HarryFromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday night’s game at Portman Road by delving into their forums.

“Little old Brentford in second place, eh?”, “We have come such a long way in a short time, playing consistently good football”, “What a time to be a Brentford fan. We seriously are in our best post-war era”, “Griffin Park is going out on a terrific high and I am enjoying every single minute of it all.”

“This is a privilege to witness.” Brentford head up to Suffolk riding high in the table after picking up home wins over Nottingham Forest and Wigan either side of the international break. Fans have been delighted with their attractive brand of football and blistering home record of four straight victories.

“This team is top-six material without a doubt. Hopefully with a wind blowing in the right direction it will become top-two”, “The table doesn’t matter until 10 games in, but to see us in second place is special”, “Top six and fortress Griffin Park. Now if we could only start picking up the odd away win.”

“We are watching the best football ever seen by a Brentford team.” Despite their strong start, some Bees feel they lack the depth and quality to sustain a challenge for the top two. “We are not perfect. We don’t have replacements for our keeper or striker but we do so much that is right on the pitch.”

“I just wish my old dad was here to witness some of the football being played these days”, “I know it’s early and I’m trying to stay rational but this could be the season”, “This is Champagne football. It could well be a vintage year”, “Keep playing as we are and someone will be on the end of a hiding.”

Dean Smith

“I suspect that Dean Smith knows he has a great chance to take us up to the top flight. This would be by far and away his best career move”, “You can’t help but admire the guy. He speaks so confidently and has a great connection with the players”, “His coming here has been a match made in heaven.”

The 47-year-old left Walsall in November 2015 to replace Marinus Dijkhuizen and signed a contract extension last February. He has won the respect of fans by consistently strengthening the team and playing stylish football despite a financial model which has seen regular player departures.

“Smith seems to be a fully paid-up member of the ‘Brentford way’ constituency”, “He has benefited from the patience and loyalty of the owner as he is a patient manager who will slowly build things up and improve the team over time”, “As the players have grown this season, so also has Dean Smith.”

“Most of Dean Smith’s problems are good ones”, “He has created partnerships all over the pitch and has helped so many players fulfil their potential”, “The challenge for him is to try to rotate the squad without losing continuity while keeping it fresh for 46 games at the same high level of performance.”

Passing, Pace and Movement

“We are playing football the right way”, “All our players are comfortable on the ball, using technique to get away from danger”, “We are often all over opponents with great crosses going in”, “We force all the teams visiting Griffin Park to hoof the ball. That’s at the heart of our high-pressing tactics.”

“We play an attacking 4-3-3 with two widemen high up the pitch. We don’t have a physical presence up front but rely instead on lots of pacy movement. This creates a lot of chances with neat one-two passing and through-balls around the box, and we are also fast hitting teams on the counter-attack.”

“We tore into Wigan in the opening five minutes.” Most Bees believe that Saturday’s starting line-up (above) for their home win over Wigan is their strongest team. There is a strong emphasis on playing on the front foot immediately from kick-off, establishing a high-tempo pattern of play straight away.

“Our central defensive pairing looks special. The confidence of Ezri Konsa and Chris Mepham is quite outstanding.” Fans are worried about a pattern of errors creeping into keeper David Bentley’s game, but the consistent good form of their two 20-year-old centre-halves has been an unexpected bonus.

Full-backs Henrik Dalsgaard and Yoann Barbet are defensively solid, although Bees expect to see the more attacking Rico Henry and Moses Odubajo come into the side when they gain full fitness. There is wide agreement that their more dynamic attacking play has come from a switch in midfielders.

“The difference this season is that we move the ball forward much quicker with Josh McEachran and Lewis Macleod compared to Ryan Woods and Nico Yennaris last year. They were great workhorses but often opted for sideways or backwards passes which inevitably allowed opponents to regroup.”

McEachran has operated as a deep-lying playmaker passing often to devastating effect. He has been supported by the industry of Macleod and the clever movement and link play of Romaine Sawyers. Kamohelo Mokotjo, Alan Judge and Nico Yennaris are all seen as far more effective bench options.

