BRENTFORD PREVIEW

13 February 2021

It's back down to business with league action on Sunday afternoon as the Reds head south to take on the league leaders.

Just over six months on from the memories made at Griffin Park in this fixture last season, Barnsley travel this weekend to the Bees' new home - the Brentford Community Stadium - hoping to upset the nation's most in-form club.

We are halfway through February but this is the Reds' first league clash of the month, owing to last weekend's clash with Derby County falling foul of the weather.

Barnsley were in action though at Oakwell in midweek, when they were harshly eliminated from this season's Emirates FA Cup - 0-1 - by Premier League outfit Chelsea.

It was yet another example of the Reds' big problem this season - their inability at times to take clear chances and see a potential positive result thrown away.

They need to increase their ruthlessness in front of goal, to be more clinical if they are to finally taste success in league football this year. Because you've to go back to December 29 for our last win in the Sky Bet Championship against Rotherham United.

But in fairness to Barnsley, they've been unlucky not to fare better in a run of tight games against some of the division's standout sides. But this Sunday sees us up against THE standout second tier outfit, in Brentford, who are top of the league ahead of Saturday's 3pm fixtures.

Led by the dynamic and enthusiastic Thomas Frank, the Bees are hoping to go one better than last season and achieve promotion to the Premier League.

They are unbeaten in 22 league games, stretching back to October's defeat at Stoke City. Only once have they lost at their new home in this competition too, going down to Preston North End in the same difficult month.

But it's been astonishingly plain sailing since then, with Brentford currently on a run of eight victories from their last nine matches. Only second-placed Swansea City prevented them from winning in that sequence, and that was away from home.

The Bees have won their last five fixtures on home soil, settling very nicely into their new surroundings in West London.

In a squad packed with outstanding talent at the level, there are a couple of very familiar faces to Reds fans. Defender Ethan Pinnock spent a couple of years at Oakwell, most notably helping Barnsley to promotion in 2019 before moving south to tomorrow's hosts.

And up front for the Bees is ex-Reds loanee striker Ivan Toney, who was also part of a promotion squad at Oakwell, as Barnsley returned to the second tier via the playoffs in 2016.

Toney is in unbelievable form during what is his first season at Championship level, plundering an amazing 23 goals already, including the winner in the reverse meeting at Oakwell back in November of last year.

As referred to at the start of this preview, our last trip to Brentford will live long in the memory of all associated to this club of ours.

Club News

WATCH REDS AT BEES

13 February 2021

With only a win good enough to see the Reds retain their second tier status on the final day at Griffin Park, a last-gasp Clarke Oduor goal saw us to a 2-1 win. That saw Barnsley finish one point above the drop-zone, and also ended the Bees automatic promotion hopes.

We will have live coverage from the Brentford Community Stadium on iFollow Barnsley, with Matt Bailey joined by Callum Cooper on commentary.

Grab your Match Pass as the Reds tackle the Bees on Sunday at 1pm!

Match Reports

REDS IN IMPRESSIVE BEES VICTORY

14 February 2021

The Reds returned to winning ways with a fine display in West London this afternoon.

Goals in either half from Conor Chaplin and Carlton Morris saw Barnsley to a huge win in their first trip to the Brentford Community Stadium.

It was another bright start to the game for Barnsley, dominant in and out of possession but in the very early stages they weren't able to take advantage of a number of attacking moves and set-plays.

The away side were struggling for fluidity in their play, which was unusual to see and it was no surprise when the Reds eventually forged ahead through Conor Chaplin.

Our livewire forward was on the end of Callum Brittain's left-footed cross, and from inside the six-yard box he diverted the ball home beyond David Raya.

The Bees nearly hit back almost instantly when Josh Dasilva was found in space on the edge of the box, but the forward's effort was dragged wide of the post.

Both Daryl Dike and Carlton Morris were enjoying their first starts for the Reds and their physical presence was proving a handful for Brentford to cope with.

Morris went close to doubling the Reds' lead with a fine header but Raya got across to clutch it high above his head and away from the top corner.

Just before the break, Saman Ghoddos tried a snapshot from the edge of the box but Brad Collins parried away the powerful try, and the referee blew the whistle for half time.

HALF-TIME: Bees 0-1 Reds

Barnsley flew out of the blocks in the second half as after fine work on the right and a notable flick by Chaplin, the Reds were into the box through Dike, his shot/cross fell for Morris and the former Norwich City man stroked home his first goal for the Reds.

Substitute Victor Adeboyejo rocketed an effort just over the bar as the visitors looked for a third, before the Bees nearly reduced the arrears when their own sub Tariqe Fosu saw a stinging drive parried away by Collins.

The hosts hadn't lost for 22 consecutive league games and they were piling on the pressure in the final 15 minutes with the Reds throwing bodies in the way, looking for a first league victory of 2021.

And despite the ref's best efforts to make things interesting with some bizarre decisions towards the end of the match, the yellow-carded Valérien Ismaël's side held on for a superb victory on the road.

FULL-TIME: Bees 0-2 Reds

Collins, Brittain, Sollbauer (Sibbick), Helik, Andersen, Styles, Palmer (Williams), Mowatt, Chaplin (Frieser), Dike (Woodrow), Morris (Adeboyejo).

Unused: Walton, Oduor, Moon, Kane.