After a fine end to January Brentford went into February tracking the Sky Bet Championship leaders with a third of the season to go. As it would turn out February would be a memorable month for all sorts of reasons.
The month began with Brentford concluding their January transfer window business with the signing of Blackburn Rovers defender Jack O’Connell for an undisclosed fee. The defender joined on a three-and-a-half year deal before heading back out on loan to Rochdale until the end of the season. Mark Warburton was nominated for the Sky Bet Manager of the Month for January after Brentford won three of their four matches. However he was pipped to the accolade by Aitor Karanka, whose Middlesbrough side inflicted Brentford’s only defeat of the month.
In other player news in February Academy graduate Herson Rodrigues Alves signed a three-year professional contract to stay with The Bees. The 18-year-old former S.L. Benfica attacker was part of the Brentford team that won the Milk Cup in 2012. Kieran Morris returned to Brentford after his loan deal with Evo-Stick Northern Premier League side Stourbridge came to an end. The defender had played seven matches for his former side, winning three and keeping three clean sheets. Another defender also returned to Brentford as Under-18 Gradi Milenge’s loan spell at Farnborough came to an end. 17-year-old Courtney Senior also returned to Jersey Road at the end of his loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers. The wide player made his Football League debut with the Buckinghamshire club in their defeat against Plymouth Argyle as he spent a month at Adams Park. There was positive news on the injury front as Scott Hogan, who had been out since August with a knee injury, resumed outdoor running as part of his rehabilitation.
On the pitch the month began in fine style as Alex Pritchard’s second-half goal made it four wins from five for Brentford as they beat Leeds United 1-0 at Elland Road. The Spurs loanee turned home Toumani Diagouraga’s low cross for the decisive goal that saw The Bees move up to fourth in the Sky Bet Championship. It was an extra special day for Toumani as he became the first non UK or Ireland player to make 200 appearances for The Bees.
However just three days later Brentford would become the centre of football news.
Brentford’s top-of-the-table Sky Bet Championship clash with Watford was overshadowed as press reports suggested that manager Mark Warburton, and his coaching team, may be on their way out of Griffin Park. On the pitch things weren’t helped as Jake Bidwell saw red in the first-half for a tackle on Miguel Layun. Despite that Andre Gray put Brentford ahead just after the break only for an Odion Ighalo double late onto take the points back to Hertfordshire. An out of sorts Brentford then fell to a second defeat in four days as Charlton Athletic ran out comfortable winners at The Valley. Johann Guðmundsson, Igor Vetokele and Tony Watt were the scorers as Brentford slipped out of the top six on a miserable day all round in South London.
The Development Squad continued their upturn in form as Nick Proschwitz’s first-half goal meant it was back–to-back wins after a 1-0 success against Cardiff City. The German striker’s first-half goal settled matters in a match that saw Alan McCormack return after just over three months out with an ankle injury. A week later and a third straight win was confirmed with a dominant performance against QPR. A brace for Jermaine Udumaga and one for Betinho and Bradley Clayton wrapped up a convincing 4-1 win. The Bees winning run did, however, come to an end on the following Friday night at Griffin Park as an impressive Swansea City side ran out 4-2 winners. In front of a crowd of a few hundred Josh Laurent’s brace wasn’t enough to prevent defeat as a Raphael Calvet own goal and goals from Kenji Gorre, Giancarlo Gallifuoco and Alex Samuel wrapped up the win for the visitors.
Bradley Clayton’s 97th minute goal meant Brentford’s Youth Team took a share of the spoils from their home league match against Swansea City. Owain Jones looked to have sealed the three points for the hosts until Clayton popped up late on to bundle home from close range. The Brentford striker was in the goals a week later as his double helped Brentford to a fourth win in five after a 4-2 success against Colchester United. James Ferry and Zain Westbrooke also found the back of the net as Jon De Souza’s side continued to set the pace at the top of Under-18 PDL Two South.
In club news it was announced that Jota’s stunning strike away at Cardiff City had been voted the club’s Goal of the Year for 2014. Managerial uncertainty also surrounded another Brentford team as Brentford Women’s FC lost 2-1 away at Camden Town to signal the end of manager Leigh Begam’s time in charge. Senior players Lisa Grant and Caroline Brooks would take over the side until the end of the season.