One small area of weakness in central midfield has been a lack of pace, particularly late on in games as players have tired. “Opposition managers who do their homework will try to exploit our lack of pace down the middle”, “The midfield three have to cope better with athletic and direct running.”

Out wide, new signing Said Benrahma has caused defences problems on the right wing and is a good foil for Ollie Watkins on the opposite flank. Sergi Canos has been more hit and miss with his final ball and his tracking back. Watkins is not a natural striker but has covered in this role for Neal Maupay.

Maupay is the team’s only striker with proven experience at this level, and his recent three-match ban for a retrospective red card stamp highlighted the Bees’ lack of an alternative. “It isn’t Maupay’s responsibility to carry the team. We can’t compete this season with only one experienced striker.”

“We need to score more of our chances.” Many fans believe that their scoring record hasn’t always reflected their dominance, but their last two wins over Forest and Wigan have reassured them that they now have the steel to deal with teams using aggression or trying to spoil and disrupt the tempo.

“We have become more streetwise and are prepared to mix it with teams who spoil”, “We stepped up our physicality. No more sand getting kicked in our faces, we’re up for the challenge”, “Teams will continue to try to disrupt us. This will go on all season as they can’t compete on the football front.”

Brentford 2 — 0 Wigan

“Another home win, another fantastic performance, another three points”, “All in all today was a good win against a dangerous side. In fairness, I think that Wigan were a decent side who tried to play football”, “Another amazing performance where we completely obliterated the opposition.”

Neal Maupay netted twice for the Bees on his return from suspension, opening the scoring on 24 as he latched on to pass from Benrahma. Wigan’s Sam Morsy was red-carded on 58 after a clash with Barbet and Maupay doubled his tally five minutes later after the visitors failed to clear a corner kick.

“We held our own again in another feisty match. Wigan were good and clearly capable of scoring, but they had a niggly side to them making a series of snide fouls”, “The last 15 minutes were weird, more like a testimonial game as we just saw it out. The game petered out with us in full control.”

Brentford 2 — 1 Nottingham Forest

“Well played Bees. We gave Forest what they deserved”, “There are the type of games you need to win by taking your chances. We did that today”, “A real coming-of-age performance as we stood up to them all over the pitch. This new-found steel should see us do very well in the league this year.”

In the final game before the international break, Lewis Macleod headed Brentford into the lead in first-half stoppage time before Forest substitute Matty Cash levelled from distance on 62 with a shot that the Bees’ Bentley should have caught. Ollie Watkins finally scored a close-range winner on 84.

“Football 2, Anti-Football 1”, “An excellent win for football over thuggery”, “Brian Clough would be spinning in his grave watching what his team have become”, “[Forest manager] Aitor Karanka should be ashamed but you know that he won’t be”, “We would probably have lost that game last season.”

With Maupay suspended, Dean Smith reshaped his attacking trio (above). Ollie Watkins switched in from the left-wing to play as striker with Sergi Canos replacing him up front (above). Watkins scored the winner and linked well in the final third, but he is seen as a less effective finisher than Maupay.

Blackburn 1 - 0 Brentford

“That was our first truly awful performance this season”, “A bad result and it wasn’t a great display”,

“There was none of our lovely free-flowing football and we lacked Our usual pizazz. It was the sort of game where the team who scored first could win and so it proved”, “In truth this was an abysmal game.”

“Blackburn did a proper number on us and stopped us playing our pressing game.” The hosts won a very poor game courtesy of a finish on 55 by Chelsea loanee Kasey Palmer, after the Bees had failed to clear Elliott Bennett's cross. “Blackburn pressed us high up the pitch and stopped us playing out.”

“Our movement off the ball was non-existent. Both teams played a high line so the football was very scrappy and shapeless. It looked exactly like a League One match”, “There was no midfield out there today. The centre-backs were going left and right several times before finally hoofing it to nobody.”

It’s worth looking at the line-up (above) for Brentford’s only defeat as many put the result down to the changes made by Dean Smith. Mokotjo and Yennaris are seen as industrious substitutes but less effective starters, while league debutant Marcus Forss was easily contained by the Rovers’ defence.

