Aha, Jacob Steinberg’s match report is with us.
So with that, thanks for your company – peace out.
“A bit unnecessary” says Flekken of the shoot-out. “At the corner I had so many possibilities and picked the wrong one.” No word of a call from Schade, but then the keeper can see everything.
He notes that his error sent it from a controlled game into an open game and he needs to learn from that; looking again, it’s more a poor roll than a bad decision.
Of the penalties, he says the level was good and he went the wrong way twice which wasn’t good for his confidence, but he saved the last one.
Finally, he says he’s 31, that isn’t the first mistake he’s made, and experience means he deals with them better now than he did – I guess they’re an occupational hazard – and that this is one step as Brentford are hoping to win the whole thing.
What a good interview that was; hold tight both parties.
Thomas Frank fancies a decent run in this competition and he’s got it – Brentford are into the last eight and have a chance against anyone, especially at home.
We said earlier that it makes sense to back the better technique under pressure, and Brentford have just taken as good a set of penalties as you’ll see. Shouldn’t have been necessary – as I type that, Flekken makes praying hands at the fans, apologising for his error – but though his team rely on him not to toss the ball to the opposition, they played poorly after half-time.
It’s also all over at the Coventry Arena:
“He’s one of our own” sing the Wednesday fans to Palmer, but he’ll feel this for a long, long time. Poor man.
Brentford beat Sheffield Wednesday 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw
Wednesday gave that second half everything, but Palmer’s nerve went and Flekken read him.
MISS! Brentford 5-4 Sheffield Wednesday (Palmer)
Flekken guesses right, moving to his right, and Mr Wednesday can’t hit the corner! Brentford are through!
GOAL! Brentford 5-4 Sheffield Wednesday (Janelt)
He feints bottom right then drags middle-left once Charles goes. Wednesday must score…
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GOAL! Brentford 4-4 Sheffield Wednesday (Johnson)
Johnson opens body and punches high into the left side-netting, halfway up. Players are so good at this now.
GOAL! Brentford 4-3 Sheffield Wednesday (Wissa)
Charles goes right early, so Wissa passes in the opposite direction.
GOAL! Brentford 3-3 Sheffield Wednesday (Lowe J)
Opens body and punches high into the right side-netting. These have been brilliant penalties so far.
GOAL! Brentford 3-2 Sheffield Wednesday (Damsgaard)
Brilliant! Lofted into the top-left.
GOAL! Brentford 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday (Windass)
Quick steps and low into the bottom-right.
GOAL! Brentford 2-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Lewis-Potter)
High into the left side-netting. Great penno.
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Smith)
smith leathers into the left side-netting.
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Mbuemo)
A slow amble, a hop, a skip, and the ball into the top right.
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Mbuemo to go first…
Our keepers walk towards the away end. Wednesday in a shoot-out means only one thing.
Pierce Charles, the young Wednesday goalie, has had a really good night. I’d not be at all surprised were he to finish the night a hero.
Wednesday were good in the second half. They not only scored a fine goal but created the better opportunities and more dangerous situations. Can they hold it down from 12 yards?
FULL TIME: Brentford 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
The ref blows as Brentford are constructing and attack, so to penalties we go.
90+4 min And he’ll be raging at the way his players have allowed Wednesday into the game here. They’ve been very poor second half, having perhaps found it too easy in the first.
90+2 min Thomas Frank has come in smart-casuwal.
90+1 min At St Mary’s, Southampton have beaten Stoke 3-2.
90 min We’ll have four additional minutes.
90 min Smith pulls down Damsgaard and wins the first yellow card of the night. Can Brentford make anything of the free-kick? It’s 40 yards out and will go towards the far post … but when Damsgaard seeks Roerslev, the flag goes up for offside.
88 min I know footballing logic says that Wednesday win a shoot-out, but increasingly, I tend to favour the side with players whose technique is more likely to hold up under pressure. We shall see…
86 min The excellent Johnson moves forward and finds Lowe, but a poor touch means he’s quickly unloaded and Brentford counter. Wednesday, though, force them wide and Roerslev’s looping cross is cleared easily enough.
85 min Mbeumo zones goalwards and Ingelsson makes a decent challenge only to be penalised, so Damsgaard will chip into the box, and at the back post, Roerslev’s header seems to hit Smith and go behind; the ref awards a goalkick.
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83 min Now then! Johnson flies forward and leathers a riser, forcing Flekken to tip over. Again, though, the corner comes to nowt and Brentford counter, Schade finding Wissa and look at Mbuemo on the far side! But a tremendous sliding challenge from Paterson quickly averts the danger.
83 min This, by the way, is the winning goal Michael Smith scored for Wednesday at the weekend.
81 min A ball into Wissa, who turns and slides into the path of the onrushing Shade, but with defenders blocking most of the shooting lanes, he clobbers straight at Charles, who parries behind … and the corner comes to nowt.
