Three Points for the Bees

Brentford 2 - Tranmere 1

Brentford grabbed all three points at the death with an injury time winner from Leon Legge.

The match started with a bang as Saunders crossed from the left for Charlie Mac to head in the opener with barely a minute on the clock.

Brentford had the best of the early period passing and moving with speed and intent. Dave was the driving force and was often storming up the pitch with the ball at his feet.

Tranmere are a big, powerful side and started to get stuck in and stop us playing. Some of their tackles were a little on the fruity side and when they got the ball they'd use it quickly to release Showumni and Labadie up front.

Richard Lee had to make some very good saves but could do nothing about Labadie's thunderous equaliser from 25 yards into the top corner of the net. This came halfway through the second half while Bean was down injured and Brentford were calling for the game to stop. The referee was making some strange decisions in favour of the visitors but that just seemed to egg on the fans and players.

A barnstorming finish saw a gilt-edged opportunity for Karleigh to crash home a header which just went wide but in added on time Saunders, again on the left, whipped in a deep cross for Leon to power inside the keeper's near post. Cue much happiness.

A word for the new boy Robbie Neilson. Big chested but with John Halls type hair. He seems strong and powerful with a long throw. He was turned by a Tranmere forward in the first half right in front of goal but quickly put in a lovely tackle before the striker could shoot.

Dave was the engine of the team, Saunders buzzing and effective. Bakayogo came on after 32 minutes at left back for Tranmere and very much shored up that side, leaving Saunders to move to Brentford's left and Myles to take a hit for the team against a very good player. But as both goals came from a Saunders cross from the left it all came good.

Man of the Match will have to be Richard Lee for a couple of great stops.

Although we played well, with lots of vigour and nice football, we didn't create that many clear chances but we just about deserved the win against a decent, big Tranmere side.

Brentford: Lee; Neilson, Legge, Osborne, Woodman; Saunders, Bean, Diagouraga, Weston (sub Grabban 80 mins); MacDonald (sub Simpson 73 mins), Alexander

Subs (not used): Moore, Balkestein, Byrne, Tudur Jones, Bignall

With thanks to beesotted for their match report

February 23, 2011