Any thoughts that Brentford remarkable first season back in the second tier was going to fizzle out following the news about Mark Warburton’s departure was firmly put to bed as The Bees continued to keep pace at the top of the Sky Bet Championship.
March began as February had ended with a comprehensive Tuesday night win at Griffin Park. This time it was Huddersfield Town on the end of the beating as Chris Long scored twice on his full debut with Alex Pritchard and Jota making the game safe late on. Four days later Jonathan Douglas’s goal midway through the first half meant that The Bees left Suffolk with a share of the points after a 1-1 draw against promotion rivals Ipswich Town. Darryl Murphy scored for the hosts early on but Douglas’s header levelled things up, although only Murphy will know how he did not grab a second late on as he blasted over an open goal.
A fourth straight home win would elude Mark Warburton’s side as Cardiff City stole all three points at Griffin Park. It looked like business as usual as Andre Gray put Brentford ahead before the break but Federico Macheda and Alex Revell capitalised on defensive blunders to put the visitors ahead. The Bluebirds were reduced to nine men late on and should have been reduced further but the officials failed to see Kenwyne Jones handball on the line to save James Tarkowski’s goalbound effort as Russell Slade’s side held on for the three points.
While the First-Team were chasing a Play-Off spot, or better, the Youth Team wrapped up their participation in the end of season shootout after a 4-1 win at home to Cardiff City. Herson Rodrigues Alves scored twice after a Rhys Abrizze own-goal had cancelled out Ellis Bellamy’s opener for the visitors. Jeremiah Kamanzi wrapped up the points and a Play-Off spot late on. A week later an eighth win in nine duly arrived as Josh Bohui’s first-half goal saw off Bristol City in the West Country. It was far from a vintage Brentford performance but Bohui’s cross-cum-shot was enough to settle the match.
The Bees fine form as turning international manager’s heads as midfielder Kyjuon Marsh-Brown was called up to an Antigua and Barbuda training camp ahead of the start of their 2018 World Cup Qualifying campaign. He was joined in getting international recognition as Nik Tzanev was selected for two New Zealand Under-20's friendlies against Uzbekistan in early April.
Lee Carsley’s Development Squad extended their good run of form to one defeat in six after a 1-1 draw at home to Millwall. Emmanuel Oyeleke’s cool first-half finish was cancelled out after the break when Jamie Philpot raced clear and slotted home. The two sides met again at The Den a week later with The Lions coming from 2-0 down to secure a share of the spoils. Jermaine Udumaga and Bradley Clayton’s goals looked to have the points returning West before Mageye Gueye scored twice, one either side of half-time, to level the match.
Attacking midfielder Charlie Adams joined United Soccer League side Louisville City on a permanent deal. The 20-year-old made his First Team debut as a substitute in a 2-0 defeat away at Carlisle United in March 2013 and made three further substitute appearances towards the end of the 2013/14 season after being promoted to the First Team squad.
Development Squad defender Kieran Morris agreed to extend his loan with Maidenhead United until the end of the season while Mark Smith returned from his successful loan spell with Hampton and Richmond Borough. In other Development Squad news Louis Hutton made the switch to Evo-Stick Southern League Division One Central Godalming Town for month long loan spell.
In club news Club President Denis Smith passed away following a battle with illness. Denis who worked for the club in various roles for 70 years was the founding Chairman of the Brentford Lifeline Society and appointed Club President in 2003.
Mark Warburton picked up the Manager of the Year gong at the London Football Awards. On the subject of awards the fans' vote for the Brentford Team of the Decade was completed with the four winners going forward for selection for the Football League Team of the Decade to commemorate 10 years of the Football League Awards.
Brentford fans raised more than £10,000 for the British Legion Poppy Appeal as signed match-worn shirts from The Bees match against Millwall were auctioned off.