80 min At St Mary’s, James Bree has scored at the death, so Southampton are now seconds away from progressing, leading Stoke 3-2.
79 min It’s all Brentford now, but Wednesday’s line is deep and narrow, so breaching it won’t be easy.
78 min There’s much more intensity about Wednesday’s play this half and, as I type, Johnson, who’s had a really good game, forces Wissa back to halfway.
76 min A dink over the top from Wissa, seeking Damsgaard on the by-line, who volleys fresh air back into the middle.
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75 min Brentford, though, are trying to take the steam out of things, knocking it about and looking for gaps. They don’t make anything happen, but this is the first settled possession they’ve had for ages.
73 min My screen freezes but you miss nowt.
71 min Wednesday are getting after Brentford now, pressing high and taking chances. Here comes a long throw from Ingelsson … and again he goes short, Palmer’s cross headed away. And though when the ball comes back, Paterson can’t get on the end of it, they were able to sustain an attack when first half they couldn’t even dream of one.
70 min Another change for Brentford, Roerslev replacing Meghoma.
70 min Reminder: if it’s level at full-time, we go to penalties.
68 min Rolf fancies this now, Ugbo, Gassama and Musaba going off with Windass, Lowe and Smith, all in his first XI, coming on. Wednesday are going for it!
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68 min It turns out sky misinformed us – Smith didn’t come on when Wednesday made their changes, but he’ll soon be upon us.
67 min Wednesday win a throw halfway inside the Brentford half and Ingelsson shapes for a long one then goes short; nothing comes of it.
66 min Double change for Brentford, Wissa and Damsgaard for Jensen and Carvalho.
65 min Lovely one two between Meghoma and Jensen, the former flicking a lush return that allows the latter to arc a gorgrous cross into the corridor … which evades everyone.
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64 min Frank has seen enough, readying Damsgaard and Wissa.
63 min A long ball to halfway and Paterson wins a flick-on, sending Ugbo away down the right! But with men in the middle, he opts to shoot from a narrow angle, sending the ball just beyond the far post.
61 min Suddenly Wednesday are involved in the game, Ugbo holding up and heading towards goal, allowing Palmer to hammer a low shot which Flekken saves, then Brentford counter and Mbuemo hitting low and hard, Charles beating to safety. This is now a very different match.
59 min Ch ch ch changes! Gassama was about to get hooked but he’s earned himself a reprieve. Instead, Fusire, Iorfa and someone else go off with Bernard, Smith and palmer coming on. We go waselves a ball-game!
GOAL! A LOVELY GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday (Gassama 57)
Immediately, Flekken looks to set Schade away, but Gassma intercepts and, allowed to advance – Janelt stands there doing nothing – he does, before leathering a low shot from 20 yards inside the near post! I don’t how they’re level, but Wednesday are level!
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57 min It’s directed straight into the arms of Flekken. That might be his first save.
56 min Wednesday, of course, have won this trophy when a Championship – or Division Two as it was then – side. And back to tonight, they’ve just won a corner…
55 min Gtech sounds like a make of trainers your mum tried to buy you in the supermarket because Nike was “just branding”.
53 min First half, Wednesday took one touch in the Brentford box. I’m not sure they’ve taken one in the Brentford half so far this.
51 min Carvalho and Mbeumo exchange passes then, as the latter runs away, Ugbo fouls him unnecessarily, giving Brentford a free-kick right of centre, 25 yards out. It goes right and down the line, seeking Janelt, but the cross is a poor one and Wednesday win a goalkick.
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50 min So far, the second half looks a lot like the first. Surely Rolf has to act before it’s too late?
48 min Nice from Brentford, Carvalho finding Mbuemo, who squares across the face … and Otegbayo, who’s having a good game, does just enough to either take the ball away or put off Lewis-Potter in the middle.
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47 min Lewis-Potter’s been lively tonight and he crosses from the by-line, Charles poking over the top; I guess the ball went out of play first, because he’s about to take a goalkick. “Wooooo, you’re shit, ahhhhhh” chant the crowd, in 80s throwback mood.
46 min Carvalho to Potter who finds Schade inside the box, but Wednesday shuffle across quickly to crowd him out.
46 min We go again – second time, Brentford asked to go again after setting off down the pitch too early. No changes yet, but I’d expect Wednesday to go soon if they don’t concede a second.
Our teams are back with us.
Goodness me, Stoke have equalised against Southampton having trailed 2-0. I hope Russell Martin is OK.
Don’t be without live action:
HALF-TIME: Brentford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Wednesday are still in this, but if they carry on as they are they’re unlikely to be for much longer.
45 min We’ll have one additional minute.
44 min I’m not sure Flekken has had a shot to save yet. Will Rohl send on some of his better attackers at half-time?
