Final Score Brighton 2 - 0 Bees

[badgerbee]

Maybe but goalkeeping and defending is part of the game and in the PL the quality of those is usually excellent and Brighton were excellent in those departments last night.

XG is important but I'm a little old fashioned as well, I thought we were well beaten and luck played no part in that. Brighton were by far the better team, offensively and defensively as well as getting their tactics spot on; yes they allowed us the ball in the 2nd half as they went into game management mode but they still looked comfortable.

We do have a lot of players out and whilst a few tactical/system changes would help in some games as we head to the end of 2021 with twenty PL points there is a lot to be happy about.

Sorry, still can’t get how people think they looked ‘comfortable’.
In the space of 10 minutes in the 2nd half, their keeper made 2 fantastic saves, they made an incredible clearance off the line, and we should have had a penalty.
By contrast, Fernández had 1 save to make in the 2nd half……

 

[RAF_Patto]

I must say, it did rather annoy me when Sky referenced how hard it was for Brighton fans to get to the game yesterday......its your home town club FFS! No mention of how those transport issues affected the much louder Bees fans.

 

[Shamrock_Bee]

Sorry, still can’t get how people think they looked ‘comfortable’.
In the space of 10 minutes in the 2nd half, their keeper made 2 fantastic saves, they made an incredible clearance off the line, and we should have had a penalty.
By contrast, Fernández had 1 save to make in the 2nd half……

All about opinions mate, without sounding like Keano lol, that is their job! They defended really well and their goalkeeper was excellent. Their offensive players were excellent in the first half and when they went into game management mode they were able to keep us out. If one of our chances went in maybe things would of been different but they always had a 2 goal lead in the second half despite us having the ball and creating chances, so they never looked in any danger of dropping points as they continued to defend very well.

 

[badgerbee]

All about opinions mate, without sounding like Keano lol, that is their job! They defended really well and their goalkeeper was excellent. Their offensive players were excellent in the first half and when they went into game management mode they were able to keep us out. If one of our chances went in maybe things would of been different but they always had a 2 goal lead in the second half despite us having the ball and creating chances, so they never looked in any danger of dropping points as they continued to defend very well.

Cheers.
So clearly not “comfortable” then.
Glad you agree.

 

[Bizzy Bee]

The second worst away 1st half performance this season after Burnley. Yet again, we start of brightly but then lose our way.

I turned to mate when the players were warming up pre-match and said they looked disinterested, and so it proved. They barely acknowleged the fans and clearly wanted to be somewhere other than the AMEX on boxing day.

B&HA are a team that we should be getting points from in this league and yet they've done the double over us. Cucuerra & Trousard had the freedom of the left wing all night. Their wing backs take their man on, ours stop and pass back. When their players were in range of the goal, they shot. Ours continue to try pass the ball into the net and then eventually lose it! So frustrating. BTW did NM ever score a goal outside the box for us? I'm struggling to think of one.

The squad last night goes to show how thin it is. We need players back from injury, and a few reinforcements in January be they transfers or loan signings to either cover the injuries/bolster our survival chances.

Bring on Manchester City next. They will either score more goals than the England cricket team score runs in the 3rd test, or by some miracle we'll sneek a 1-0 win in the 94th minute when the ball deflects in off FTT's arse!

 

[Shamrock_Bee]

Cheers.
So clearly not “comfortable” then.
Glad you agree.

We can agree to disagree it's ok mate, as I say it's all about opinions

 

[sonofabee]

The second worst away 1st half performance this season after Burnley. Yet again, we start of brightly but then lose our way.

I turned to mate when the players were warming up pre-match and said they looked disinterested, and so it proved. They barely acknowleged the fans and clearly wanted to be somewhere other than the AMEX on boxing day.

B&HA are a team that we should be getting points from in this league and yet they've done the double over us. Cucuerra & Trousard had the freedom of the left wing all night. Their wing backs take their man on, ours stop and pass back. When their players were in range of the goal, they shot. Ours continue to try pass the ball into the net and then eventually lose it! So frustrating. BTW did NM ever score a goal outside the box for us? I'm struggling to think of one.

