Brentford 1-2 Walsall

This was a strange game and a loss which Andy Scott will be scratching his head over.

The Brentford manager put out a strong team with all the players in their rightful positions.

Throughout the game the bees created good chances but only managed to make one count while Walsall were limited to a handful of opportunities and bagged two of them.

Walsall scored first after 12 minutes when Legge and Woodman chased Nicholls for the ball on the bees left flank, new keeper, Alex McCarthy raced out and Nicholls lifted the ball into the net from a tight angle. With defenders chasing Nicholls you did wonder why the keeper felt the need to rush out. We'll put that one down to bad luck, inexperience and a fine finish.

On 20 minutes Gary Alexander fired a Woodman cross straight at MacDonald who was between him and the goal. The ball then found it's way to Sam Wood who drove just wide.

With first half stoppage time looming Dave fed Simpson out wide who crossed beautifully for Alexander to head down to the keeper's right. The keeper got a hand to it but could only turn it onto the inside of the post and in.

Walsall started the second half well and bagged their second goal after 8 minutes. Byfield crossed for Julian Gray to volley in, unmarked, from 8 yards out.

The bees dominated most of the rest of the game but a flurry of chances became a trickle. McCarthy saved well with his legs with the clock heading for 90 minutes and then two excellent bees chances in injury time came to nothing.

Firstly, a Woodman free kick, central and 20 yards out, went through the wall and was turned round the post by the keeper. Any deflection would have seen it goalbound. From the resulting corner Legge powered a header to the top corner which seemed to be cleared off the line but no corner was given.

Most of the players played well. McCarthy's rush of blood we'll forgive, for now. Kev, in the right back position was beaten for pace once or twice. Pim looked a bit wobbly early on but settled. Of the new boys you have to say that Woodman, Simpson and Alexander all looked good additions to the side. Weston came on for Wood with 30 minutes to go but was up against the very pacey Lescott and didn't get as much joy as he would have liked. Forster replaced MacDonald on 73 minutes and looked good with some nice vision. Maybe he could be used as a forward looking third central midfielder, especially at tough away games, erm, like Swindon next week!

We did lack a bit of energy in the last quarter of the game but overall I'm not sure what went wrong.

Brentford: McCarthy; O'Connor, Legge, Balkestein, Woodman; Simpson, Diagouraga, Bean, Wood (sub Weston 61 mins); Alexander, MacDonald (sub Forster 73 mins)

Subs (not used): Lee, Osborne, McCracken, Spillane, Hunt

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