43 min Clever from Mbuemo, clipping to Jensen, peeling away about the penalty spot and hooking a decent shot that looks headed for the top corner … until it hits Collins on the back. More good work from Keith Andrews, though.
42 min A long pass from Flekken finds Mbuemo, who wins a corner.
41 min Mbuemo is coming into this game, bursting between Johnson and Fusire from the right, lashing a low shot which Charles doesn’t think he can risk holding, pranging out and away from any onrushing attackers.
39 min Marvin Johnson is having a good night, and when Jensen sends a long diag to Mbuemo, Johnson catches him up quickly, making the challenge and winning a goalkick.
37 min Wednesday are advertising a “Mr Vegas” on the backs of their shirts. I wonder how long it took whoever was given the job to come up with that clever and evocative name.
35 min A quiet period, which Wednesday need – they’ve put a lot into this half and must be feeling the pace to which they’re being subjected.
33 min Brentford win a thrown down the right, deep inside the Wednesday half, and it’s hurled to the front post but Johnson heads the flick-on away.
32 min At St Mary’s, it’s also red and white stripes versus all black, and Stoke have just pulled a goal back through Ashley Phillips to trail 2-1.
30 min I wonder if Rohl will make any changes at half-time. Perhaps he will if the score stays the same, but if Brentford grab another he might just allow his first choices a proper rest.
29 min Carvalho bursts through the middle after a nice give-and-go with Schade and zooms past Iorfa, but Johnson comes across to cover. A second Brentford goal looks in the post.
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27 min Another ball in behind Wednesday’s high line and Lewis-Potter is on to it, Carvalho inside and alongside. But the pass it into his feet, meaning Iorfa can block at source.
25 min Mbuemo again finds space down the right, this time exchanging passes with Carvalho and going on the outside, arcing a fine low cross into the corridor and Schade is running on to it … but Otegbayo slides in brilliantly and bravely – any error and it’s an own-goal – to take the ball away. Brentford then try and sustain the attack, but Wednesday clear.
24 min Schade wriggles across the face of the box and finds Lewis-Potter who shoots low … but Charles saves easily enough. He’s looked confident so far.
23 min Wednesday look confident in what they’re doing – you can see they’ve been well-drilled. But can they find the lacking quality in the final third? My sense is that Rohl won’t mind if it’s 1-0 after an hour – because he made so many changes, he’s got plenty of firepower on the bench.
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22 min Adam Armstrong has despatched a penalty to give Southampton a 2-0 lead over Stoke.
20 min Maghoma, 18-years-old, moves down the left and exchanges passes with Lewis-Potter before running out of pitch. He looks lively.
18 min So far, most of Brentford’s threat has come down the left, but here’s Mbuemo on the right, nipping inside to curl ergonomically towards the back post and meeting the run of Lewis-Potter … who waves a leg at it, forcing a decent save from the 19-year-old Charles.
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17 min Brentford look likely to score again, but also look capable of conceding; Wednesday just need to make better decisions in key attacking areas.
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15 min A ball into the inside-left channel and Musaba is on to it, skinning Collins for pace on the outside before running out of room and into the keeper, looking to score from a narrow angle when he had men in the middle.
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14 min Brentford win a corner down the left, Van den Berg up first at the near post and Paterson doing well to block behind; the remix is easily caught by Charles.
13 min Does anyone else have a thing about one-on-ones? Seeing them missed does my nut in because strikers spend their games looking to make them happen and when they do, everything is in their favour.
GOAL! Brentford 1-0 Sheffield Wednesday (Schade 11)
Brentford have tried a few balls over the top and when Collins wins another, Janelt tries another, sweeping in behind and Schade’s away! But he’s not scored for a while and doesn’t look confident, telegraphing his intent to hit the far corner by opening his body early doors. So Charles reads him, saving well, only for his parry to hit the retreating Otegbayo, the ball returning to Schade’s stride, and he passes, somewhat bashfully, into the empty net.
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9 min Gassama collects Ugbo’s flick-on and has Musaba to the right, but he opts to try a shot, sending it to somewhere no one knows where – so Brentford, I guess.
9 min That’s Dominic Iorfa, not to be confused with his dad, Dominic Iorfa.
8 min Brentford progress down the left, Lewis-Potter’s cross headed clear by Iorfa.
7 min At St Mary’s, Taylor Harwood-Bellis has given Southampton the lead against Stoke.
5 min Poor from Musaba, setting off early when Paterson sticks a ball into space, so up goes the flag.
4 min Brentford probe but Wednesday are getting to the ball quickly.
3 min On which point I’m not sure a football kit has deployed a better shade of blue than this ethereal shade from 1986.
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1 min Wednesday are in black tonight; is that because their blue stripes clash with Brentford’s red?
1 min And away we go!