The squad last night goes to show how thin it is. We need players back from injury, and a few reinforcements in January be they transfers or loan signings to either cover the injuries/bolster our survival chances.

Bring on Manchester City next. They will either score more goals than the England cricket team score runs in the 3rd test, or by some miracle we'll sneek a 1-0 win in the 94th minute when the ball deflects in off FTT's arse!

Sadly you hit the nail on the head and we should be beating teams like Brighton. Take out Trossard and Neal and they are ordinary at best.
Sadly, the loss of Ajer and Raya has been devastating as it’s meant we have lost two commanding presences at the back as well as the ability to bring the ball out of defence at pace. Furthermore, Ajer seems to bring out the best in Sergi and recently our right hand side has looked Championship standard at best that has to be addressed in the window.
We are now in a dogfight and anyone who thinks we are safe is living in cloud cuckoo land.
We’re punching above our weight and I’d have accepted 20 points from 17 games before a ball was kicked but we’ve not really played well for months and Bryan and Toney need better service and pace from both sides of the park that is lacking without Ajer or Rico when we really should have options from quick midfielders.

We have to invest rather than pray that our existing players get fit and regain form

 

[David Brentford]

I know we are short of players but them playing 4 at the back and having that extra player in midfield/attack made it very hard for us. I guess with a full squad we may have adjusted but we just didn’t have the options to do that. 2nd half was so much better and if we had got one back (we so nearly did) it would have been very interesting. No disgrace to lose to an established prem side and look at the stats for the game. A couple of decent signings in January and some of our players back - I’m sure we’ll be fine and probably finish the season with a flourish.

a couple of takes from the game:
Ghoddos needs to play LWB if no Rico.
As soon as Roerslev is fit he needs to be given the RWB position and Sergi to go back to being a forward (I would imagine this is already the plan)
I thought Mads Beck had a solid game but could be so much braver offensively. The were several times when he picked ball up outside the box and chose the safe option. I would have loved to see him driving into their box scattering defenders in his wake - we know he has that in his game
Several times shots appeared to be on but we didn’t take the opportunity (as Brighton did for their second).

 

[Billy Hunt]

B&HA are a team that we should be getting points from in this league and yet they've done the double over us. Cucuerra & Trousard had the freedom of the left wing all night. Their wing backs take their man on, ours stop and pass back. When their players were in range of the goal, they shot. Ours continue to try pass the ball into the net and then eventually lose it! So frustrating. BTW did NM ever score a goal outside the box for us? I'm struggling to think of one.

The squad last night goes to show how thin it is. We need players back from injury, and a few reinforcements in January be they transfers or loan signings to either cover the injuries/bolster our survival chances.

Bring on Manchester City next. They will either score more goals than the England cricket team score runs in the 3rd test, or by some miracle we'll sneek a 1-0 win in the 94th minute when the ball deflects in off FTT's arse!

Based on what?

 

[w6bee]

i think the big mistake was playing a relatively strong team against Chelsea, which has resulted in further injuries. I would have rested Rico for Thompson, Bryan for Forss and maybe given MPH a runout. With our squad size and current injury list we cannot afford to prioritise a QF against Chelsea, which if we would have won would just have added two extra fixtures to a congested January. We seem to pick up a lot of injuries in the EFL cup with Norgaard, Ajer, MBS and Rico all being impacted in the last two seasons.

The second half last night did give some confidence that we can still create chances and we kept on going. Wednesday night might be one to watch Frosch from behind the sofa though!

 

[taxi driver]

Should have given Finn Stevens a start he couldn’t do any worse

He has to be close to a start soon

 

[sonofabee]

He has to be close to a start soon

Based on what ?

 

[taxi driver]

Based on what ?

We have few fit defenders and may need Sergi either further forward or at left wing back

 

[sonofabee]

We have few fit defenders and may need Sergi either further forward or at left wing back

If Finn was ready he’d have been selected, you seem like an intelligent poster but realistically what do you think a Premier league debut in a game where you are going to be tortured and 18/1 to win will do for a young players confidence?

