When Marcus Forss scored four times in Brentford’s Carabao Cup win over Oldham Athletic last month, he broke a series of records. Marcus grabbed his four goals as The Bees won the Third Round tie 7-0. Marcus opened the scoring from the penalty spot inside the opening three minutes and made it two soon after. He completed his hat-trick before half time, slotting home after picking up a Saman Ghoddos pass. His fourth came when he smashed a Mads Roerslev cross in off the underneath of the crossbar.

Marcus became the first Brentford player to score four times in a match since Mike Grella did so in an EFL Trophy tie against AFC Bournemouth in November 2011. He also became the first Brentford player to ever score a hat-trick in an EFL Cup tie. More impressively, he equalled a long-standing Club Record.

Marcus has an affinity with the EFL Cup that has stretched through his burgeoning career. His first Brentford FC appearance came against Southend United in an EFL Cup tie in August 2018. He marked that appearance with a goal, opening the scoring in a 4-2 win.

Marcus scored again in a First Round tie the following year against Cambridge United and contributed two more in Brentford’s run to the Semi-Finals last season. He scored in a 2-2 draw against West Bromwich Albion that The Bees won on penalties. He also scored in Brentford’s Fourth Round win over Fulham in the following round.

This year has been his most prolific yet, scoring five times in two ties. He hit the third in a 3-1 win over Forest Green Rovers in the Second Round and then four against Oldham. Marcus’ tally of nine EFL Cup goals equals the record that until last month was held by Gary Blissett.

Brentford do not have a history of success in the EFL Cup. Last year’s run to the Semi-Finals was our best ever and an upcoming Fourth Round tie against Stoke City is only the fourth tie The Bees have reached that stage. The win over Fulham is the only victory at that stage.

Brentford’s first EFL Cup tie was a Second Round tie against Sunderland in October 1960. The Bees won that match 4-3 against the side a division higher. Jim Towers scored The Bees first ever EFL Cup goal in the fourth minute of that tie. It was the only EFL Cup goal scored by Brentford’s record marksman.

Johnny Rainford scored three goals in that run and was the Club’s first multiple EFL Cup scorer. Allan Mansley overtook Rainford’s record, scoring six times in two seasons in the late 1960s. Gary Roberts took the Club Record to seven in the early 1980s before the arrival of Blissett later in the decade.

Blissett scored on his first EFL Cup appearance for The Bees, also against Southend, in 1987 and hit two more in the 1988/89 season. His most prolific season was his last in Brentford colours as he grabbed three in 1992/93. That took his tally to nine, which was equalled by Forss last week.