Brentford 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0 (From Croydon Guardian)

Brentford 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0

9:50am Monday 6th September 2010 in

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A quality strike from Charlie MacDonald ensured Brentford grabbed their first league victory of the season in this narrow 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Griffin Park on Sunday.

The Bees turned in a more solid performance overall, during a match which kicked off at noon for the benefit of the Sky TV cameras, and were worthy victors over the early league leaders.

Afterwards Bees’ manager Andy Scott felt the best side had won: “They were charging forward at us in the second half, but we always looked dangerous on the break and everyone defended fantastically well and put their bodies on the line and it was a really good, deserved, win.”

After seeing an improved showing at Stevenage in midweek, Scott kept faith with many of those who had done well, while also making three changes to the starting line up.

On loan keeper Ben Hamer returned in goal, with Gary Alexander and MacDonald returning to lead the line. Richard Lee, Nicky Adams and Nicky Forster all dropped to the bench.

The opening exchanges were an even affair. Wednesday threatened after ten minutes when a corner from the left fell to Neil Mellor, but his shot was grabbed by Hamer.

For Brentford a Craig Woodman corner from the right was headed towards goal by Kevin O’Connor, but cleared off the line by Darren Potter, while shortly after Robbie Simpson fired a free kick wide left from 25 yards.

Hamer was alert to grab the ball after Chris Sedgwick took a pass on the edge of the box and swivelled before firing in a low shot. Hamer again made a simple save after a good run down the right by Sedgwick resulted in a deflected shot from Marcus Tudgay.

MacDonald made the vital breakthrough just before half time when he played the ball out to Woodman on the left and then took his return cross to the near post and after a great turn, fired the ball past Nicky Weaver.

Early in the second half MacDonald saw his shot blocked after a great run down the right by Michael Spillane, who had crossed into the six yard box.

The Bees should have doubled their lead when Simpson did well to create an opening from the right and after the ball bounced around inside Wednesday’s box, Myles Weston’s shot was saved before Simpson’s subsequent effort was cleared.

Brentford again had a great chance to make the points safe when they broke down the left wing and Alexander’s header resulted in Simpson hitting a dipping volley into the crossbar.

Substitute Nicky Adams then came close for the Bees, with Weaver doing well to block his fierce shot.

While Wednesday threatened, Brentford’s re-modelled defence stood firm. O’Connor make a vital last-ditch interception inside his own box and Giles Coke blazed over the bar as the Bees saw out time to grab a vital three points.

Brentford: Hamer; Spillane, Balkestein, Osborne, Woodman; Simpson, O’Connor, Diagouraga, Weston (sub Wood 90); Alexander (sub Hunt 81), MacDonald (sub Adams 64) Subs: Lee, Legge, Bean, Forster Attendance: 5396 Man of the Match: Karleigh Osborne