 

[taxi driver]

If Finn was ready he’d have been selected, you seem like an intelligent poster but realistically what do you think a Premier league debut in a game where you are going to be tortured and 18/1 to win will do for a young players confidence?

I did say soon not necessarily Wednesday.

We may have our hand forced however.

 

[horshambees]

Do Brighton have any songs of their own?

Albeeeon Albeeeon Albeeeon.
Slow it down, speed it up.

 

[BuzzingBee95]

If Finn was ready he’d have been selected, you seem like an intelligent poster but realistically what do you think a Premier league debut in a game where you are going to be tortured and 18/1 to win will do for a young players confidence?

sorry to intrude, but wouldn't that exact argument also fit with Dom Thompson too therefore?

 

[Lionel Bart-At]

I know we are short of players but them playing 4 at the back and having that extra player in midfield/attack made it very hard for us. I guess with a full squad we may have adjusted but we just didn’t have the options to do that. 2nd half was so much better and if we had got one back (we so nearly did) it would have been very interesting. No disgrace to lose to an established prem side and look at the stats for the game. A couple of decent signings in January and some of our players back - I’m sure we’ll be fine and probably finish the season with a flourish.

a couple of takes from the game:
Ghoddos needs to play LWB if no Rico.
As soon as Roerslev is fit he needs to be given the RWB position and Sergi to go back to being a forward (I would imagine this is already the plan)
I thought Mads Beck had a solid game but could be so much braver offensively. The were several times when he picked ball up outside the box and chose the safe option. I would have loved to see him driving into their box scattering defenders in his wake - we know he has that in his game
Several times shots appeared to be on but we didn’t take the opportunity (as Brighton did for their second).

Excellent post. Re Mads Beck, both you and @sonofabee refer to defenders driving at pace with the ball. So important. I thought Mads, since his return, has looked promising driving out of defence, through the middle. Goode has done this and, as SOB says, Ajer. We look a different side when this is a feature of our game, and with three at the back, and Norgaard covering, we have the scope to do this. We also need to up the pace of the passing at the back, especially against an aggressive press such as Brighton's.

Anyway, back to Mads, I agree that if he's up there, better to drive at the defence. Specifically, last night, there were several occasions in the second half where he was in possession on the left, with Sergi on the touchline outside him. Each time he made it easy for the right back by dithering momentarily and then passing to Sergi who was immediately closed down. Had he committed the defender by driving right at him, Sergi would have then been easily released and free to put in a cross.

On the relegation discussion, I believe what has so far set us apart from those at the bottom is our ability to scrap out the odd ugly win along the way (Everton, Watford recently). So long as we can keep doing this, we will be OK. We've been resilient in keeping our heads up and not slumping into real bad runs of defeats so far.

 

[Silly Hat]

I enjoyed the nice touch in the men’s toilets in Brighton last night, as it were…

 

[horshambees]

Sadly you hit the nail on the head and we should be beating teams like Brighton. Take out Trossard and Neal and they are ordinary at best.
Sadly, the loss of Ajer and Raya has been devastating as it’s meant we have lost two commanding presences at the back as well as the ability to bring the ball out of defence at pace. Furthermore, Ajer seems to bring out the best in Sergi and recently our right hand side has looked Championship standard at best that has to be addressed in the window.
We are now in a dogfight and anyone who thinks we are safe is living in cloud cuckoo land.
We’re punching above our weight and I’d have accepted 20 points from 17 games before a ball was kicked but we’ve not really played well for months and Bryan and Toney need better service and pace from both sides of the park that is lacking without Ajer or Rico when we really should have options from quick midfielders.

We have to invest rather than pray that our existing players get fit and regain form

We must learn to stop giving the ball away.
Last nigh we were attacking their penalty area and misplaced a pass.
Next thing is 3 to 4 passes later it is our penalty area and they win a corner.
Too often it happens and we invite far too much pressure on our selves by recklessly giving possession away through one or two not being comfortable or confident on the ball.

