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Swansea City will have to do it the hard way after a tense night at White Rock saw the game end 1-1 and that only thanks to the late deflection that saw Sam Ricketts shot elude the Bees sub keeper and hit the back of the net.
We all knew we were never going to ‘do a Watford’ and virtually sew up the tie in the first leg but the way that we failed to compete in the first half was a bitter disappointment to a stadium containing in excess of 18,000 Swansea fans.
Following last week’s 4-0 rout at Chesterfield and a much improved performance last time at home, there was genuine expectation around the ground pre match that a second trip of the season to Cardiff beckoned. Having only secured play off status on the last day of the season was momentum with us ahead of the Bees who had missed out on a top two spot just five days previous. Unsurprisingly, Kenny Jackett opted to leave Lee Trundle on the bench and just as unsurprisingly Roberto Martinez was left out of the matchday 16 all together.
Big Willy
Tatey Monk Kev Sam
Big Leon Robbo OTJ Young Shaun
Little Leon Rory
Subs; Murphy, Bayo, LT10, Forbesy, Williams
Brentford had by far the best of the first half with Jay Tabb causing endless problems with his speed and trickery and also causing the East Stand to pop a few veins with some theatrics along the way. Go near him and he falls over but fair play he’s a good talent and very probably one of those that you would have to say will move on should the Bees fail in the play offs. The first half hour generated though little in the way of chances with Swansea pretty much bypassing their midfield at most opportunities and Brentford deciding that the mission was to waste time from the earliest possible opportunity.
But whilst they tried to frustrate the watching Jacks, they also took the lead when Tabb pounced on a loose ball and drilled home past a handful of defenders and Willy in goal. Not for the first time this season Swansea were guilty of mayhem in their defence and as Brentford celebrated the stadium fell silent just for a minute.
And between that goal and half time nothing threatened the scoresheet at all. Swansea looked confused and lost in places whilst Brentford had their goal and they were there to protect it.
Half time came with McDonald replaced by Forbes who had the Swans first meaningful shot soon after – well saved by Nelson in what was probably his penultimate act in the game. His final act was to fell the ‘running clear’ Leon Knight just outside the area and as last man, the referee had no choice but to produce a straight red card ruling him out of the last half hour – and the second leg into the bargain. Against ten men surely we would push on.
And we did. A little. Certainly not enough. Trundle replaced Knight ten minutes later which made us look more dangerous and even at a goal down if we were to take anything away it would be that Brentford didn’t look at all comfortable with us running at them. But we didn’t even do that enough. The final ball into the box was all too often too deep and easy for the keeper who finally managed to heed Martin Allen’s desperate shouting from the touchline for him to waste as much time as possible. Something that the weak referee was too dull to actually notice. But let’s not be surprised.
Our goal almost came from nowehere. Ricketts broke, Ricketts shot, ball deflected, keeper no chance, one one, cue celebration time for a result we maybe just deserved but never looked like getting. A poor performance though that sees us heading into a second leg level. Is this our season after all?
It is all to play for on Sunday at Griffin Park and if you have fingernails left pray for them to grow sufficiently before Sunday as it promises to be a very tense afternoon. We’re still in it and maybe the optimism could be warranted – maybe Cardiff does beckon after all
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