Brentford defender John Egan scored twice just after the break to consign the Blues to a 2-0 defeat at Griffin Park. Egan nodded home a header on 48 and then slammed in a rebound eight minutes later.

Boss Mick McCarthy made two changes from the team which beat Barnsley 4-2 on the opening day. Hat-trick hero Grant Ward was handed his first league start for the Blues, as was loanee Conor Grant, the duo having come on as half-time subs last week.

The pair started in wide roles, Ward on the right and Grant on the left, with Freddie Sears moving up front alongside Daryl Murphy.

The injured David McGoldrick dropped out of the squad, while Teddy Bishop moved to the bench. New re-signing Luke Varney wasn’t included in the 18.

Ward struck the first shot of the game in the third minute after Ryan Woods needlessly surrendered possession midway inside his own half. The 21-year-old brought the ball forward before hitting a powerful low drive which Brentford keeper Daniel Bentley claimed confidently.

Neither side created another opportunity in the first quarter of a hour in a fairly open and even game but with little penalty area action.

On-loan Everton man Grant went close to his first Town goal in the 17th minute when he curled a 25-yard freekick just past Bentley’s right post, Jonas Knudsen having been fouled.

Grant went close again in the 21st minute after breaking into the area on the left having been fed by Murphy but Bentley managed to bundle his low near-post shot wide. From the resultant corner Christophe Berra headed over.

Town continued to look the more dangerous side and almost went in front in the 24th minute.

Sears fed Knudsen to his left and the full-back sent over a low ball to Ward, whose effort was blocked by Callum Elder. The ball cannoned off Sears to Murphy at a tight angle on the right but the Irishman was only able to turn on to the roof of the net.

Brentford’s first chance of the game came in the 32nd minute when Woods threaded in Josh Clarke between Berra and Knudsen. But, with the Danish international putting him under pressure, Clarke screwed his shot well wide.

Adam Webster picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on Scott Hogan in the 39th minute.

The Blues threatened again four minutes before the break when Cole Skuse played Murphy in on the left, however, the Irishman’s low ball towards Sears was cut out by Harlee Dean.

Brentford’s best chance of the half came a minute later, Webster challenged Hogan on the edge of the box and the ball fell to Lewis Macleod, who scraped a shot only just past Bartosz Bialkowski’s right post when he should have hit the target.

Soon after at the other end, Murphy flicked on a long ball to Sears on the edge of the box but the Town number 20, without a goal in 28 games, shot well wide.

That was the last chance of a half in which the Blues had had the better of the chances and Bentley was the busier keeper.

However, the Bees had started to look more threatening towards the end when Macleod should have done much better with his opportunity.

The second half was only three minutes old when the home side took the lead. After Webster had headed a cross from the right behind ahead of Bialkowski, Macleod sent over the corner and completely unmarked home debutant John Egan - he had escaped the attention of Webster - headed into the corner of the net with Bialkowski having no chance.

Brentford went looking for a second and on 52 Bialkowski did well to save from Macleod from a tight angle on the left. The Bees kept up the pressure and Knudsen did well to block a subsequent strike from Nico Yannaris.

The home side doubled their lead in the 56th minute when, after another corner on the right, Sears half-cleared to Yannaris, who hit a powerful low strike which Bialkowski couldn’t hold onto and Egan followed up to claim his second of the afternoon.

Town sought to get back into a game and on 58 Berra headed wide from a Grant corner after Bentley had come and failed to claim. Soon after, Ward volleyed a Knudsen cross from the left just wide.

Brentford threatened to make it 3-0 just after the hour when Romaine Sawyers was twice thwarted by the Town defence, Webster diverting his second effort behind.

Blues boss McCarthy switched Grant for Bishop in the 66th minute, then a minute later Brentford swapped Maxime Colin for Sam Saunders.

Soon after the substitutions Bialkowski tipped a powerful Macleod strike over with the Bees looking more likely to score a third than Town were to pull one back.