Goalkeepers and Defenders

“I’m getting a bit worried about David Bentley.” The 25-year-old ex-Southend keeper “hasn’t had the best start to the season. He doesn’t command his penalty area and has been a bit dodgy on crosses and distribution. He’s a great shot-stopper and is especially good when dealing with one-on-ones.”

Huws scores past Bentley

“Bentley is one of the best keepers in the division and will win us more points than he costs us”, “He is having a sticky patch, that’s for sure. Although he makes exceptional saves he has a few mistakes in him”, “He has been error-prone but is a great keeper a fantastic shot-stopper and a big presence.”

“Henrik Dalsgaard’s height is being used well from Bentley’s goal-kicks and he wins lots of headers to start attacks.” The 29-year-old Denmark international right-back “defends pretty well but maybe he needs a rest after the World Cup. His positional play is poor and his crossing is also below average.”

“Dalsgaard loses concentration when he beats himself up after missing a challenge or a pass. He’s a perfectionist who gets uptight if it isn’t going well”, “He can’t gain two yards to handle quick wingers but he’s able to defend. He rarely lets players cut inside and his height always gives us an out ball.”

“Yoann Barbet hit a couple of big aerial challenges against Wigan where he put every pound into it. They set the tone for the day.” The 25-year-old ex-Chamois Niortais man “is a decent footballer who has passion and connects with the fans”, “He rarely lets the team down without being outstanding.”

“The Forest game was a real man’s game, and Barbet was in charge in a feisty atmosphere”, “He is filling in at left-back and is not always comfortable defending out wide. His passing can be woeful at times but I don’t end up covering my eyes with his defending. He’s a centre-back out of position.”

“Julian Jeanvier’s time will come.” The 26-year-old arrived from Reims in July and made a first league appearance from the bench against Wigan. “He’s an imposing presence and he does all the things a Brentford centre-back should with purpose, pace and style. He also looks like he has a goal in him.”

“I know Wigan were down to 10 men but Jeanvier looked awesome when he came on. He picked out some fantastic passes. I suspect we'll see more of him over the next three weeks”, “He looks to be a fantastic player but I just don’t know how we can fit him in at the moment. What a luxury to have.”

“Ezri Konsa is so composed on the ball. He’s deceptively languid and will only improve.” The 20-year-old June signing from Charlton “is a very assured defender who makes trademark runs up the pitch”, “He’s fantastic in the air considering he’s not immense but he’s a big and athletic lad shoulder-wise.”

“Konsa’s main strengths are his awareness of the defensive line, knowing when to drop back and when to being the ball out. We need to create more options for his forward passes”, “He’s a decent ball player and it’s like he has 360-degree vision. He’s so calm and can smell danger from a mile off.”

Chris Mepham

“Chris is as hard as nails without appearing to be. His maturity, awareness and tactical ability after so few games for a youngster is quite incredible. He’s not just a centre-back, he’s a footballer.” The 20-year-old youth product and Wales international “is the best Bees’ defender I have seen in years”.

Dominic Iorfa v Chris Mepham

“Mepham senses danger and positions himself to make challenges, whether tackling, intercepting or blocking a striker’s run”, “He sometimes gets on the wrong side of his forward but is good enough to get himself out of trouble. He’s the go-to receiver and passer of the ball at the heart of the defence.”

Central Midfielders

“It’s great that we have Lewis Macleod in full-flow after all his injury trouble.” The 24-year-old former Rangers man has been sidelined for long stretches with hamstring and knee injuries. “He can handle himself and is a key component of that ‘steel’ we’re developing with his terrific defensive work rate.”

“Macleod is a fantastic footballer who looks to move the ball forward quickly and make an incisive pass”, “An intelligent, industrious footballer with a quick brain”, “He gets forward and has a handy knack of shooting on target. He works his socks off and makes plenty of ball-winning challenges.”

“Kamohelo Mokotjo is a decent ball-winner and excellent at retaining possession.” The 27-year-old South Africa international and ex-FC Twente man “gives us much-needed solidity when he comes on. He’s a less technical player who will win the ball, but he will never spray a 40-yard cross-field ball.”