 

[David Brentford]

sorry to intrude, but wouldn't that exact argument also fit with Dom Thompson too therefore?

Dom‘s a bit older and has more experience tbf. I would expect them both to get a torrid time unfortunately

 

[Balders Bee]

Sadly you hit the nail on the head and we should be beating teams like Brighton. Take out Trossard and Neal and they are ordinary at best.
Sadly, the loss of Ajer and Raya has been devastating as it’s meant we have lost two commanding presences at the back as well as the ability to bring the ball out of defence at pace. Furthermore, Ajer seems to bring out the best in Sergi and recently our right hand side has looked Championship standard at best that has to be addressed in the window.
We are now in a dogfight and anyone who thinks we are safe is living in cloud cuckoo land.
We’re punching above our weight and I’d have accepted 20 points from 17 games before a ball was kicked but we’ve not really played well for months and Bryan and Toney need better service and pace from both sides of the park that is lacking without Ajer or Rico when we really should have options from quick midfielders.

We have to invest rather than pray that our existing players get fit and regain form

Whilst I agree Ajer & Raya are huge losses to our style of play & their positive impact on players I don't agree Brighton are average apart from Neal &;Trossard. Players such as Lampty, Mwepu, Bissouma, Cucrella are clearly talented Premiership players coveted by other clubs. Add to this the experience (and wages) of players like Welbeck & Lalana) & you've got a club that's got four years experience on us at this level on us so why we should have the expectation of beating them with a decimated injury hit team I don't understand. In a relegation dog fight? The goal was survival this year & we're making a decent fist of that but of course their is concern with a threadbare squad & mounting injuries & yes we do need to strengthen in the January window but we will do so using our model I'm guessing. Brighton are an aspirational model for us at the
moment & an achievable one if we can nurse ourselves through the next month & strengthen in the areas you've highlighted.

 

[RAF_Patto]

Excellent post. Re Mads Beck, both you and @sonofabee refer to defenders driving at pace with the ball. So important. I thought Mads, since his return, has looked promising driving out of defence, through the middle. Goode has done this and, as SOB says, Ajer. We look a different side when this is a feature of our game, and with three at the back, and Norgaard covering, we have the scope to do this. We also need to up the pace of the passing at the back, especially against an aggressive press such as Brighton's.

Anyway, back to Mads, I agree that if he's up there, better to drive at the defence. Specifically, last night, there were several occasions in the second half where he was in possession on the left, with Sergi on the touchline outside him. Each time he made it easy for the right back by dithering momentarily and then passing to Sergi who was immediately closed down. Had he committed the defender by driving right at him, Sergi would have then been easily released and free to put in a cross.

On the relegation discussion, I believe what has so far set us apart from those at the bottom is our ability to scrap out the odd ugly win along the way (Everton, Watford recently). So long as we can keep doing this, we will be OK. We've been resilient in keeping our heads up and not slumping into real bad runs of defeats so far.

The issue we've got at the moment is having Ethan on the right hand side of that back three. Our team is set up for that CB to be the driving force, normally Ajer or Goode. With their right foot dominance it means they can move into the outside channels, forcing players wide and allowing Sergi to bomb on in support, along with the RCM.

Having Ethan on the right nullifies this, as all he wants to do is come inside onto his stronger foot, forcing him infield and into the oppositions waiting players or reducing his options to find a free man.

Ideally, we need someone with a right foot in that position, even if its Pontus, it just makes the system work and allows us the freedom to get out.

 

[sonofabee]

Whilst I agree Ajer & Raya are huge losses to our style of play & their positive impact on players I don't agree Brighton are average apart from Neal &;Trossard. Players such as Lampty, Mwepu, Bissouma, Cucrella are clearly talented Premiership players coveted by other clubs. Add to this the experience (and wages) of players like Welbeck & Lalana) & you've got a club that's got four years experience on us at this level on us so why we should have the expectation of beating them with a decimated injury hit team I don't understand. In a relegation dog fight? The goal was survival this year & we're making a decent fist of that but of course their is concern with a threadbare squad & mounting injuries & yes we do need to strengthen in the January window but we will do so using our model I'm guessing. Brighton are an aspirational model for us at the
moment & an achievable one if we can nurse ourselves through the next month & strengthen in the areas you've highlighted.