However, on 72 Bishop completed a one-two with Sears and whipped over a cross from the right which Murphy only just failed to reach at the far post.

There was another scare for the Blues a minute later when Bialkowski was forced to kick under pressure and only found Macleod but the former Rangers man looped back into the keeper’s hands.

Former Bee Jonathan Douglas replaced Bru on 78, initially to boos from the home fans which were quickly replaced by applause.

The substitute almost pulled a goal back two minutes after coming on. Following a freekick, he did well to find himself space before eventually scuffing to the keeper.

Brentford sub Saunders will feel he should have made it 3-0 in the 83rd minute when found by Sawyers’s cross from the right but he volleyed well over.

Moments later, Murphy was found at a tight angle at the far post and shot well wide when he probably should have played the ball across the area.

Two minutes later, with the Bees well on top and passing the ball around slickly, Woods curled just wide, then hit a subsequent effort past the same post.

A frustrated Murphy shot wide from distance on 88 before the Bees replaced Macleod with Konstantin Kershbaumer, then Josh McEachran came on for Yennaris as the game moved into injury time.

In the corresponding fixture on the opening day of last season the Blues were 2-0 up and Brentford hit back twice in injury time to level, but such a comeback never looked on the cards and referee Stephen Martin’s whistle confirmed Town’s first defeat at Griffin Park since November 1955.

Town had the better of the first half, although there were signs that the Bees were becoming more dangerous close to the break.

Egan’s two goals soon after the break took the game away from Town and they never really recovered and the Bees looked more likely to extend their lead than the tame Blues were to get back into the match.

Town have another tough away trip to Wolves on Tuesday before next Sunday’s East Anglian derby against Norwich City at Portman Road.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Bru (Douglas 78), Ward, Grant (Bishop 66), Sears, Murphy. Unused: Gerken, T Smith, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Dozzell.

Brentford: Bentley, Colin (Saunders 67), Elder, Dean, Egan, Yennaris (McEachran 90), Woods, Clarke, Macleod (Kershbaumer 90), Hogan, Sawyers. Unused: Bonham, Bjelland, Hofmann, Ledesma. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire).

Photo: Action Images

StochesStotasBlewe added 00:18 - Aug 14 DirtyOldNodger, I hope your happy with this sh1t, a lot of us most certainly are not.
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leahcar88 added 00:43 - Aug 14 I thought Elizabeth showed what's needed from the supporters and that's positive support no matter what!
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martleshamitfc added 00:48 - Aug 14 We are on a relegation dogfight..nothing simple about this, we need the right calibre of players (not sure we have) but do believe MM is the right manager to keep us up ( not promotion that is for sure without the backing of ME) so we need to stop the whinging and realise where the club is at. We are not promotion contenders and need to focus on staying in the championship until we have an owner that is willing to back a manager to put a promotion squad together. ME obviously does not have the faith to give MM the money to spend?

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DirtyOldNodger added 01:16 - Aug 14 have you stolen blueboys soapbox pinewood? No point losing your sh1t after 2 league games (one of which we won). Stop whining and support your team.
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runningout added 03:14 - Aug 14 Basically 3 points lost that come May will be needed... Stating the blooming obvious I know
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GiveusaWave added 03:35 - Aug 14 I have thought about this more and am frankly growing really angry with the lack of reasoning being demonstrated by MM. It is clear there is a problem. We have no right back. So, we look for solutions. We could sign a player (PLEASE), or we could play other squad members in that position. So, are potential possibilities for this role are Chambers, Skuse, Foley, Emmanuel. So let's weigh this up. Chambers is a CB not a RB so he can't play there. We have tried him in that position for nigh on 3 years and it's obvious he isn't a right back. Skuse? He played RB a couple of times for Bristol City but he's more a central midfielder and hasn't got the pace needed for that role. Foley? Hey! He's a right back! But as so many have already attested we have sold him. Emmanuel? Yes! He's a right back! However he was at fault for the goals against Sudbury (when we let in 5 against them) and quite frankly was 1/10 in all of our preseason games against such mighty opposition as Hadleigh. So, until he's gone out on loan for a very long time he's a huge no. Which leaves us with? Well, nobody. We haven't got a right back and we haven't had a right back that can contend against Championship wingers for many years. How many goals have we conceded from that side? WE NEED A RIGHT BACK. God, I'd even sign Fabian Wilnus right now. RIGHT BACK NEEDED. Maybe we should place an advert it's that desperate.

