The final game of the 2023-24 is upon us. Brentford host Newcastle United this Sunday with both teams having everything to play for.
The Bees will be looking to end the campaign in style. To pick up the win that could see us rise an extra position in the table. To prove that despite the most horrific run of injuries possible, our squad has had the guts, character and unity to get through challenges that nobody could have envisaged when things kicked off back in August against Spurs.
There will be no foot off the gas here. Quite the opposite. Yoanne Wissa will be as keen as anybody to show why he should be starting whilst Ivan Toney will be looking to leave supporters with the memories of what he does so well. Scoring goals. Saturday’s game at Bournemouth showed Brentford at their very best. The never-say-die attitude we love as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoanne combined to twice give us the lead in the final few minutes. More of the same on Sunday would do very nicely, thank you.
There’s also the incentive, perhaps more for supporters, of stopping a divisional stable mate in their tracks. Newcastle’s midweek defeat to Manchester United (not a typo, the Red Devils actually winning a game) means the battle for that Europa Conference place is live and kicking. A Brentford win combined with any form of positive result for Erik Ten Hag at Brighton will see the Magpies leapfrogged.
It’s a far cry from the battle for the Champions League which both clubs would have expected at the start of the campaign but few supporters outside the club faithful will lose any sleep over this. All the cash and sports washing in the world isn’t a guarantee of either success or popularity. Money can’t buy me love, as somebody once sang.
Perhaps just as crucial is the potential to upset Anthony Gordon. The bastard love child of James Maddison and Bambi on Ice is sure to feature but nobody has forgotten his particular set of ‘skills’. With Simon Hooper and Gavin Ward amongst the officials, could we see cards waved in his direction should more of the usual shenanigans take place? Let’s hope Neal Maupay gets time on the grass.
Elsewhere, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson are the main injury worries for a Newcastle team who have suffered as much as the Bees on that front over the course of the campaign. Eddie Howe’s Thursday press conference not revealing anything concrete on either player but, then again, these days managers seem to use such things for nothing more than smoke and mirrors. Cards played very close to chest at all times.
Whoever starts for the visitors is largely an irrelevance. Football is a squad game and Brentford will only be focussed on the win. Some of the football played in the last few weeks has been scintillating. The fast-paced pass and move that has seen defence turn into goal threat in just a couple of touches has been a joy to behold. More of this on Sunday would be quite wonderful
Plus there is, of course, the biggest prize of all on offer. Thursday evening saw Ethan Pinnock named Supporter’s Player of the Year but don’t forget our own game-by-game award will come to a head this weekend. Just one point separates Ethan and Bryan at the top of that table whilst Christian Norgaard is also in contention.
It really does all come down to this. In more ways than one…
