It had taken more than four years but Jake Bidwell finally found himself on the scoresheet for The Bees as he netted in the 3-2 defeat to Cardiff City. The Bluebirds led 2-0 at the break but Jake’s header and then a John Swift strike looked to have salvaged a point on a rain-soaked night in South Wales. However, Dean Smith would suffer his first defeat as Brentford manager after Kenwyne Jones turned home a low cross deep into injury time. On the same night, and in the same driving rain and strong winds, there was another 3-2 defeat for a Brentford side as the Under-18s were knocked out of the FA Youth Cup by Leeds United. The Whites twice led, only for goals from Kyjuon Marsh-Brown and Zach Birse to peg them back. However, with time running out, Tyla Bell came off the bench to settle the tie with a close range finish.
After tasting defeat for the first-time in charge, Dean Smith and his side got back to winning ways four days later as Huddersfield Town were dispatched 4-2 at Griffin Park. The damage was done in the first-half as Sergi Canos, Lasse Vibe, and Alan Judge found the net. The visitors threatened a comeback as they found the net within seconds of the restart but Judge’s second, this time from the penalty spot, put the game to bed before The Terriers found a late consolation. In front of a packed Griffin Park on Boxing Day, Dean Smith’s side were mightily unlucky not to take the three points from promotion chasing Brighton and Hove Albion. The Seagulls had goalkeeper David Stockdale to thank for their point as he made fine saves to deny Alan Judge, Sam Saunders, and James Tarkowski in the second-half.
Just 24 hours after extending his loan deal at Griffin Park until the end of the season, Sergi Canos celebrated in style by scoring what would be the Goal of the Season in the 2-1 win over Reading at The Madejski Stadium. It was unfortunate for Ryan Woods as his opener that afternoon, a 30-yard strike into the top corner, would have been the Goal of the Month almost any other month of the season but, such was the quality of Sergi’s goal, it wasn’t even the Goal of the Match: The Spanish winger controlling Woods 60 yard pass before beating two men and volleying into the back of the net from 20 yards.
Lewis Macleod stepped up his comeback from injury by playing an hour in a behind-closed-doors friendly match at Chelsea’s Cobham Training Centre. Jan Holldack and Danny Parish were on target for Kevin O’Connor’s side in the 3-2 defeat which gave new Head Coach Dean Smith a valuable chance to look at members of his squad. The Youth Team’s wait for a win continued after Watford emerged 3-2 victors at Jersey Road. Jon De Souza’s side had shown great resilience to come back from 2-0 down, Josh Bohui and Kingsley Eshun on target, but Michael Folivi struck with seconds remaining to take the points. The Development Squad ended 2015 on a winning note as a strong side, which included Lewis Macleod, Yoann Barbet, and Jack O’Connell, ran out 3-2 winners over Cardiff City at Jersey Road. Jan Holldack, O’Connell, and Herson Rodrigues Alves were the men on target for The Bees.
After Lee Carsley’s departure the week before, his assistant Paul Williams departed Brentford in December as he joined the First-Team coaching staff at Nottingham Forest. Also leaving Griffin Park at the end of the year was Marcos Tebar as his contract was terminated by mutual consent. The Spanish midfielder had made six appearances in 18 months in West London but was now free to find a new club.
The Bees duo of Harlee Dean and Matt Stride were awarded the Sky Bet Football League unsung hero of the month award. The award came after they helped injured eight-year-old fan Ted Starkey who was hit by a car following the 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest in November. In other news around Griffin Park, a new Wall of Fame was created behind the Braemar Road stand to celebrate ten Brentford greats while the club also passed the Football League Financial Fair Play audit for the 2014/15 season.
One of the great players, managers, and innovators of English football, Jimmy Hill, died on 19 December, aged 87. Jimmy spent three years as a player at Griffin Park before embarking on a successful managerial career with Coventry City. In his time as a football administrator he helped abolish the maximum wage and was an instantly recognisable face and voice on Match of the Day for four decades.