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GiveusaWave added 03:36 - Aug 14 Our and we didn't even sell foley we gave him away for free
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Dissboyitfc added 07:42 - Aug 14 Leahcar88...to support the team blindly no matter what, is the kind of attitude that will see us keep our unwanted residency record in footballs second tier for many years to come. in fact it may never get beaten. Bringing Douglas on to get us back in the game when Dozzell sits there ( a player who is capable of something) really is telling us MM has lost it. Anybody with any football knowledge( other than MM) will agree with this! So far and i know its early days but i dont rate that Webster. Why on earth did we buy him? when he could have put chambers back in central defence and buy a RB? Elliot Hewitt was a better RB than Chambers. As i write this i am getting angry, he has had time to sort these issues out. Our team is now a joke! So please dont suggest we all support this rubbish!

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battyblue added 07:45 - Aug 14 Foley was a better right back than Chambers and a very good ball player but obviously not to McCarthys liking would prefer to have a Hoofer.
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BrandonsBlues added 08:10 - Aug 14 Now I know what the Chevrons are for, the direction we are heading
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I_AM_GOD added 08:15 - Aug 14 I've not been to a game for a while now and even lost the interest in games on TV having supported town since 1978, and right now nothing encourages me to even want to look at the score. MM states pretty season is not.important results wise to him, but to fans it is. All we see is players out of position, poorly performing and probably a number of this team are really not up to the quality of this league. While many are starting to stay away and have not renewed, there are many more who want to believe we can push forward and improve. I wish I could have that confidence. I also doubt MM will leave anytime soon and then who do we get? What backing will they get? What can they change? Either way a long hard season ahead.

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Geoff added 08:46 - Aug 14 Same old this club is only going one way i really fear for this club. How some fans on here still support the dinosaur and his tactics is beyond me. New owner please. New manager like Bristol city/ Birmingham. Still good fan base but cannot blame the many that are staying away.
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Dissboyitfc added 08:49 - Aug 14 well said batty blue regarding Foley.
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planetblue_2011 added 09:09 - Aug 14 We will never get out of this league if you can't beat teams like Brentford. With how Mick makes us play our football it will be food & drink to Norwich he needs to change his tactics next Sunday & play players in their right positions. If we loose to the scum it will be season over for us we will have even less confidence in the team & the fans. We need at least 3 quality signings before next Sunday but that won't happen. Sears is ruined because Mick has played him as a winger & now he's gonna ruin Bishop too by playing him wide. Not looking good for us or our manager, we need a change if we fail to beat Norwich again.💩

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happybeingblue added 09:37 - Aug 14 After the Stevenage game with 6 of the same players starting I was just amazed that many fans on here were expecting an easy win, rose tinted glasses! The way they beat us easy a few months back at Portman rd after judge broke his leg, I really didn't expect anything and it's time to stop being so disrespectful to the likes of Barnsley Brentford etc... Wake up we are no better

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babyblueboy added 10:03 - Aug 14 Keep reading the posts and getting more depressed pls give us some glimmer of hope and beat the Norfolk scum next week " oh just saw a flying pig go past !!!"
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carsey added 10:11 - Aug 14 Didn't go yesterday so can't comment on the match but sounds very much like the usual fare served up by McCarthy plus some strange substitutions just to mix things up. I am one of those who renewed my season ticket, more in hope than expectation but fortunately I will be away for the Norwich match so won't have to witness another loss to them. I would like to see McCarthy walk but sadly I don't believe that is likely since he and TC recently signed a new contract so we are stuck with him for the foreseeable future unless Evans decides he can't save enough tax in League 1and fires him. I didn't fancy McCarthy when he arrived because of his style and whilst he saved us in the first year and briefly threatened playoff success the next he is incapable of adapting to the way football is played now and using players in their best positions. It's going to be a long hard season so best get ready for it.