Ok, point taken but they will end up nearer the foot of the table than the top?

 

[UtrechtBee]

But “awful” was matches like say Oldham away in 2006, or most matches at Orient before 2014 … this was a defeat in the Premier League against a decent team … people really need to get a sense of perspective

I don't think looking backwards 15 years helps the team. You can live only in the present and future, and right now, the future looks like a return to the Championship 6+ years of hard work (counting from Feb 2015 when the overhaul happened) to get up to the top flight only to get relegated immediately at the end of the season...there's some perspective for you. TF needs to start being less tactically naive and start trying different formations and different players against different teams. Sticking to this 3-5-2 system without the players to play his "play from the back" style is costing Brentford games and with it, points. I'd like a minimum of a decade's stay in the top flight, the money that comes with it to bring in some higher quality players and making a run at the Europa League/CL spots. For me, that's the definition of progress

 

[TW3Bee]

Based on what?

League position?
There not one of the top 4 or 5?

Who knows?

 

[Voice from the Braemar]

Sadly you hit the nail on the head and we should be beating teams like Brighton. Take out Trossard and Neal and they are ordinary at best.
Sadly, the loss of Ajer and Raya has been devastating as it’s meant we have lost two commanding presences at the back as well as the ability to bring the ball out of defence at pace. Furthermore, Ajer seems to bring out the best in Sergi and recently our right hand side has looked Championship standard at best that has to be addressed in the window.
We are now in a dogfight and anyone who thinks we are safe is living in cloud cuckoo land.
We’re punching above our weight and I’d have accepted 20 points from 17 games before a ball was kicked but we’ve not really played well for months and Bryan and Toney need better service and pace from both sides of the park that is lacking without Ajer or Rico when we really should have options from quick midfielders.

We have to invest rather than pray that our existing players get fit and regain form

All of that….those that think we are guaranteed to stay up are delusional….every team below us will be looking at our game as their vital one…they can see we are only 3 or 4 defeats away from being in the bottom 4…we must invest in Jan….and pray Ajer and Rico are back ASAP

 

[Voice from the Braemar]

Based on what?

Based on they hadn’t won for 11 games before last night !!!!

 

[RAF_Patto]

#teamslikebrighton

 

[westendbee]

I don't think looking backwards 15 years helps the team. You can live only in the present and future, and right now, the future looks like a return to the Championship 6+ years of hard work (counting from Feb 2015 when the overhaul happened) to get up to the top flight only to get relegated immediately at the end of the season...there's some perspective for you. TF needs to start being less tactically naive and start trying different formations and different players against different teams. Sticking to this 3-5-2 system without the players to play his "play from the back" style is costing Brentford games and with it, points. I'd like a minimum of a decade's stay in the top flight, the money that comes with it to bring in some higher quality players and making a run at the Europa League/CL spots. For me, that's the definition of progress

You are completely missing my point.
Which was simply certain people writing off the performance as “awful”, so I’m trying to achieve a sense of perspective.
It certainly wasn’t a “good” performance (we have been spoiled over the last few seasons) but considering how depleted the squad is right now, a decent shift was put in for the 2nd half.

 

[rebus]

Based on what?

Exactly. What sort of entitlement is this from Brentford fans?!

Brighton’s wage bill and facilities are way ahead of us but we still manage to compete, an achievement in itself.

 

[UtrechtBee]

You are completely missing my point.
Which was simply certain people writing off the performance as “awful”, so I’m trying to achieve a sense of perspective.
It certainly wasn’t a “good” performance (we have been spoiled over the last few seasons) but considering how depleted the squad is right now, a decent shift was put in for the 2nd half.

