Brentford welcome Everton on Saturday afternoon for a game which oozes potential from every pore for both sides.
The Bees and the Toffees sit seventh and eighth respectively in the Premier League table. Superior goal difference keeping Keith Andrews’ team ahead but, perhaps more importantly, a mere three points behind fifth-placed Liverpool. With both the Anfield outfit and Chelsea (sixth) kicking off after this one, the reward for victory could be huge.
That fifth place took on all the more importance when Tuesday’s win for Arsenal in Lisbon meant the requisite coefficient positioning had been reached to guarantee the Premier League five slots in the Champions’ League next season. Could Brentford defy the mother of all ‘not a typo’s and find a way to gate-crash what has historically been the most exclusive of ‘members only’ parties? Fat cats only. All others need not apply.
If so, then this and the follow-up game, also at home, with Fulham, are surely what would go down as ‘must wins’? That’s before we even get to the season finale at Anfield, where things could come down to a winner-takes-all shootout.
For now, it is all about the immediacy of the Everton fixture. It would be fair to say that the Bees have ridden their luck with three draws from the last three games, still seeing them close the gap given the form of those above. That sort of good fortune won’t last forever. Liverpool and Chelsea will surely start finding consistency again soon. Won’t they?
The difference at this late point in the campaign being that there is no choice for Brentford but to start racking up the points once more. The Toffees and Fulham sit directly behind them in the table. Any slip-up from the Bees will see direct rivals able to take advantage. Not only are they ‘must wins’ but real six-pointers in the battle of the pack chasing fifth, or perhaps even fourth, place.
Rather than cracking on with league fixtures, we’ve had international break and then the FA Cup quarter-finals to stew on matters good, bad, and indifferent. Namely, ‘getting away with it’ at Bournemouth, imagining what might have been when 2-0 up and cruising against Wolves, as well as that hard-fought draw at vociferous Elland Road.
At least there have been plenty of morale boosts in between. If you’d have told me 20 years ago that we’d spend international break with one of our players (Jordan Henderson) captaining England and another (Igor Thiago) scoring his first-ever goal for Brazil, I’d have written it off as a story more fantastical than even The Soccer Tramp. Instead, that all played out in the most wonderful style.
Combine this with the hilarious scenes at West Ham in their own FA Cup tie against Leeds United for a full house of half-term hi-jinks. The sight of their fans streaming out at 2-0 down, then unable to get back into the stadium as the injury time goals followed is one I’m still smiling about even now.
‘Supporters’ (hmm, your definition may vary) who had given up on their team forced to watch it on their mobile phones. A sight all the more enjoyable given their eventual capitulation on penalties. The watching Danny Dyer (caught by the cameras in a ‘blink and you’ll miss him’ cameo) left to reflect on what he could have won after son-in-law Jim Bowen missed his team’s opening effort in the shootout.
So although we have had that most excruciating of waits for this return to the Premier League, there have been titbits to keep the hunger pangs at bay. Now, we are ready for that final feast of football. Just seven games to try and break into the European elite. Just seven games to see if Igor can close the three-goal gap on Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot
The bad news is that Brentford start by having to find a way through a defence so mean that only Arsenal and Manchester City have conceded less league goals this season. It would be fair to say that key to this has been Jordan Pickford.
The England ‘keeper, equal parts Raya and Schmeichel in his agility and approach, has been one of the League’s top performers between the sticks. Wrists of steel, cat-like reflexes, and a mouth you wouldn’t kiss your mother with. Statistically speaking, there may be stronger contenders in the top flight, but in terms of reputation and presence, he’s the apex predator.
They’ve also got our former number 26 at the back. No further comment needed.
Indeed, team news for the visitors shows no help being offered to Keith Andrews. Aside from the long-term absence of Jack Grealish, David Moyes would seem to have a full squad available to him. A prospect all the more challenging given their own sneaking up the blindside of the table over the last few months.
Keith does, at least, have Kris Ajer and Mikkel Damsgaard to fall back on. The former missed the Leeds game due to his wife giving birth, whilst the Dane returned to action in their World Cup qualifiers. With Rico Henry and Aaron Hickey previously slated to be available sometime after this break, Friday’s press conferences may reveal even better news for Brentford.
Assuming no surprise injuries, Brentford are spoiled for choice. Moreso in the attacking group, where Kevin Schade is once again the main talking point. The Germans’ form remains a pan-fried enigma wrapped up in a riddle and served on a bed of mystery.
Keith has stayed fiercely loyal to his man, and one can only assume that they’ve been working over the break to get him ticking once more. When Schade is hot, he’s on fire. Sadly, recent performances have been cold as ice, with Andrews unwilling to sacrifice his man.
KLP remains the obvious contender to slot in on the left. Rico’s availability might make that decision easier. Otherwise, Ajer can play full back in order to accommodate a change. Unless, of course, Schade has pulled his fingers out of his backside and got back into the right mindset.
Sorry to be harsh, but this is not a time for passengers. I’ve no problem at all if Kevin starts – we all know what he can do when he’s on his game. He just needs to be on it from the get-go. Pulled off early if he isn’t. This team is busting a gut for each other and the fans. Everton will be hard enough to break down as it is. The prize on offer, too magnificent for anyone to be giving any less than 100%.
Whatever gets said when the two managers speak to the press on Friday, it won’t change anything much. We’re now at the point of hanging on for the team reveals just prior to 2pm. Whether you are at the traditional pre-match meet-up point of the Black Dog (other pubs are available) or the ground, that’s when we’ll have the first true indication of what may play out.
The only team news we have for sure at present is that of our officials. The main takeaway there being that we’ve avoided Stuart Attwell, Peter Bankes, Gavin Ward, Craig Pawson, et al. I can sleep peacefully tonight.
Instead, we can look forward to : Referee: Farai Hallam. Assistants: Simon Bennett, Steve Meredith. Fourth official: Andy Madley. VAR: Michael Salisbury. Assistant VAR: Adrian Holmes.
As a fellow North Stand observer opined to me during the week: “Ref did the Chelsea game at the weekend. Surely, Madley can’t mess up Fourth Official duties…”
