Flemming Pedersen’s Development Squad suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Bolton Wanderers this afternoon in the Under-21 Professional Development League Two at Jersey Road. Wanderers took the lead from the spot after ten minutes as Jamie Thomas converted following Jan Holldack’s foul on Chris Cvetko but The Bees were level midway through the half when Callum Spooner’s mishit clearance rebounded into his own net. The visitors retook the lead on the stroke of half-time as Enock Likoy-Elumba outmuscled Chris Mepham and slid a neat finish past Jack Bonham and they wrapped up the points with 25 minutes to play thanks to substitute Alex Samizadeh’s composed finish.
Scott Hogan started for The Bees with Josh Bohui and Reece Cole the only alterations from last week’s 0-0 draw with Queens Park Rangers. Bolton came to West London on a run of one win in seven and looked to keep things tight in the early stages. With Philip Twardzik sitting just in front of the back four and the rest of the midfield in a narrow diamond formation Bolton looked to frustrate The Bees and make it difficult for them to play through the middle of the pitch and in the opening stages it worked.
The Bees dominated possession and territory but didn’t threaten Ross Fitzsimons goal and when Bolton counter-attacked they went ahead. A long ball in behind released Cvetko, Jack Bonham made the save but Holdack then bundled over the midfielder as he looked to control the rebound: the referee pointed to the spot and Thomas stroked home from 12 yards. Wanderers should have made it 2-0 three minutes later as Zain Westbrooke gave away possession in the middle allowing Twardzik to stride forward, he rounded Bonham but Westbrooke got back in to make a vital goal saving tackle.
Brentford came close to equalising five minutes later as Cole’s free-kick slammed off the bar and rebounded away to safety but Pedersen’s side did draw level after 20 minutes. The Bees managed to get in down the side of the Bolton defence and Josh Clarke’s low ball was diverted into his own net by Spooner from eight yards. If Brentford had hoped the goal would provide a springboard to take control of the game it never really materialised.
Twardzik’s long-range effort was well fielded by Bonham and Nat Phillips headed over a corner from close range, just moments after huge appeals for handball against The Wanderers defender had been turned down as he blocked Tom Field’s fierce drive. The visiting side went back ahead in first-half injury time as a Likoy-Elumba barged his way past Mepham by the touchline and drove towards goal before coolly slotting home under Bonham.
Chances were at a real premium in the second-half as the game became very bitty and stop-start thanks in no small part to the high number of free-kicks given. Cole’s brilliant burst into the box wasn’t matched by the finish before Field saw a fierce drive blocked at the edge of the area. As with the first two goals it was a simple long ball that undid The Bees and secured the points for the visitors’ midway through the half. Mepham failed to get enough purchase on his header clear, Samizadeh played a one-two with George Newell and raced in behind to finish past Bonham.
The Bees tried to rally in the closing stages but Wanderers held onto the lead comfortably. The nearest Pedersen’s side came to getting themselves back into the game was a Bradley Clayton shot that drifted wide of Fitzsimons post and a late Holldack effort that fizzed just wide.
Brentford: Jack Bonham; Josh Clarke, Chris Mepham, Jan Holldack, Tom Field; James Ferry, Reece Cole (sub Nathan Fox 78 mins); Herson Alves (sub Julius Fenn-Evans 73 mins), Zain Westbrooke (sub Bradley Clayton 55 mins), Josh Bohui; Scott Hogan Subs not used: Cameron Greaves
Bolton Wanderers: Ross Fitzsimons; Callum Spooner, Nat Phillips, Alex Finney, Tyler Garratt; Jordan Lussey (sub Alex Perry 55 mins), Philip Twardzik, Chris Cvetko, Jamie Thomas; George Newell, Enock Likoy-Elumba (sub Alex Samizadeh 64 mins) Subs not used: Jake Turner, Max Allen, Harry Brockbank