Brentford made it four on the bounce at Ipswich last weekend and now welcome Fulham on Sunday, knowing a point will be sufficient to see them finish above the Cottagers.
Of course, there is way more than that at stake but overly focussing on that too soon is a somewhat futile gesture. Albeit totally understandable, with even yours truly getting swept along by the prospect of finishing the season having qualified for Europe.
That defeat of Ipswich Town, no thanks to the machinations of VAR ‘user’ Jarred Gillett, combined with the infamous ‘other results’ meant that The Bees climbed to eighth place in the table. Top of the quartet chasing the UEFA conference League place with just two games to go.
The huge fly buzzing towards the ointment at a rate of knots is Saturday’s FA Cup final. If Manchester City win then it will be a case of business as usual with Brentford et al able to keep on pushing towards Europe.
Should Crystal Palace upset the odds then everything changes. They qualify for Europe and rather than the top 8 positions, it is only the first 7(seven) in the Premier League who get a Greek stamp in their passports next season. i.e. they get the chance for a European campaign.
With Brentford playing on Sunday, that particular fate will have already been determined prior to kick off. I can honestly say that this is the first time in years such huge levels of interest will have been held in events at Wembley for a non-Brentford game. Truly, everybody in West London will be shouting for City no matter how distasteful it may feel to cheer on Goliath rather than David. No offence, Palace.
Should the final go the way we all hope it does then Sunday takes on even more significance. The Gtech atmosphere becoming more highly charged than ever before. The reward for victory greater than beating our West London neighbours. Something which is always an absolute pleasure against a moribund fan base who can stick their foam fingers, sponge cakes, clackers and cheese boards where the sun don’t shine.
If nothing else, there is still the prospect of a highest ever finish to play for. Eighth in the Premier League would be a modern-era record and a HUGE achievement for the Bees. Something that will be confirmed if Thomas Frank’s team make it six of the best by winning on Sunday and then at Wolves in the grand finale.
I look back to 1991/92 when Brentford surged ahead of the pack at the death, winning the last six games of the campaign to end up Division Three Champions. That run saw Fulham humbled 4-0 at Griffin Park in the penultimate game before we all headed off to Peterborough.
This time around, Brentford have started to move ahead of the pack at the death, winning their last four fixtures with two remaining. Now we have Fulham at the Gtech in the penultimate game before heading off to Wolves.
It’s too lovely a parallel to ignore although, of course, there is still that Crystal Palace shaped hurdle to overcome. Third hand.
Hoping to do it will be, copy/paste, the now well-established starting XI : Flekken, Lewis-Potter, van den Berg, Collins, Kayode, Yarmoliuk, Nørgaard, Damsgaard, Schade, Mbeumo and Wissa.
There are no new injury concerns with Thomas confirming that Kris Ajer is fit whilst also suggesting we may even get to see Aaron Hickey at some point.
As for the Fulham team, frankly who cares? This one is all about Brentford. All about making it five in a row. About leaving our neighbours to cry into their infinity pool.
It’s going to be epic and I cannot wait. See you there!
