report BBCi
Knight's goals were the difference between the two teams  Rory Fallen missed an excellent chance to extend the Swans lead, heading wide. Swans keeper Willy Gueret saved a curling free-kick from Kevin O'Connor and two long-distance shots from Isaiah Rankin as Brentford rallied. Swansea had not won at Griffin Park in their previous 14 visits, a run that stretched back to 1977.  But Kenny Jackett's side, who were held to a 1-1 draw in the opening leg of the tie, will now make their second trip to the Millennium Stadium this season after winning the Football League trophy in April. The result brings to an end a disappointing finish to the campaign for Brentford, who narrowly missed out on automatic promotion after drawing six of their last seven games of the regular season. Brentford, who lost to Sheffield Wednesday at the same stage last year, have now been unsuccessful in six end-of-season play-off campaigns. It might have been very different for Brentford if Jamie Smith had converted a good chance after just 20 seconds. The ball broke to Smith on the edge of the area but he made a poor contact and his shot was comfortably saved. A series of crunching tackles followed as both teams looked to take control - but Knight's brace soon ensured that Swansea were firmly in command. The opener came after Fallon got the slightest of flick-ons to Willy Gueret's long ball forward and Knight then hooked the ball over Nelson with his outstretched right leg.  The second, with 15 minutes gone, was a brilliant finish - Knight smashing the ball past Nelson with his second touch after controlling Leon Britton's excellent through ball. Bees boss Martin Allen brought on Callum Willock for Ricky Newman after 24 minutes as he looked to manufacture a change of fortune. Jay Tabb shot wide and Alex Rhodes forced Gueret into action but the Swans continued to pose the greater goal threat and Fallon should have extended their lead before the break only to head wide when completely unmarked. Allen made a further two substitutions at half-time, introducing Paul Brooker and Sam Tillen - and his team enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure as they tried to force their way back into the tie. Gueret saved a free-kick from Kevin O'Connor and a strike from Rankin, while Willock headed over from a Brooker cross.  Rankin forced another save from Gueret late on before Swansea almost extended their lead after hitting Brentford on the break but Tom Williams could not keep his effort on target. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brentford manager Martin Allen: "We have a lot of good players out of contract, and we go from this game into making decisions about players' careers. "I will settle down on Monday, meet my staff and make decisions about players. "I've no complaints about the result. Swansea were stronger than us and Leon Knight produced two quality finishes." Swansea manager Kenny Jackett: "It was a battling performance. Griffin Park is a difficult place to come to and we handled it well. "We have withstood the pressure, there were holes to break into and we could have done better in the second half. "But I cannot complain and I am now looking forward to the final - I am delighted to be there." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brentford: Nelson, O'Connor, Sodje, Turner, Frampton (Tillen 45), Smith (Brooker 45), Newman (Willock 23), Pratley, Tabb, Rhodes, Rankin. Subs Not Used: Bankole, Hutchinson. Booked: Rankin. Swansea: Gueret, Tate, Austin, Monk, Ricketts, Britton, O'Leary, Tudur-Jones, Robinson (Williams 74), Knight (Forbes 67), Fallon (Trundle 85). Subs Not Used: Murphy, Akinfenwa. Booked: Robinson, Fallon.            |
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