FOR now, at least, Brentford are the pride of west London.
At the turn of the century, the Bees were battling it out at the bottom of League One while their neighbours in the capital Chelsea and Fulham were flying high in the Premier League.
Just over two decades on and the tables have turned in ways no one would have dared to imagine.
A comfortable victory over woeful Southampton saw the Bees buzz their way into seventh – Ben Mee, Bryan Mbeumo and Mathias Jensen all contributing.
Eighth-placed Fulham and ninth-placed Chelsea have temporarily been left in their dust.
The starstruck fans around these parts like to sing that they are nothing but a “bus stop in Hounslow”.
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Yet that bus stop could be welcoming passengers from across the continent next season should their rapid rise in England’s top continue.
It is now nine Prem games unbeaten, their last defeat coming an age ago in October. Only Arsenal and Newcastle have picked up more points since then.
And with February upon us, Thomas Frank’s miracle men are just three points off fifth.
Forget about west London – this lot can beat just about anyone, let alone a Saints outfit who just about have their heads above water in the fight to beat the drop.
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Nathan Jones arrived at the Gtech Community Stadium in good spirits, having overseen four wins in seven in all competitions.
The Welsh coach also had two Deadline Day attacking buys at his disposal from the bench – £22m record signing Kamaldeen Sulemana and £18m forward Paul Onuachu.
Yet he will be heading back down south in despair at another tepid and lacklustre display. Eight losses in nine league games is a pig-ugly statistic, six of those coming under Jones.
The chants from the away end were not much better: “Nathan Jones, your football is s**t” followed by, “You’re getting sacked in the morning” and, “Nathan Jones, get out of our club”.
Results for relegation rivals Wolves and Everton have heaped on the pressure further. Where their next three points will come from is anyone’s guess.
Jones stuck to the four at the back that saw his team improve in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg defeat to Newcastle in mid-week.
Four changes were made, but all eyes were on the dug-out as Sulemana and Onuachu awaited their chance in a Saints shirt.
Frank handed right back Aaron Hickey a first appearance since October following an ankle injury and Yoane Wissa was added to a menacing looking Brentford front three.
Wissa combined with Ivan Toney after just seven minutes, latching onto a cute chip and rounding Gavin Bazunu only to smack the bar with a rushed effort.
Brentford were slick on the ball, while the visitors were showing some grit at the back – Mohammed Salisu putting his body on the line to block Toney and Bryan Mbeumo chances.
In the 41st minute, however, Mee got the better of the dogged Salisu in the air, connecting brilliantly with Mbeumo’s delivery off his weaker right foot.
Lengthy treatment to both involved meant the restart was delayed, but 24 seconds after kick-off, Brentford were gifted a second thanks to some awful defending.
Josh Dasilva was given ample room to pick out Wissa on the left and Mbeumo was clinical with the goal gaping.
Jones acted at the break, chucking on both his new-boys. The 6ft7 Onuachu at least provided some sort of focal point, not that it led to any real chances.
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Those instead fell to the hosts – Toney having an effort cleared off the line before Rico Henry teed up the onrushing Jensen for a header into the far corner with 11 minutes left.
Brentford are on the up once more. Southampton are nervously looking over their shoulders.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