In which case, yes I did miss your point. My apologies. I was zeroing in on your comparisons to Oldham and Leyton Orient from more than a decade ago.

 

[RAF_Patto]

You are completely missing my point.
Which was simply certain people writing off the performance as “awful”, so I’m trying to achieve a sense of perspective.
It certainly wasn’t a “good” performance (we have been spoiled over the last few seasons) but considering how depleted the squad is right now, a decent shift was put in for the 2nd half.

Was it a decent shift though? Brighton had done what they needed and were in game management mode. It's not like we hammered at the door like the Chelsea match, as way of example. I felt we were quite insipid throughout.

 

[sonofabee]

Exactly. What sort of entitlement is this from Brentford fans?!

Brighton’s wage bill and facilities are way ahead of us but we still manage to compete, an achievement in itself.

So we pat ourselves on the back and rejoice in one season in the Prem or speculate and invest to have a fighting chance of staying up and earning enough money to strengthen again?

 

[rebus]

So we pat ourselves on the back and rejoice in one season in the Prem or speculate and invest to have a fighting chance of staying up and earning enough money to strengthen again?

We’re doing the latter and will finish mid-table. Lots of bed wetting going on here at the moment.

 

[sonofabee]

We’re doing the latter and will finish mid-table. Lots of bed wetting going on here at the moment.

Agree, but there are some on here saying we are safe and we’re far from safe

 

[RAF_Patto]

So we pat ourselves on the back and rejoice in one season in the Prem or speculate and invest to have a fighting chance of staying up and earning enough money to strengthen again?

#teamslikefoolham

 

[RAF_Patto]

We’re doing the latter and will finish mid-table. Lots of bed wetting going on here at the moment.

@rebus - We've got 20 points.....what guarantees do we have we'll gain another point? Are you some kind of time traveller coming back from the future to reassure us?

No bed wetting going on, in most parts, just genuine opinions based on what we're seeing.

 

[brooks]

We are in a very good position at the half way point but, with all the injuries and a relatively poor squad outside a group of 14/15, we are well within reach by clubs from Watford up. Things could change very quickly in the next month or so. With the first team fully fit we would stay up easily but the club is not in a strong enough position when they are not.

 

[sonofabee]

sorry to intrude, but wouldn't that exact argument also fit with Dom Thompson too therefore?

No, Finn is our future, Thompson isn’t

 

[Balders Bee]

@rebus - We've got 20 points.....what guarantees do we have we'll gain another point? Are you some kind of time traveller coming back from the future to reassure us?

No bed wetting going on, in most parts, just genuine opinions based on what we're seeing.

'Bed wetting' may be an emotive term but so is 'relegation dog fight' as is the whole 'time traveller' bit. Can we just all agree we've got 20 points and are lower mid table, a terrible injury list, will see reinforcements arrive in January & that by & large TF and the boys are doing us proud when the entire season is considered thus far???...

 

[Ealing Bee]

right now, the future looks like a return to the Championship 6+ years of hard work (counting from Feb 2015 when the overhaul happened) to get up to the top flight only to get relegated immediately at the end of the season...there's some perspective for you.

Maybe when you sober up the future will look a little less bleak!

Norwich and Newcastle are both down. Which means Bees only need to finish above one other team to avoid relegation. And seeing as 20 points from 17 games has another 5 teams below us, plus another two above catchable if we win our game in hand, then Bees have every chance of surviving once we get over our present injury crisis.

A couple of new signings in January would help, too.

"Nil Desperandum!"

 

[Isleworth_Bee]

I don't think looking backwards 15 years helps the team. You can live only in the present and future, and right now, the future looks like a return to the Championship 6+ years of hard work (counting from Feb 2015 when the overhaul happened) to get up to the top flight only to get relegated immediately at the end of the season...there's some perspective for you. TF needs to start being less tactically naive and start trying different formations and different players against different teams. Sticking to this 3-5-2 system without the players to play his "play from the back" style is costing Brentford games and with it, points. I'd like a minimum of a decade's stay in the top flight, the money that comes with it to bring in some higher quality players and making a run at the Europa League/CL spots. For me, that's the definition of progress

The future looks like a return to the championship?!?

