Brentford bite back thanks to Barca star
BRENTFORD boss Marinus Dijkhuizen has former Barcelona youth player Sergi Canos to thank for easing some of the pressure on his shoulders.
Canos, who is on loan from Liverpool, was introduced as a substitute with the hosts chasing an equaliser having gone behind to Daniel Johnson’s first-minute opener for Preston.
The 18-year-old Spanish youngster came on just after the hour mark and played a huge part in Lasse Vibe’s leveller before Marco Djuricin secured a much-needed victory.
“Canos came in second half and added the spirit and speed that we needed,” admitted Dijkhuizen.
“It was a great second half after a poor start, falling behind with just 30 seconds played.
“But we know Canos is very dangerous he is a real winger that has brought a lot of quality into the game.
“His first touch is amazing and he changed the result for us and helped us grab a much-needed win.
“Technically he has had a great education, it’s difficult for foreign players to come on here as subs because of the intensity of the game here.
“We really needed to win for everybody involved in this club.”
It took just 33 seconds for the deadlock to be broken at Griffin Park as injury-ravaged Brentford struggled to get going.
David Button in the Brentford goal did well to block Joe Garner’s effort, but he had no chance of denying Johnson, who smashed the rebound into the roof of the net.
But Brentford flew out of the traps in the second half and a clever free-kick routine had half the stadium cheering.
Unfortunately the other half had realised Alan Judge’s curling effort had hit the side netting rather than grabbed them an equaliser.
It wasn’t too long before the patient Brentford fans had a reason to celebrate, though, and Vibe was the man cheering with them.
Good work down the wing from Canos, who had been on the pitch a matter of seconds, set the Danish attacker up for a simple tap in. And it was Canos’ bursting run for the equaliser that turned the game on its head with 62 minutes played.
There was only one winner from there on it and it was Djuricin’s cool finish when sent through on goal three minutes later that secured the points.
“We started the first half really well and got off to the perfect start with the goal,” said Preston boss Simon Grayson.
“I felt we were comfortable in the first half and had further chances to find the back of the net.
“In another game that would have been enough.”