Massive result and magnificent team performance, surely our best and most important victory of the season. Brentford were unbeaten in 13, had only lost once at home and had not been defeated since October, yet we were worthy winners. It really does not get much better ! Brentford had a fair amount of possesssion, but we had all the quality in the final third.
The game started at a hell of a pace, with our bold 4-4-2 making the match very open. The foootball from both teams in the first twenty minutes was the best I have seen from two sides in League One this season, with both teams having chances, our best for Akpro (on fire today) who burst down the left hand side and had his shot blocked by their keeper's legs. Fortunately, midway through the first half the match settled down and became cagier; my heart could not have withstood a game as end to end as that.
We started to get a grip at the back while hitting them on the counter, and the penalty duly came after some brilliant link up play between Akpro and Amooo who was left clean through and was hacked down by their defender.
We actually started the second half brightly, but five minutes in conceded a stupid free kick on the edge of the box (after we lost possession from our own corner); the ball was lumped in and Bidwell (I think) was left with a free header three yards out. 1-1.
At that point I feared the worst, but credit the players for the fantastic commitment and quality they showed to fight back. McGurk's goal was a brilliant solo effort and a fiitting winner. We continued to look the more dangerous team, while Brentford's only real threat came from set plays, ably assisted by a useless, homer of a referee who gave us nothing all day apart from the penalty and inexplicably awarded 7 minutes of stoppage time.
We kept our defensive shape brilliantly and I don't recall Brentford having a shot from open play in the second half. Everybody played well today, but the three outstanding players were Akpro (back to his very best and tormented them with his pace and skill all afternoon); McGurk (majestic performance and fast becoming one of our key players) and Taylor (a colossus again and on his way to becoming our Tony Adams).
As Mart mentions, the only downer was Akpro's injury which did look like a broken rib. Unbelievably unlucky if he is out for any length of time again.
If it was not for the horrendous injuries we have suffered this season I think we would already be walking this division; at our best, there is not a team that can live with us.