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Dissboyitfc added 11:05 - Aug 14 Happybeingblue...very true we are no better but we should be and what is being dished up should be better. Things are far from ok and to accept it as a supporter of our once great club is just wrong!
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blueherts added 12:41 - Aug 14 A rudderless ship No leadership on or off the pitch Club is run by an 'organisation' that every few years has questions surrounding its business practices for large sporting events The irony is never lost on me that they sell 'Corporate ENTERTAINMENT' but seem unable to produce any on the pitch We have a manager and his side kick plus several senior players who are just TOO COMFORTABLE and no matter how bad they play they know they will NEVER be dropped Sad thing is this is a club we are all passionate about and we have got some great young players coming through - best in a long long time But do you think we will get the best out of them I was going to hold off till 10 games in to make comments and see who we bring in Bart , Ward and loanee Grant aside - we have players either out of position , out of form , always crocked or just not good enough You might think that a 'defensive' manager and an 'attacking' coach may be a good combination but we have been woeful in defence for about 18 months conceding soft goals and pretty toothless up front I am excited about the likes of Bish , McDonnell , Dozzell , Bloomfield and Ward - all exciting attack minded players But when we have a manager at 2-0 down with a game to win bringing on Douglas , I think the writing is on the wall - I almost wonder if he does it on purpose I am not sure I want any more of this ME regime = clean house and do it soon

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runningout added 15:10 - Aug 14 lot of very long posts on here when' Total Shambles' would have sufficed
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blueboy1981 added 15:22 - Aug 14 DirtyOldNodger........ no soapbox needed - there for all with half a brain cell to see. End of.!
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MicksZzzTactics added 15:29 - Aug 14 TODAY'S MIND-BOGGLING MICK MCCARTHY "PHILOSORAPTOR": (And to those unfamiliar with this particular weird word, "Philosoraptor" refers to an image macro series featuring clip art of a Velociraptor dinosaur.... deeply immersed in metaphysical inquiries or unraveling quirky oxymorons and paradoxes!) https://imgflip.com/i/18wx1c :-)
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Bert added 15:31 - Aug 14 Two league games in and we have the return of the hate language towards MM. Those that articulate their footballing reasons to question MM are contributing to a discussion but there are those who seem to be on this forum day in and day out and only seem capable of the name calling that kids can be forgiven for but not adults. Yes we are all concerned about certain things but the reality is that MM is nowhere near as 'stupid', 'idiotic' and 'crap' as they want us to believe. Who was it that got a Spurs fringe player for a song and under the radar of others? It was MM. Who is that talks freely, probably too freely, to TWTD and says it as it is? It's MM. Criticise him yes for tactics but not his commitment or his character. It is time for some on here to grow up.

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MicksZzzTactics added 15:32 - Aug 14 TODAY'S MIND-BOGGLING MICK MCCARTHY "PHILOSORAPTOR": (And to those unfamiliar with this particular weird word, "Philosoraptor" refers to an image macro series featuring clip art of a Velociraptor dinosaur.... deeply immersed in metaphysical inquiries or unraveling quirky oxymorons and paradoxes!) :-)
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battyblue added 15:51 - Aug 14 Bert its one thing getting these players in as you say,its another playing them to their full potential and not to their depriment which MM seems incapable of doing its strange how once very good players come in and before long they are just ordinary /being played in different positions /or just cant be arsed it seems,somethings seriously wrong any thoughts what.
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