Our players are with us and we’ll soon have football.
“Is there any other profession in which people have to be reminded of who they are by having their initials displayed on their clothes, as per the photo at the top of the blog?” wonders Richard Hirst. “It’s always struck me as either insecurity or amour propre. Or are football clubs hotbeds of clothes-stealing? I think we need to know.”
I guess it’s because everyone’s wearing the same gear and the initials make it easier to know whose is whose.
Also going on:
I’m looking forward to seeing how Fabio Carvalho does tonight. I really liked the look of him at Liverpool, and I think he might have fun tonight roaming behind the Brentford midfield.
In the studio, Curtis Davies thinks Wednesday have a shot at going up in a relatively poor Champo. And I guess he’s right – they’re only four points off the playoffs while still improving.
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He says today was a difficult team to decide but he has players with small knocks who need a break. Today will help tell Wednesday where they are, but there’s been a massive improvement since he arrived and having taken small steps in this cup, they now get to show how good they are.
My sense is that Wednesday will look to get men into the box, with the wing-backs looking to hit crosses. But here’s Röhl to give us more…
Email! “From Wednesday’s point of view,” beings Bill Preston, “I think this season is looking a lot better than last years at this point in the year. Also, I do believe this is the first quarter-final they’ve been in for a long time. As a fan, I am ot too bothered about the cup, but it’s always nice to cheer on a good run.
Hopefully, the Championship side will go full bore, get a stomp on from the beginning; their thrilling heroics will be on a par with the playoff semi-final that was their penultimate step back into the second tier.
Brentford are a side I’ve also enjoyed watching over the years, and they’ve got some canny players and astute leadership.
All in all, should be a good meeting of the bees and the birds. Three paragraphs to lead into that, I know.”
All of them worth it. Wahey!
Also tonight, we’ve got Southampton v Stoke, while tomorrow we’ve got good sides cutting each other’s throats: Brighton v Liverpool, Newcastle v Arsenal and Spurs v Man City, among other matches.
Frank tells Sky that he’s always trying to find the right balance and pick the right team. He wants rotation and freshness, but also to pick a strong team. and he’s included 10 players who’ve started in the league this season, including several established starters. Er, and that’s it?
Lovely stuff dept: Meghoma and Maghoma are both in the Brentford squad.
While Röhl leaves out Beadle, Palmer, Bernard, Famewo, Valentin, Charles S, Bannan, Windass and Smith, bringing in Charles P, Otegbayo, Iorfa, Fusire, Paterson, Ingelsson, Johnson, Gassama and Ugbo. Or, in other words, he changes everyone bar Lowe M and Musaba. No prizes for guessing where his priorities lie.
Frank leaves out Pinnock, Roerslev, Norgaard, Damsgaard and Wissa, bringing in Mee, Meghoma, Jensen, Carvalho adn Schade.
I’m going to write these down, then we’ll have a think about what they mean.
Teams!
Brentford (4-2-3-1): Flekken; Van den Berg, Collins, Mee, Meghoma; Janelt, Jensen; Carvalho, Lewis-Potter, Schade; Mbuemo. Subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Widssa, Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard, Konak, Trevitt, Roerslev, Maghoma.
Sheffield Wednesday (3-4-2-1): Charles; Lowe, Iorfa, Otegbayo; Johnson, Fusire, Paterson, Ingelsson; Musaba, Gassama; Ugbo. Subs: Hamer, Barrett, Palmer, Bernard, Reed, Windass, Lowe J, McNeill.
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Preamble
When any side, doesn’t matter which, meets Brentford, they know one thing for sure: whatever the result, playing them is going to hurt. Thomas Frank’s side are aggressive, attitudinous and organised, so beating them requires major doses of will and skill – whoever the opponent.
All of which should make them a good cup side except, in the three seasons they’ve been a Premier League outfit, they’ve managed just one quarter-final – in the 2021-22 edition of this competition. In fairness to them, Frank has sometimes fielded weakened sides because their priority has always been survival, but given the poverty of the promoted teams and their comfy ninth position, they will surely see tonight as an opportunity. They bloody well should.
Wednesday, meanwhile, lie 13th in the Championship having narrowly escaped relegation last season, their improvement largely down to Danny Röhl – the youngest manager in England before fellow German, Fabian Hürzeler, usurped him. “Very good on the counter and very good at playing direct,” said Frank, presumably aware he could just as easily be describing his own men. “They play early in behind, they have good runners. They have good offensive structure in everything they do. They also have great physicality on their set-pieces”.
And they have Barry Bannan, one of the last midfield schemers who, if he’s at it, will be a problem. Which is to say this match may look like a gimme and maybe that’s how things’ll pan out. But do not be surprised if Wednesday make it nasty – every bit as nasty as Brentford make it for everyone else.
Kick-off: 8pm GMT
