AFCB v Brentford Match Reports

[BournemouthBee]

After the pasting in the first half I'm grateful to come away from Goldsands (really?!) Stadium with a point.

Bournemouth were on fire from the whistle and could've gone 2-0 up in the first few minutes. We then got back in to it and took the lead with an OG. Free kick into the box and Jalal and Francis went for the same ball with it flicking off the defender into an empty net.

Brentford pushed on and could've gone further ahead with chances for Douglas (header across goal) and Donaldson.

Bournemouth then came back into the game and equalised with a smart header from Tubbs who was a thorn in our side for large parts of the game. It then went all wrong when a through ball into the left side of the area put Grabban through and as Moore dived at his feet he went over his arm. Don't blame him for doing it myself but it's still cheating. A well placed penalty then put them 2-1 up.

Second half the anonymous Diagouraga was replaced by Forrester and what a difference that made. His runs, passes and link up play with Bidwell changed the game and he levelled the scores with a nicely placed, curled finish round the keeper.

The Cherries had sat back and now awoke again. Simon Moore kept us in it with 2 great saves. Tubbs clean through hit his shot through Moore's legs but he got a touch and Logan cleared off the line. The next save was top drawer pushing a shot onto the post and agonisingly along the line and out for a corner.

Brentford finished the stronger and could've sneaked it at the end.

Cherries fans booed their own team off at the end and were calling for Groves' head which is odd considering how well they played, particularly in the first half. Pugh was excellent in midefield, O'Kane sprayed the ball all over the pitch and Tubbs should have been the matchwinner.

Bees were poor at times in the first half with no passes to feet and Douglas and Diagouraga making little contribution. As said on the updates thread I'm not sure how they start each game. I would like us to start with a little more confidence and positivity and play like we did in the second half. Forrester is too good to be on the bench.

Liked Adeyemi tonight and Harlee was immense. Front 2 did ok and Donaldson worked his socks off. Moore has to be MoM for the saves in the second half. Forshaw was a slow starter but improved second half.

We improved second half when we spread out rather than playing the tight diamond formation. There's a lesson in there for you Mr Rosler IMHO.

[GABS]

Just back to my Hampshire pad and I don't have an in depth report such as above but can confirm that Forrester was indeed a game changer. Even before the goal he brought a threat to our play that was never there prior to that and pushed Bournemouth onto the back foot more than they had been all game. His first senior goal (?) was an absolute gem! Cut in from the left wing, right in front of the away fans, and curled/placed in a peach of a shot. Cue a top celebration from both players and fans, happy days!! Right off to bed.... YOOUUUU BEES!

[Alan D]

Short ride home, via the pub. Agree with Bournemouth and we did somewhat up the tempo in the second half and could well have nicked it in the end. My Cherry associates were happy to settle for a point at the end and thought the Bees looked a decent outfit. The penalty was a disgrace and I personally thought that Moore had no need to go down for the ball, as Grabben would would never have kept the ball in play. However, Grabben took full advantage with his dive. All in all probably a fair result and a point gained rather than two dropped.

[jacksonbfc]

Great scenes after forrestere's goal!! Definatly a point gained, we were poor tonight and still got a result. YOU REDSSSS!!!

[Voice from the Braemar]

just back to chertsey south central......great game for the neutral and could have ended 7-7 !! we were shocking at times though....dave probably put in one of the worst performances ive EVER seen from a bees player and douglas was only just behind....when will rosler realise that these 2 just arnt good enough and its getting embarrasing that he never ever subs douglas even though he does absolutely nothing except give the ball away constitantly....its 'kin very very strange.

on the plus side, forrester looked good when he FINALLY got on and some of the passing in the 2nd half was pretty decent.....if only we could finish some of those crosses we'd ruin some teams...clayton was his usual frustrating self, lovely one minute, crap the next...lots of effort but once again his first touch and finishing was awful.....moore made a couple of great saves to keep us in it and the support from the 500 or so bees there was immense.....great turnout considering and the best vocals at an away game for ages.....happy with a point but could/should have been 3 on the 2nd half showing...saying that bmuff will be probably saying the same

[Kettering Bee]

I'm less concerned about the tinkering of personnel than the tinkering of systems. Started with the diamond and seemed to switch to 442. That worked eventually, but players looked confused with the diamond and muff certainly knew how to exploit it as we were so narrow.

That said we had a real go at them in second half and probably deserved a win.

[jlove]

Bournemouth were up-and-at-us from the start and our sluggish midfield swapped around a few times trying to find a formation to cope with it but the defence was heavily exposed too often. Douglas was appalling and Dave vanished. A lucky OG gave us an advantage, though, but the Cherries never wilted, with Tubbs getting the better of Craig to head an equaliser. Then an appalling dive by Grabban and the ref pointed to the spot... disaster! We were always second in the first half and the front two were never in the game; not holding the ball up and always seemingly in the wrong place.

