The last time we played Brentford at home

[1973Blade]

Our first game back in the Championship. Were we good enough at this level and how could we cope with a decent side like Brentford? Many of us had fallen for the Wednesday propaganda about the Championship.
Tomorrow we play Brentford as firm favourites and victory could see us back in the automatic promotion places.
How times change!

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

What about this crazy bastard?

 

[1889]

What about this crazy bastard?

View attachment 50711

Name the ref?

Spoiler: *

I think it was Keith Stroud

 

[Stretch]

Name the ref?

Spoiler: *

I think it was Keith Stroud

The worst refereeing performance I have EVER seen.

 

[1889]

The worst refereeing performance I have EVER seen.

Agreed, wasn’t there about four penalties that game? I think Simon Moore played for them too?

One of the strangest matches I’ve ever seen

 

[grafikhaus]

A midweek 0-0 draw at home to Brentford on 1st April, 2014 in Division One may not get the pulses racing, but it was memorable for one incident. At the kop end, Kieron Freeman made a clean challenge to win the ball from an attacking Potter. The ref. thought differently and produced a red card for Freeman, failed to give a resultant penalty and – after consulting the lineman – reversed the red card decision and gave a drop-ball which United didn’t contest and the clearly-disgusted Brentford player slammed the ball into the advertising hoardings at the kop end. Our team that night included Jose Baxter, John Brayford, Conor Coady and Jamie Murphy.



Equally controversial was a game at Bramall Lane – again in League One – on 16th April 2013 where the Blades and Bees shared the points in a 2-2 draw. There were 3 red cards ... 4 penalties ...2 missed ... 11 yellow cards ... and it wasn’t even a dirty game ...(sorry, I can’t find a video with all the goals and incidents). The first goal was a penalty when United’s keeper George Long brought down Brentford striker Clayton Donaldson. After conceding this penalty and going 0-1 down, United equalized with a penalty of their own to make it 1-1 and, on the 68th minute, Harry Maguire put the Blades 2-1 in front. Look out for fleeting appearances from Jessica Ennis and Bees goalkeeper Simon Moore making two great saves from Kevin McDonald and Michael Doyle.



A Brentford-eye view:



Teams from that 2-2 game (Eleven'Yellows', Three 'Reds' ) :

 

[Beans]

Our first game back in the Championship. Were we good enough at this level and how could we cope with a decent side like Brentford? Many of us had fallen for the Wednesday propaganda about the Championship.
Tomorrow we play Brentford as firm favourites and victory could see us back in the automatic promotion places.
How times change!

Strangely - and don't worry Pinchy, my proverbial cap is remaining firmly on my bonce - I thought that game did suggest we might be in for a hard season as Brentford looked very good and missed some pretty easy chances. Certainly looked far far better than anyone we'd played the previous year. I think it was only the Barnsley game where I started to think "oh, we're definitely better than some of these teams" (we'd lost the two games in between to Boro and Cardiff).

It is actually weird looking back at those early fixtures and seeing how much my expectations have shifted. By the time we played Derby at the end of August we'd picked up 1-0 wins over Brentford and Barnsley, lost without scoring to Boro and Cardiff, and got hammered 4-1 by Leicester's second string. Then I remember looking at the Derby teamsheet and thinking we were in for a tough afternoon...

 

[Pinchy]

Strangely - and don't worry Pinchy, my proverbial cap is remaining firmly on my bonce

Exactly where it should be mate. I trust you will confirm the same in your next excellent podcast. I’m a regular listener now. Sometimes I can hear myself speaking the words, such is the level of wisdom and common sense.


Reproduced by permission of JonnyRed(WCFC).

 

[I should coco]

Sometimes I can hear myself speaking the words,

Yes' I'd wager there a quite a few voices in your head.

Don't forget to take the red tablet, two blue ones and five of the green ones before tonight's match.

 

[Pinchy]

Yes' I'd wager there a quite a few voices in your head.

Don't forget to take the red tablet, two blue ones and five of the green ones before tonight's match.

Yes, to settle those throat-strangling ne

 

[grafikhaus]

Strangely - and don't worry Pinchy, my proverbial cap is remaining firmly on my bonce - I thought that game did suggest we might be in for a hard season as Brentford looked very good and missed some pretty easy chances. Certainly looked far far better than anyone we'd played the previous year. I think it was only the Barnsley game where I started to think "oh, we're definitely better than some of these teams" (we'd lost the two games in between to Boro and Cardiff).

It is actually weird looking back at those early fixtures and seeing how much my expectations have shifted. By the time we played Derby at the end of August we'd picked up 1-0 wins over Brentford and Barnsley, lost without scoring to Boro and Cardiff, and got hammered 4-1 by Leicester's second string. Then I remember looking at the Derby teamsheet and thinking we were in for a tough afternoon...

Same here. When they read out the teams for Derby, Norwich, Wolves etc. I thought 'Quality all over the park.' But we've played - and beaten - most teams at this level.

It'll be the same next season in the PL. They'll read out the Man. City team and I'll think 'Nowt to fear.'