SOBS V BEES

The Lads headed to the land of static bobbly bedsheets (ask yer dad) and brought back a hard fought point that was the least we deserved. Let's just say that had Alan Shearer been refereeing we'd almost certainly have won. Boss-eyed.and cock-eyed don't even come close to describing me Bramall's first half performance, but at least he got a tiny bit better in the second as he couldn't really have denied us the penalty that Enzo put away.

Thankfully, we missed the swans that interrupted the train journey down as we were on the bus, and we were in the Steam Packet not long after noon. Shamefully we came 6th in Billy the Bee's quiz (down from 4th last season) but the crack was brilliant. 

Three free pints thanks to 1) being charged for Con's round by mistake and 2) letting them know when the ale needed changing, and it was in to the well-hidden stadium.

Roefs

Meunier Ballard Mukiele Danso Reinildo 

Xhaka (c) Sadiki 

Le Fee Angulo 

Brobbey 

... and a bench of Fofana, Isidor, Hume, Ahoka, Alderete, Elllborg, Methalie, O'Nien, and Rigg.

In our new blue kit, we attacked the end housing our fans, who immediately started a din that lasted almost unabated for nearly two hours. 

Angulo was clearly out chosen out-ball as he received a lot of it on the left, and nearly got BB in four minutes with a clever flick. A Brentford volley took a touch and went over, and they were more than a tad fortunate to get a second on the other side after a questionable touch. If in doubt, it's the defender's ball, right?

Then came the half's very early big talking point - Ballard was there after a corner to bang it home, but it took over seven minutes for VAR (bin it now!) to decide that Danso was blocking their keeper's view from an offside position. Look, if it gets to 30 seconds, VAR should simply blow a virtual whistle and the ref's original decision should stand. 

BB then chased the ball into the box and looked to have been pulled down, but there was no VAR this time. A pretty early home substitute appeared, we were passing them to death, and Angulo overran a pass before his next big moment - a pass to Enzo was met nicely, only for the shot to rebound off the foot of Kelleher's left hand post. Bah. 

It was then Nordi's turn to create, setting Angulo away again, and his pass to Meunier was whacked goalward only to hit a defender. 

The home side were clearly getting a tad frustrated with our patience, and there was a yellow for a clatter on Sadiki just after the half hour. We spent the next fifteen minutes with Xhaka dictating play and Angulo seeing plenty of the ball. When Sadiki got into the box with five to go, the penalty looked pretty obvious but Mr McCausland didn't even flinch.

Eight added minutes were announced, which knackered a few people's homeward train journeys, and somehow it ended 0-0. Two blocked on or near the line, one off the post, one definite and one possible penalty - just about as good as we've played so far this season.

No changes for us for the second half and three for them, which naturally injected a bit of vigour to their game. Roefs pulled off a decent save down to his left, but despite the noise from our end, the ref ignored what looked like another infringement and when the ball dropped on the edge of the box there was no stopping their shot on 57. Damn and blast, that was undeserved.

However, despite the Bees' more positive approach, we protected Roefs well, with new Lad Danso confirming the Spurs who told us that he was an absolute beast. A calm one as well, and one who can pick a pas out of defence. Good signing, I think. 

Just after the hour Xhaka hit a free over the bar from 20 yards out, then Meunier made way for Hume - strange, I thought, but it allowed us to move to four at the back and fill the midfield a bit more. At the same time, Issy replaced Angulo, who'd been closer marked since the break and that gave their central defence more to think about. 

A bit of a scramble in our box with twenty to go saw the ball in the net, but once another VAR intervention was announced it was virtually inevitable that a foul on Roefs would be given. Mind, I'd have been seething had it happened at the other end, but I'm both biased and potentially bitter. Especially when we're getting beaten.

Three minutes later, Sadiki made way for Fofana - another surprise, not for the incomer but for the departee, as Noah had done his usual covering of every blade of grass. Still, trust Le Gaffeur, eh?

And it worked, as our new boy replicated his YouTube clips with a stream of twists, turns, and jinks that drew noisy appreciation from our fans....Malick Fofana, runs down the wing for me.

Another free in the D showed the home side were getting a bit desperate, but this one cannoned off the keeper's chest and was whacked away. We entered the last ten on the front foot but with Brentford trying to break at every opportunity only to founder on the dual rocks of Ballard and Danso, with Mukiele taking no prisoners on the right when needed. When we set Fofana away again, his cross to Issy resulted in Lewis-Potter simply wrestling our man to the ground near the spot.

No repeat of last time's daft Panenka by Enzo, as he blasted it home in simple style for a much-deserved leveller. Boom - and up went the volume a notch or three, reminding the football world who they wouldn't be seeing in Milan in December. 

There was still time for a hearty round of abuse for their sub Calum Wilson, and somehow there were six added minutes in which BB held off his man to turn - and fire into the side netting. At this point Cap'n Granit did the calm down thing, put his foot in the ball, and managed the remaining time with aplomb.

1-1, the least we deserved, but a point away from home is always good point.

Man of the Match? Angulo had a great first half despite us not scoring, but restricting them to only two shots in target (to our five);and lots of nearly stuff in their box owes a lot to Xhaka's usual bossing of things. Great debuts from Danso and Fofana, but it'll have to go to Xhaka.