“Mokotjo looks much better coming on as a substitute when he can tidy things up rather than trying to impose himself on a game from the start”, “He lacks a passing range and doesn’t anticipate things when passing. He only sees options after getting the ball which disrupts and slows down our tempo.”

“Nico Yennaris is somebody to rely on off the bench to add some steel and energy.” The 25-year-old former Arsenal youth player “stops the opposition playing by not allowing them any time or space. He forces mistakes and breaks things up. We need his drive, busy-ness and bite in central midfield.”

Yennaris - Brentford

“Yennaris is a good full-back with the energy and ability to play a box-to-box role”, “Too many of our promising moves break down when he becomes involved. His lack of technical ability amazes me. He must improve his passing and simple ball control. He’s excellent at pressing but erratic on the ball.”

“We need options from the bench and Alan Judge is one of them.” The 29-year-old former Blackburn man suffered a serious leg injury at Portman Road in April 2016 which required further surgery a year later. “He has clearly been getting his mojo back and he’s getting much better with each game.”

“Judge’s football brain is pin sharp but his legs aren’t carrying him to where he needs to be to make his trademark give-and-go passes. His passing range is there and he could be switched into a creative holding player. He has always had a battling quality and desire to stamp his authority on the game.”

“Romaine Sawyers is revelling in the freedom and confidence to display his talents that Dean Smith has given him.” The 26-year-old ex-Walsall man “is a class act. He plays across spaces between the wings and centre and looks for passes into space. He’s the one player we have to open defences.”

“Sawyers has the best field of vision to make effective passing decisions. He can play the attacking role, hold the ball and make for forward passes into space that our style requires”, “He’s dangerous and incisive with much of his creative play but he doesn’t score enough goals as an attacking player.”

Josh McEachran

“Josh has become the voice and heartbeat of the team.” The 25-year-old ex-Chelsea man “maintains creativity and cohesion in midfield. His through balls have beautiful weight and simplicity”, “Some of his passing is exceptional. He is a deep-lying playmaker finding space and making eye-catching passes.”

“McEachran does look better against teams who need picking apart and who don’t come at us”, “He has benefited from the extra responsibility since the departure of Ryan Woods”, “He is important at setting our tempo and unlocking defences but he has disappeared when opponents man mark him.”

Wingers and Wide Midfielders

“Said Benrahma has everyone he faces on toast.” The 23-year-old July acquisition from Nice “is ever busy and in the thick of the action”, “He gave both Forest full-backs a torrid time. He will continually create danger and be a menace this season”, “A delight to watch and runs himself into the ground.”

“Benrahma is a constant threat and gets good assists but he’s occasionally frustrating when holding the ball for too long and not seeking the pass early enough”, “Our pocket Algerian is a strong player and won’t be shrugged off the ball like most wide men. He’s clever, tricky and deserves his place.”

“Sergi Canos is okay going forward but he gives his full-back little support, and we have had trouble on his flank as a result.” The 21-year-old former Canary “is a confidence player. Show him the love and he will undoubtedly repay in kind on the pitch”, “It’s not quite coming off for him but it will.”

Sergi Canos

“I wonder if Canos has lost a yard of pace as he seems to lack the ability to outpace a defender”, “I hope he comes good as he’s a player with bags of talent. His movement is good and his passing is swift and incisive”, “He’s being contained comfortably by full-backs and doesn’t help defensively.”

Ollie Watkins

“Ollie has been in great form in a wide role.” The 22-year-old former Exeter winger “is an amazing talent on the left where he knows his craft and he must play there”, “He’s a two-footed Jota with pace, height and power. You know he’s going to cut inside but you just can’t do anything about it.”

Matt Palmer (Burton Albion) v Ollie Watkins

“Watkins did a job for us as a striker but we missed him on the wing”, “He battled for most of the Forest game getting little change but he popped up for the winner”, “He’s not a great header of the ball but he links up well and keeps the centre-backs occupied, making space for others to exploit.”

