Live updates from Griffin Park, 7.45pm BST kick-offThe Fiver: Brentford, Leighton Baines and space planesEmail Paul or tweet @Paul_Doyle with your thoughts 7.00pm BST Brentford: Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Jensen, Henry; Marcondes, Norgaard, Pinnock; Watkins, Benrahma, MbeumoSubs: Canos, Daniels, Da Silva, Dervisoglu, Fosu, Jeanvier, Valencia, Zamburek, Rasmussen 4.01pm BST Hello. One hundred and sixteen years ago Griffin Park staged its first competitive match, a 1-1 draw between Brentford and Plymouth Argyle in the Western League. Today the dear old ground hosts its last game and if things go as the home side hope, then Brentford will be a step closer to the Premier League. So today is about a farewell and a potential happy return for a club who have been estranged from the top-flight since 1947. But Swansea want to get back there, too, and they have the advantage of a 1-0 lead from the first leg thanks to André Ayew’s goal and Rico Henry’s sending off. The red card has been rescinded but it’s up to Brentford to overturn the score.Brentford certainly have the firepower to do it. They were the highest scorers in the Championship thanks mainly to their celebrated “BMW” strikeforce (Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins). But no member of that trio has scored in their last three matches, all of which Brentford lost, just as promotion seemed theirs for the taking. And if you want to talk about form, let’s also mention Brentford’s ominous playoff record: they’ve been in playoffs eight times in various divisions and never emerged with promotion. Continue readingreadfullarticle
