Megson's Misfits Misfire
Nicky Forster, the Brentford boss saw his side take all three points in the Steel City as the Bees ran out 3-1 winners over strugglers Sheffield Wednesday.
The visitors warmed up for their Wembley showdown in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final with Carlisle on Sunday by inflicting yet more pain on the Owls boss Gary Megson.
Megson who was appointed in mid-January by owner Milan Mandaric has yet to see his side record a home win.
“We’ve eight games to go until the end of the season and we’re going to have to grind out some results,” said Megson. “The standards I set myself and the other football clubs I’ve been at haven’t been attained here. Jermaine Johnson is the only one I will single out for praise and that’s because he deserves it.”
Johnson was isolated when he came off the bench after 55 minutes with his teammates already 2-1 down after Michael Spillane and Jeffrey Schlupp’s goals, either side of loan centre half’s Rob Jones effort, had put the Londoners in command.
Bees boss Nicky Forster said: “I was delighted with the solidarity shown by the side. I’d dropped or rested seven players to give some others a chance to prove themselves for Sunday and they’ve done brilliantly in giving me a [selection] headache.”
The pace was frenetic in the early stages and it was right back Spillane who targeted the home side’s Achilles heel of defending set pieces as he nodded Nathan Byrne’s outswinging corner past Richard O’Donnell.
The riposte was swift however as Jones, with head heavily bandaged, planted a firm header past Sunderland loanee Trevor Carson from one of few inviting crosses by Gary Teale.
Jones, the former Hibs defender, who is on loan from Scunthorpe was, according to Forster “a real threat and a thorn in our side”, so he was delighted to see the 6’ 7” defender hobble off, but only after a wonderful flowing move that saw the visitors take the lead.
Lewis Grabban, who was a handful all night, cut in from the left flank, played a neat give and go with Schlupp, before attacking the byline with venom and chipping for the latter to nod home.
The lowest attendance at Hillsborough, bar a smattering of Bees, were not happy and despite Johnson’s best efforts, Sam Saunders was brought off the bench in the dying stages to curl a central 20 yard free kick off the foot of O’Donell’s post and seal a richly deserved three points.
Megson finalised: “Players should be inspired by Hillsborough, not scared of it. I’m worried if our own players are intimidated. It’s easy, the opposition should be scared but we’re not intense enough.”
Comments
Post a Comment