Strikers

“Marcus Forss may come good but he’s so inexperienced and not ready for Championship football.” The 19-year-old Finnish former West Brom youth product “has technical ability and an eye for a shot but he doesn’t really link play effectively”, “He had a tough debut at Blackburn, but he will be fine.”

Neal Maupay

“Maupay is a proper six-yard man. His hold-up play is brilliant and his niggling is lovely to see. It’s so nice to have a player up front who will chase everything after the lazy talented idiots we previously have had. He works so hard and his movement off the ball has just improved beyond recognition.”

Neal Maupay

“He plays on the edge and forces opponents them to react.” The 22-year-old ex-St Etienne man was banned for three games after admitting a charge of violent conduct relating to a stamp on Villa’s John McGinn last month. “I hope he has learned his lesson, his stupidity cost us against Blackburn.”

“We miss Maupay’s movement when he is withdrawn. He runs his socks off every game”, “He’s a key figure in keeping our attacking moves flowing at a fast pace with his excellent hold-up play and quick forward offloads”, “He misses a lot of one-on-ones, but is lethal pouncing on loose balls in the box.”

Bees’ Views on ITFC and the Game

“I wonder if Ipswich fans are regretting thinking the grass would be greener on the other side yet”, “Ipswich doing so well without McCarthy”, “They are trying to start from scratch with a new style of play and recruitment policy. It takes time”, “We will have more than enough to deal with Ipswich.”

“If we win at Ipswich then I will start to believe.” There has been little discussion about Tuesday’s game although most Bees are confident of picking up a first away league win. “We usually struggle away to the weaker teams. This might change if we show our new-found readiness to rough it up.”

“Kevin Beattie was a great player. Always busy for England. Only 64. Sad day for us all. Probably the saddest day for them since the death of Sir Bobby. Respect.” Like so many fans around the country, Bees has many kind words to say on hearing yesterday’s terribly sad news. “He will be missed.”

“Like most footy fans my age (ahem...mid 50s), I grew up watching and enjoying Bobby Robson's Ipswich side showing the big teams what teamwork and no little skill could produce. Kevin was obviously a big part of that side. If my failing memory serves me, I remember watching him score a freekick from just inside the Leeds half, as it sailed over David Harvey's head on Match of the Day.”

“The emotion at Portman Road could be quite raw with his recent passing. Might be an inspiration for the crowd and team causing our task to be harder than we imagined.”

“It’s always very sad when a club legend dies and Kevin Beattie was part of a very special Ipswich side. I am sure that you will get nothing but respect from the Bees contingent that will make the trip. RIP ‘Beat’.”

Websites

The busiest Bees’ website is the very friendly and knowledgeable Griffin Park Grapevine.

@HarryFromBath

Photo: Action Images

GlebeTractor added 11:22 - Sep 17 Good preview, I feel we will struggle, 3-1 loss for me.
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mathiemagic added 11:49 - Sep 17 Play like we did on Saturday and we will get spanked by Brentford. I am just hoping that poor performance was a one off. The first win has to come from somewhere so it may well come against a team we are not supposed to beat. Improved performance and a 2-1 first win. #IHWT
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Dog added 12:09 - Sep 17 After 7 games, his plan A is not working and he does not appear to have a Plan B. I would love Town to win , but his new signings have not worked. They all need a big kick up the backside after Saturday. Spence, Nolan and Graham need dropping and we need to play with 2 up front and go at them from the start. We need to press this footballing team. If we don't then I can see a 0-4 or 0-5 loss coming our way as we do not even look like scoring.

2

hucks216 added 12:30 - Sep 17 Huws needs to start. A half fit Huws still provides better options than what we have seen so far. And if the so called high pressing game that we were meant to adopt isn't working, and it clearly isn't as no-one seems to be doing it, then there is no point in having one up front.
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BuckieBlue added 12:58 - Sep 17 Beat's memory can hopefully inspire a better performance. Fitting if we get our first win at this time.
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itfchorry added 15:11 - Sep 17 Thanks as always Harry
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marco007 added 17:12 - Sep 17 i am seriously worried as they pass and move the ball in a fashion that we can only dream of. Let's hope Bobby and Beats are looking down on us and sprinkling some magic dust as we are going to need it!
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