Football Season Review

Brentford entered the season determined to exorcise the demons of the heartbreaking ending of their previous campaign and win promotion to the Championship for the first time since the early nineties. Despite keeping the core of their last season's squad together and strengthening over the summer, the Bees started the season rather poorly, as they won only four of their opening eleven games, with a 2:0 home defeat to early leaders Leyton Orient being a particularly painful result. However, things suddenly changed in early October, as the Bees broke into the top six with a five-game winning run, with their streak only ending with a goalless draw away to eventual champions Wolverhampton. Brentford did not slow down after having their winning run snapped, as they kept winning their games and did not lose in the league again until mid February, when they fell to home defeat to Wolves. They recorded 16 victories and 3 draws between mid October and mid February, with this feat being even more impressive when knowing that they lost boss Uwe Rosler, who went to join Wigan, during this period. Mark Warburton, who left his role as the club's sporting director to take over as manager following Rosler's departure, fit into his new role with remarkable ease, and got the Bees to keep playing the attacking football that became their trademark under Rosler. The arguably crucial result of Brentford's season came on March the 15th, when they managed to overcome Leyton Orient thanks to a goal by Marcello Trotta, who infamously missed a last-minute penalty in the final round of the previous season and cost them promotion. The win over the O's saw the Bees moving two points above their London rivals with two games in hand, and they did not let their lead slip in the remainder of the season. They secured direct promotion with a home win over Preston with three games to spare, but the division title remained beyond them, as Wolverhampton were simply too strong. The Bees are now set to play in the Championship for the first time in more than 20 years - Warburton will be expected to be given funds to strengthen his squad over the summer, but the Brentford manager already stated that all of this season's first team regulars will have roles to play next season.

Player of the Season: Adam Forshaw