Just over a month into the new season and Brentford sat sixth in the Sky Bet Championship just three points off top spot but there were plenty of tough games to come before the end of September.
First up was arguably The Bees hardest test of the season so far as pre-season promotion favourites Norwich City came to Griffin Park. The Canaries had started the season strongly, sitting second in the league table, but they were totally out-played in the first-half as Mark Warburton’s side created chance after chance without managing to find a way through. However The Bees were taught a lesson about the Sky Bet Championship in the second-half as a clinical Norwich scored three times through Alex Tettey and a Cameron Jerome brace to inflict a first home defeat of the season.
If The Bees had been unlucky in defeat at home to Norwich City there could be no complaints about their second loss in four days as Middlesbrough ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at The Riverside. Mark Warburton’s side trailed 1-0 at half-time to a Grant Leadbitter rocket but found no response in the second 45 as Albert Adomah, Patrick Bamford and Kike secure a comfortable win for Boro. After back-to-back defeats Brentford wanted a response and they got one against a lack-lustre Leeds United side. Goals in either half from Jota, his first for the club, and Alan McCormack secured a 2-0 win for The Bees.
September ended with a derby against Watford and while the result didn’t go The Bees way the performance suggested Mark Warburton’s side were perfectly at home in the second tier. Odion Ighalo put the hosts ahead just before half-time tapping home after David Button had saved his penalty. Jonathan Douglas then looked to have secured at least a point before Matej Vydra’s wonderstrike wrapped up the points late on.
It was another tough couple of weeks for the Development Squad as they let a 2-0 lead, given to them thanks to goals from Bradley Clayton and Charlie Adams, slip to lose 3-2 away at Colchester United. Betinho’s first goal in a Brentford shirt secured a point for Jon De Souza’s side at home to Sheffield Wednesday. The Portuguese striker smashed home with 20 minutes to go to cancel out Matt Penney’s stunning opener. A 13 minute Diego De Girolamo hat-trick extended the Development Squad’s winless run to three as they went down 4-1 to Sheffield United. Josh Clarke’s goal was the only bright spot on another difficult afternoon for The Bees.
Alan McCormack signed a new two-year deal at Griffin Park to take his through to the summer of 2016. Injury forced Josh Clarke to return early from his loan spell at Dagenham and Redbridge. Under-15 Harry Francis was called up to an England Training Camp.
Brentford’s Youth Team continued their fine start to the season with a 2-2 draw away at Coventry City. Under-16s Josh Bohui and Danny Parish were the Brentford scorers in a match that saw both sides reduced to ten men. Next up Chris Mepham’s first-half strike was enough to see off Crewe Alexandra at Jersey Road. The Bees rode their luck in the second-half but secured the win to move to the top of the table.
As the 125th Anniversary of the club’s formation drew nearer a number of events were announced to celebrate the landmark. The Brentford FC Community Sports Trust launched their Anniversary Football Tournament which would see 125 Primary Schools from five Boroughs compete in a year-long tournament. Natalie Sawyer and England Manager Roy Hodgson were confirmed as attendees at the 125th Anniversary Dinner.
In other off the pitch news it was announced that the club had agreed a further four year deal with sports clothing giants Adidas to produce their kit and leisure wear while Mike Power and Nity Raj were added to the Brentford FC Board of Directors.