The second half started a bit like the first but then we woke up bit; the transformation coming with Forrester replacing Dave and Adeyemi dropping to the back of the midfield. Forrester showed his skill and showed the strikers that you need to shoot enough times and one will go in... cue celebrations. Donaldson scooped one over the bar from a yard-and-a-half out - I bet he couldn't do that if he tried to - and Farid never looked like getting anything. To be fair to Clayton, he did have a good shot wide when a ball came to him off a defender but he then spent a lot of time outside the box to avoid having to miss again. Hayes replaced Farid and had some horrible touches and some great ones; I really hope the ratio will improve with more match-time as he did try to bring in others and create opportunities out of very little. Dean had another excellent game defensively and was our best striker as well.

[newbee79]

Only reason they were on top 1st half was because of our diamond formation which allowed then space and to look better than they are.2nd half with 442 they coildnt handle us,if we had started with that,we could have done them right up,they Really could handle us,resorted to hit and hope,all because we played a more Standard formation

We have the players and talent to do something this season,honest

[Basil Brush]

Bournemouth started well but I always felt they were there for the taking and if we're going to do anything this season we should have taken 3 points. Still a point away from home, great support tonight from the Bees following and great celebrations for the equaliser.

[TwickenhamBEE]

Didn't understand the formation in the first half and i don't think the players did either had the norwich boy out right with diagouraga out left for most of it, they were doing a great job on us in first half and despite there penalty being a dive by grabban they prob did deserve to be ahead at h/t.
Second half we played how we can do and forrester was at the centre of that, cracking performance and a wonderful goal, either side could of won it had my hands over my face when Tubbs went 1on1 with Moore . Decent point in the end

[Paul USA]

We played superb football from the moment Forrester came on and until he scored - Once we had scored we never played that type of football agian. Had we been able to, we would have won the game without any doubt.

Another frustrating night but as we could have been 4-1 down at half time without any complaints this is a point gained.

[Balders Bee]

We have the players and talent to do something this season,honest

Maybe but Uwe seems he is struggling to find the tactics and formation and indeed starting XI to realise that potential.

[Brentford_till_die]

A game of two halfs.
First half we got lucky and found ourselves one nil up after an own goal.
Didint know where any of the midfield were playing, all over the place. Kept backing off allowing runs and shots on our goal very early on that rarely troubled Moore but it was pressure. They were switching the play and sending the ball long for fun and we couldn't cope.

Cross from the right and Tubbs headed the equaliser.
Grabban had a few chances also, then for the penalty don't know need to see it again but looked a dive from Grabban and Moore never touched him.

Two one down the attitude on from the players was wrong. Most of the players didnt look bothered we were losing after going one nil up and kept backing off allowing them Bournemouth time to think on the ball and make passes.
We were quite sloppy and couldn't hold the ball, three or four passes and we would give it away.

No idea how we got to half time at only 2-1. Bournemouth should have wrapped it up but we should have wrapped it up at Orient but we didint.

Douglas had a good chance at 1-0 to make to 2 with what looked an easy header at the back post.

I was expecting Uwe to give them a good kick up the arse and we came out for the second half much brighter and started to play the pressing game we should have been playing in the first half.

We had Bournemouth on the back foot a lot more.
The substitution was the changing point tho. Harry came on the left wing and instantly got involved linking up with Bidwell. He has a lot of skill and quick turn of pace. Quality on the ball and likes to shot, could have had another before his goal which was brilliantly taken. Absolute stunner.

When we we got it back to 2-2 we seemed to stop getting the ball to Forrester who was dangerous all night and was in acres of space.

Thought we was going to get the winner but wasn't to be. Moore also kept us in the game with two great stops in the second half. The second was a beauty he pushed onto the post which looked like it was going straight in but it rebounded across goal. And also Logan made a great clearance of the line to keep it at 2-2.

Donaldson worked his socks off. Very good in the channels, held the ball up well and made some amazing runs. His turn of pace is amazing, super quick. Unlucky in the penalty box, had a few half chances but the ball didint really fall in the right place or sit up for him.

Hayes looked nackered after 5minutes. Couldn't only seem to jog for the rest of the match.

Forrester must start Saturday. Was auprised he didit start tonight but he has won his place in the team. Incredible performance.

Dean was solid at the back. Won pretty much all his headers and distribtuted the ball well. Another good performance.

Craig who didint have a great hame Turned a few times and first half especially most things went over his head.

Very pleased with the second half performance. But why couldn't we have played like that from the off? In their faces, pressing them high up the pitch and using the ball effectively.
First half we couldn't string 5 passes together, didnt know who was playing where in midfield, aimless balls forward, didnt look up for it, kept backing off and weren't pressing often being caught out in the wide areas.

Great celebrations for the equaliser. Players and fans went mental another point away from home, could have been all 3 but could have been 0. Win on Saturday please COYR

[DaveyC]

We played superb football from the moment Forrester came on and until he scored - Once we had scored we never played that type of football agian. Had we been able to, we would have won the game without any doubt.