Well in, that’s the spirit.

The Europa league....... CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?!? Jesus we have some entitled fans.

We are struggling but we are still 9 points off the bottom 3 and teams down there aren’t pulling up trees either. We aren’t guaranteed to stay up but Jesus Christ it’s hard work on here. A 10 year stay will involve a hell of a lot of hard work and luck IMO. Teams like Burnley, West Ham, Southampton, Newcastle etc have spent years in this league and done sod all with the odd relegation mixed in.

Brentford FC will do well to have a 5 year stint in this league without having tough moments or a relegation on the history books.

 

[Untouchable]

now, the future looks like a return to the Championship 6+ years of hard work (counting from Feb 2015 when the overhaul happened) to get up to the top flight only to get relegated immediately at the end of the season..

We are 8th in the form table over the last 6 games.

Last night was a very poor performance but is no reason to come out with this drivel.

 

[Raise The Roof]

Excellent post. Re Mads Beck, both you and @sonofabee refer to defenders driving at pace with the ball. So important. I thought Mads, since his return, has looked promising driving out of defence, through the middle. Goode has done this and, as SOB says, Ajer. We look a different side when this is a feature of our game, and with three at the back, and Norgaard covering, we have the scope to do this. We also need to up the pace of the passing at the back, especially against an aggressive press such as Brighton's.

Anyway, back to Mads, I agree that if he's up there, better to drive at the defence. Specifically, last night, there were several occasions in the second half where he was in possession on the left, with Sergi on the touchline outside him. Each time he made it easy for the right back by dithering momentarily and then passing to Sergi who was immediately closed down. Had he committed the defender by driving right at him, Sergi would have then been easily released and free to put in a cross.

On the relegation discussion, I believe what has so far set us apart from those at the bottom is our ability to scrap out the odd ugly win along the way (Everton, Watford recently). So long as we can keep doing this, we will be OK. We've been resilient in keeping our heads up and not slumping into real bad runs of defeats so far.

Spot on. We have to cut out the “dithering momentarily” (followed by a hospital pass to another player who is by then closely marked) and learn to drive forward, turning with the ball if necessary. All the good players in other teams, shield the ball with upper body strength, and then drive forward. Driving forward creates gaps. Wissa showed glimpses of doing this well.

 

[UtrechtBee]

Maybe when you sober up the future will look a little less bleak!

Norwich and Newcastle are both down. Which means Bees only need to finish above one other team to avoid relegation. And seeing as 20 points from 17 games has another 5 teams below us, plus another two above catchable if we win our game in hand, then Bees have every chance of surviving once we get over our present injury crisis.

A couple of new signings in January would help, too.

"Nil Desperandum!"

Well I don't drink, so I'm pretty sober. With half a season still to go and a heck of alot of points up for grabs, I won't rest easy until I know that the 3 relegated teams are confirmed. You can't discount a New Year run from at least one of the teams below Brentford. City up next......oooof!

 

[Griffingreen]

I turned to mate when the players were warming up pre-match and said they looked disinterested, and so it proved. They barely acknowleged the fans and clearly wanted to be somewhere other than the AMEX on boxing day.

As supporters and players we have been used to being successful and winning games, and winning well. Life in the Prem is an eye opener to us all and they like us are finding it hard.

 

[sacbfc]

What was the attendance last night?

 

[Untouchable]

I turned to mate when the players were warming up pre-match and said they looked disinterested

How did you determine this please.

 

[Wise old Bee]

I think that only Norwich are nailed on for the drop . Although they made the wrong choice of manager, Newcastle could climb the table with a few signings - decent defenders might help. Burnley usually grind it out and Watford will probably sack the manager. For all our overall play it was, as ever, small margins at Brighton. Our season will be decided by home games with Burnley and Newcastle and aways at Norwich and Watford. If we get the injured players back, minus Raya and JDS we will be OK. Don't want a repeat of how the season panned out in 92-93, 10th in December........