SOBS V BEES

The Lads welcomed the busy Bees of west London to Wearside for the first time in yonks and both sides produced a game of high octane, high quality football and brought the sort of result (2-1, came from behind in case you've been under anaesthetic) that had fans high-fiving strangers on their way out of the ground. Marvellous result.

We had no new injuries to contend with after Tuesday's pointless exercise - a league cup run would have been ideal to keep those on the outskirts of our squad involved in serious competition. I'd renewed acquaintance with Billy the Bee, albeit briefly and through the magic of social media, and there was another full bus from Bish on which to discuss away ticket allocations and how quickly our queues had moved on Tuesday compared to Burnley's "a few blokes with mobile phones" approach.

In came the team news...

Roefs

Hume Alderete Mukiele Reinaldo

Le Fee Diarra Sidiki Xhaka(c) Talbi

Mayenda

... and a bench of Patterson, Seelt, Isidor, Roberts, Rigg, Guiu, Masuaku, Adingra, and Neil.

Seemed fair enough, and on a slightly overcast but properly mafting afternoon the Lads faced North against a Bees side in our away kit - reminiscent of the days when they had no dosh and used to snap up our excess shirts, and featuring a certain Henderson. ..and off the opposition kicked, with Le Fee way out west.

Plenty of positive stuff preceded a weird free kick to them on 6, but they were offside and we were back on the front foot immediately. Mukiele took a throw, reducing the number of prem teams not to have used a long 'un to four, and won us a corner from which there looked to be a handball before we swung a boot and missed.

On 13 their goalie spilled a cross from Talbi but they got away with it, booting it up the field before Mayenda could close in. A series of clattering tackles up on our left got the crowd going and reminded us that for all the free-flowing stuff, there nowt like a good howk to make a football match.

On 16 a magnificent tackle just outside our area set us away then their diving header went wide of the back post -the first effort of the day. A long Brentford throw from the right saw the ball up in the air and a crude foul on our defender, but once we got it upfield they broke back and clipped it across Roefs from the left on 20. In off the far post. Bugger, but it was checked for offside and found to be be illegal - just outside the centre circle, and according to the cartoon, by a whole inch. Well bless my cotton socks and thank you VAR. It seemed like we were playing two at the back most of the time, even with the visiting defence pushing up, which made for entertaining times.

It was fast paced and expansive by both sides - light years ahead of what we've seen in the last decade. On 37 a Brentford cross from their left was headed for a corner on our left but there was some obscure offence committed and we had a free, then another up on our left. A mad hoof up in the air by Alderete gave them another corner on our left on but it was thankfully headed over the top and we were safe.

Two added minutes continued in the same pacy vein and we ended the half level. Lots of good, sharp stuff, but not much for their keeper to worry about - which might have been different had halftime draw drawer SKP been on the field. Still, nice to watch, and precious little to really moan about- we'd better get used to it.

First back out, and with no changes, we set things away south and won a throw - long, shot blocked, then one fired wide. Roefs came confidently to take a high ball and we set Mayenda away but were pulled back for a free to us. Hmmm. On 55 two of ours shielded it out but a corner was awarded - there were bodies flying about and one of each went down, but the ref blew for a penalty. Here's VAR again... a yellow for Reinaldo and Diarra for their parts in the discussions before the kick was taken. Roefs stood relatively still, then went down to his right and pushed it firmly away. Rooooooefs!

A nasty foul on Mukiele left him needing treatment in our half soon after, adding to the added time in the bank...and he didn't even have to leave the field afterwards. Strange. On 65 off went Talbi and Mayenda and on came Adingra and Isidor, with us winning an immediate corner on our right - which was cleared. Another blood n thunder tackle set us away down the left and the cross was knocked just wide.

Hendo got a tremendous round of applause when replaced on 71, which was nice for him, but it was us being the slightly more positive side, constantly pushing the visitors back but having to remain wary of their quality on the break. Another long throw caused them problems, with their keeper taking the ball at the second attempt after it was knocked over the top and into the box. Hume headed away a cross from their right before Isidor was allowed back on after treatment, but when it was knocked into our box Brentford popped it in on 77. No question of VAR being needed. Double bugger.

We went down the left and Enzo was fouled near the corner of the box, in it went and is was cleared off the line up into the air. Back in, and a penalty of our very own on 80. Up stepped Enzo to send the keeper to his right while the ball went the other side. Well deserved.

Straight away we conceded a corner on our right which we cleared. A shot flashed inches wide from Diarra just before Mukiele went down in our box and limped off but we replaced Diarra with Guiu while he was off!

Hume was onto Xhaka's free into the box right on 90 and appeared to be fouled but the ref thought not, and eight added minutes were announced to great roars from the crowd. Both sides went a bit manic going for the win, with tackles flying in but the yellow for Xhaka was for a foul that never happened. Bad decision, ref, but our captain whipped in a cross from the left on 96 and in went Issy's header. Boom. How we celebrated, then came the inevitable but needless VAR check - giving us the chance to celebrate again.

There you go. Back to back home wins, played good, fast football, and deserved the win. I could get used to this, even if we are learning and growing as a team with every game.

Man of the Match? I'll give it to Enzo for keeping his cool when it mattered, but only just ahead of Mukiele at the back and Diarra forging through the middle.

Girrruppp!