Another frustrating night but as we could have been 4-1 down at half time without any complaints this is a point gained.

Agreed!! As soon as we equalised we stopped giving him the ball down the left?. It was there for the taking IMO, the momentum was with us.

[Brentford_till_die]

We played superb football from the moment Forrester came on and until he scored - Once we had scored we never played that type of football agian. Had we been able to, we would have won the game without any doubt.

Another frustrating night but as we could have been 4-1 down at half time without any complaints this is a point gained.

Spot on

[Brentford_till_die]

Also if we play the diamond King Kev should be starting as the holding midfielder.

[Brentford_till_die]

The silver kit looked good, refer it to the current away one

[DavidgRushden]

Cannot understand the situation where we have no goalkeeper on the substitutes bench. Isn't that asking for trouble? A really risky thing to do.

[Sultan]

Cannot understand the situation where we have no goalkeeper on the substitutes bench. Isn't that asking for trouble? A really risky thing to do.

Both reserve keepers injured. Lee out for another couple of weeks. Gounet should be back for Saturday. Bidwell, played in goal until he was 15, was next in line if Moore got injured or sent off. Hope that helps.

[DavidgRushden]

Thanks Sultan for that information - much appreciated. Did Lee get injured in a non first team match? Must admit didn't know Bidwell was the substitute goalie.
Would love to see Gounet playing the latter part of a match if we were winning heavily like against Crewe, just to see how he handled the goalkeeping position.

[Sultan]

Got the info from the post match interview with Rosler on Beesplayer. Has Lee been fit at all this season?

[Voice from the Braemar]

Maybe but Uwe seems he is struggling to find the tactics and formation and indeed starting XI to realise that potential.

spot on....as i said for the last 12 months he's clueless when it comes to picking our best team/formation/tactics etc.....and for me its just not good enough.....he wont be here at xmas and i'll put money on that

[To Bee Someone]

Got the info from the post match interview with Rosler on Beesplayer. Has Lee been fit at all this season?

By the sounds of it, he hasn't been fully fit and has had at least a slight problem. That said, I think Moore has done little wrong and made some top saves so at the moment, it is his spot to lose now.

Didn't go to the game but by the sounds of it, it seems like a point earned. Maybe feel we should have come away with more for our troubles but could have been a lot worse.
I'm not too concerned about Uwe tinkering with the midfield as he wants to ascertain the right balance. Its tricky as it appears that both Forshaw and Forrester need to be weaned into playing on a regular basis.
The one thing that does concern me is we have these lapses in our play and attitude that occur far too often. At Walsall and now Bournemouth, we seem to have willingly passed the ascendancy to the opposing team. I think it is up to Rosler and his appointed generals on the pitch to try to nip this in the bud.

[IslandBee]

Diamonds are for never!

Please let five minutes into the second half against Bournemouth be the moment that the diamond formation was confined to its grave, entombed in concrete never to be seen again. It was a complete fiasco in the first half: the more forward midfielders were too far apart meaning that Bournemouth had acres of space and making it near-impossible for us to get a passing game going. We were reliant for width on Douglas and the Norwich guy, which meant we did not have any; and because they inevitably drifted inside it also meant that our full-backs were exposed, though Logan didn't help himself on occasions by bad decision-making. We were largely non-existent as an attacking threat. I really feared for us at half time.
It was amazing that we started the second half unchanged, but finally good sense prevailed. Reverting to 4-4-2 utterly transformed us, not least because Harry was fantastic on the left, but not just because of that: we were much more solid in the middle and totally squeezed Bournemouth out of the game; our midfielders actually had someone nearby to pass to; and our wide players and full-backs combined to make us more threatening going forward and more robust at the back. We completely controlled the second half, albeit that there were scares towards the end.
Worries remain: it is a total mystery how Craig keeps Legge out of the side. He, and Bidwell's apparent lack of confidence at the moment, are making us looking quite fragile at the back, and it was only thanks to Moore (a must-start in my view and not just because he comes for IOW!) that we weren't punished for this. Secondly, while Donaldson had a good hard-working game, and Farid is a trier, we still lacked real punch upfront. A nippy, penalty box player is what we require, but that has been true for a long time now.
However, if these two issues could be sorted out, and the diamond is dispensed with once-and-for-all, we might just be on to something this season.

[Simon BMTH]

Bournemouth here - Didn't go but this could be our board with people moaning about a diamond formation that doesn't work! Lets hope our managers realise that 442 is the way to go.

Just a quick point about Forrester - he must have been pleased that our manager decided to keep the right hand side of the diamond (Arter) and the right back (Francis) both on the pitch when they were both injured! Apparently the whole crowd (men, women, kids, dogs..) had realised this, but not Groves! ...

Oh well, draw seemed a fair result - lets hope we can both improve as the season progresses...