Ollie rates A-plus for the Bees ..AND NOW FOR LEEDS
OLLIE WATKINS fired Brentford closer to the edge of heaven with his 20th goal of the season – and manager Thomas Frank crowed: “Bring on Leeds.”
The Bees were down to the last grains of sand in the hourglass when top scorer Watkins drilled home Christian Norgaard’s low centre and Griffin Park erupted.
Now Brentford could take another giant step towards their dream of a maiden voyage in the Premier League in a massive promotion shoot-out at home to Leeds on Tuesday night.
Frank (above) said: “It will be another fantastic game to be part of – between two of the best teams in the division.
“Both want to dominate the ball, both want to press high and play aggressively and I hope it will be another top game to watch and, naturally three more points.”
Frank, who milked the fans’ applause like a dairy maid on the final whistle, saluted his team for digging out another crucial win after they were twice pegged back by Boro’s persistence.
He added: “It shows what character, attitude and mentality there is in this team.
“Here’s the most important bit, when you are playing at Griffin Park and teams are banking in, is that we kept going with a coolness and discipline. We created the final goal just by outplaying them. The biggest thing for me to take out of this game is the way we kept going for that winner.”
Brentford went ahead when Ethan Pinnock headed down Mathias Jensen’s corner and Julian Jeanvier hooked the ball beyond Aynsley Pears.
More timid than hermits before the break, Jonathan Woodgate’s men improved markedly and were rewarded by Lewis Wing’s equaliser from 25 yards off the post in the 58th minute.
It was the first of three goals in five madcap minutes.
Boro were behind again within 90 seconds when Bryan Mbeumo’s shot took a wicked deflection off Harold Moukoudi and wrong-footed Pears.
Instead of dwelling on their misfortune, the Teessiders hit back immediately, Ashley Fletcher heading home Marcus Tavernier’s corner.
But Watkins had the final say and beaten
Boro boss Woodgate admitted: “We matched them for long periods of the game and I’m disappointed we didn’t get a point.
“They are a very good side and near the top of the table for a reason.
“I can’t be happy with the result but the performance was good.”
BRENTFORD
MIDDLESBRO