PREVIEW: Relegation-threatened West Ham up next for Brentford

Followed by trips to Manchester City and Liverpool, with the visit of Crystal Palace in between, this final clutch of fixtures will determine whether Keith Andrews can make history. Nobody needs any reminder of the potential for European qualification and whilst the Champions League is all but mathematically now out of reach, the table suggests that anything else is possible.

Just two points separate the Bees from sixth-placed Brighton. With Bournemouth, Chelsea, Everton and Fulham also jostling for position with the Seagulls, who wants it the most?

Keith Andrews has treated all discussion about European qualification like an elephant in the room. The potential is clear to all but the focus has always been on the immediate task at hand. No bad thing, given the real taboo subject should be Brentford’s current form.

A phenomenal run over the winter has hit the buffers at just the wrong time. The Bees losing 2-1 at Manchester United on Monday evening and drawing the five games prior to that. Likewise, they’ve not won at home in six league fixtures either with a sequence of LDLDDD including the reverses to Forest and Brighton.

For me, that game at Old Trafford was probably the most frustrating of all (the 2-2 with Everton the only potential rival). For all the home side’s reputation and wonderful form, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many clear-cut chances created and spurned by the Bees. Thiago could, no should, have had a hat-trick in the first half alone. His usual deadly finishing taking a rare day off. Dango, likewise, will be wondering how he didn’t find the back of the net.

In the end, it was only Mathias Jensen with his goal-of-the-month contender able to breach the United defence. Any thoughts of a last-gasp point then snuffed out by Casemiro’s quite incredible display of injury-time defensive sh*thousery. The referee mugged off by his shenanigans not once but twice as the Bees pushed hard for an equaliser.

No complaints though. Brentford should have taken the chances created. They didn’t. The result is the result. The consummate lesson in actual goals scored rather than opportunity and xG. United running out 2-1 winners. Keith now looking to West Ham for his chance of a first three-point haul since the defeat of Burnley at the end of February. Given we’re now into May, it is a run of form he’ll be more desperate than anybody to reverse.

Thankfully, the table is measured by a season’s worth of games rather than the last half-dozen or so. There is still every opportunity to make this the most incredible on record but it needs to start with a win against a team going tooth and nail with Spurs in the battle to avoid the final relegation place. The Hammers may still be reeling from the shock resignation of Lady Brady, for whatever reason has triggered that behind the scenes (don’t read the rumours) but they are on fire on the pitch.

From looking dead and buried they are now clear of the bottom three and know that destiny remains in their own hands. The whole of football, outside of Tottenham, wishing them nothing but the best given the hilarity that would ensue with relegation for Spurs.

Urghh. What an awful time for the Bees to face the 1966 World Cup winners. Keith’s squad running on fumes and his team pretty much picking itself. Romelle Donovan, Aaron Hickey, Kris Ajer and, quite wonderfully, Josh Dasilva amongst those on the bench but none of them getting a look in. Only Reiss Nelson being given a token run out late on. The normal five changes we’ve all become so accustomed to have gone out of the window to be replaced by a revitalisation of the old Mark Warburton tactic of doing Plan A better with his existing personnel.

That’s not to criticise Keith. To an extent his hands are tied on who starts. The absence of Vitaly Janelt has been felt more than most but it is still frustrating to see no attempt made at all to mix things later into the game. That’s his decision of course. I’m sure he has his reasons. He remains on the cusp of greatness and a return to winning ways on Saturday will be treated with all the kudos he deserves.

Whatever has been to get here needs to now be boxed off. Nuno Espírito Santo has already had his pre-match conference where he declared a fully fit squad and bigged up Callum Wilson. The player’s own appearance off the bench to grab that injury time winner against Everton last weekend bringing as much joy to the Hammers as despair to Spurs. Equally, showing the benefit of substitutions.

For Keith, all focus will be on using his own conference today to review the immediate task at hand. Even if whatever he tells the press on Friday will be nothing of any substance. We all know how he revels in smoke and mirrors. Plays his journalistic cards close to his chest. Fills the room with talk of character, personality, team spirit and respect for our opponents.

Good on him, too. Why on earth would anybody reveal anything to give even the slightest edge? He’s a master of filling the room with words that don’t actually boil down to anything of substance for those looking to work out his game plan.

Instead, we await 15:00 on Saturday afternoon. The start of what could be a fantastic four games. A chance to make supporter fantasy a reality, no matter how much Keith tries to keep everybody’s feet on the ground. It’s football. We can’t help it. Dreams are there to come true. The prospect of the Bees lining up against some of the most famous names in European football, and also Glasgow Celtic, is just too much of a lure.

For those who like to torment themselves, we now have our officials for the game. Posted without further comment:

Referee: Craig Pawson.
Assistants: Lee Betts, Mat Wilkes.
Fourth official: Andy Madley.
VAR: Tony Harrington.
Assistant VAR: Eddie Smart.

We can only do what we can do. All opportunity is alive and well for the Bees. Igor Thiago will no doubt be chomping at the bit to return to his usual form and for me, Clive, I suspect he will be the absolute danger man to watch in this one. Sure to come out of the traps with all guns blazing.

The rest of the footballing community may be willing West Ham on – granted, primarily for the comedy reasons that their survival would ensure – but Nuno will have to wait for another day.

I can’t see anything beyond Keith playing a blinder and a Brentford win in this one. Bring it on and see you there.