Neal Maupay’s 72nd minute penalty saw Brentford to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Griffin Park, Jonas Knudsen having been harshly adjudged to have fouled Bees sub Sergi Canos. The Blues, who lost skipper Luke Chambers to what appears likely to be a season-ending injury in the first half, rarely looked like getting back on terms, although Grant Ward’s powerful shot was stopped by home keeper Daniel Bentley, then Chris Mepham blocked Martyn Waghorn’s effort from the rebound.

Tristan Nydam, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Luke Hyam, Callum Connolly and Freddie Sears all returned to a Town line-up featuring five changes from Monday’s 2-2 draw with Millwall.

The Blues started with the three-man backline of Carter-Vickers, skipper Luke Chambers and Adam Webster, with Jonas Knudsen at left wing-back and Jordan Spence on the right.

With Cole Skuse missing out with a head injury, Hyam, Nydam and Callum Connolly were in midfield with Sears joining Waghorn up front.

Young Australian striker Ben Folami was on the bench, having made his Championship debut as a sub against Millwall, alongside Stephen Gleeson, Mustapha Carayol, Myles Kenlock and Bersant Celina who all started against the Lions.

For Brentford, Maupay replaced the injured Florian Jozefzoon in an otherwise unchanged side, while Alan Judge made his first home start since suffering a broken leg at Portman Road in April 2016.

Hyam, the man whose tackle led to that injury, was booed every time he touched the ball in opening exchanges in which nether side was able to get on top.

Brentford carved out the game’s first chance in the 10th minute and only a very sharp reaction stop from Bartosz Bialkowski prevented them from going in front.

Following a swift break, Yoann Barbet hit a shot which was going well wide to the left of the keeper until Maupay diverted it to his right and the Polish international keeper somehow managed to get his foot across to force it past the post.

Judge blazed over in the corner’s aftermath before the Blues’ first real attack was ended by a linesman’s flag as Waghorn attempted an overhead kick on the edge of the six-yard box.

On 17 Carter-Vickers was shown the first yellow card of the afternoon, rather harshly, for a foul on Judge. Soon after Barbet was fortunate not to join him for hauling back Sears midway inside the Bees half. Waghorn’s freekick eventually came to nothing.

Four minutes later, Blues captain Chambers collided heavily with keeper Bialkowski and after treatment was forced off with an injury which could well see him miss the rest of the season.

The Blues defender had chased a ball over the top and didn’t appear to see Bialkowski as he ran off his line towards him.

The Town skipper immediately called for assistance for what looked to be a collarbone problem and after treatment was gingerly walked to the tunnel by the Town doctor with a brace already on his arm.

Kenlock took over at left wing-back with Knudsen, who took the captain’s armband, moving to the left of the back three and Webster into the centre.

Chances had continued to be rarities in a not overly enthralling match. On 32 Romaine Sawyers latched on to a ball over the top but scraped his shot well wide of Bialkowski’s left post.

Town struck their first effort of the game in the 37th minute, Kenlock shooting behind from the left of the area after good work from Nydam, Waghorn having initially sent Sears away with a fine ball into space down the right.

In the penultimate minute of scheduled time, Bialkowski batted away a Judge shot from the edge of the box and Maupay was crowded out after the rebound landed at his feet.

The Blues had the ball in the net a minute later, Connolly having been found by a Hyam chip over the top into the area. The on-loan Everton man eventually back-heeled the ball through the keeper’s legs and into the net but after referee Robert Jones had blown his whistle for handball, a decision the midfielder contested vehemently.

Connolly headed straight at Brentford keeper Daniel Bentley from a deep Waghorn corner from the right, then at the other end Bialkowski saved low from Ollie Watkins during four minutes of otherwise uneventful added-on time.

As manager Mick McCarthy made his way across the pitch from the dugout to the tunnel, a section of Town fans sang ‘Cheerio’ in his direction among other more abusive chants which the Blues boss sarcastically applauded.

It was a half memorable for very little aside from the rare sight of Chambers being forced off by an injury.

Brentford had played most of the football but had only threatened on a couple of occasions when they found Bialkowski at his best.

As ever, there was no lack of effort from the Blues but aside from Waghorn no one else had shown much quality on the ball and Kenlock’s effort wide was the only shot.

Six minutes after the restart Connolly was booked for a foul on Josh McEachran, who in turn joined him in the book for hauling the Blues midfielder to the ground in the aftermath.

On the hour, with the early part of the half having continued where the first left off, Maupay almost caught Bialkowski in possession as he dallied before clearing.

Brentford swapped Kamohelo Mokotjo and Judge for Nico Yennaris and Sergi Canos in the 66th minute.

The home side were continuing to have most of the game’s few chances. On 69 Watkins hit a shot which deflected over.

However, Town, and particularly Waghorn, were starting to look a threat on the counter-attack and a minute later Bentley did well to claim the former Rangers man’s cross-shot from the right after he had burst away on the break with Sears unmarked in the middle looking for his first goal in 37 games.

But in the 71st minute the Blues had a soft penalty awarded against them for the second Saturday in succession. A long ball was played into left of the box and Canos went to ground under the attention of Knudsen. There looked little in it but inexperienced Championship referee Jones pointed to the spot.

It appeared a very harsh decision, Town having been on the end of a similarly tough call at Birmingham last week, and Knudsen was shown a yellow card in the protests which followed. Maupay took the kick and hit it low to Biakowski’s left to open the scoring.

The Blues switched Nydam for Grant Ward after the goal and Brentford brought on Emiliano Marcondes for McEachran, then a few minutes later Celina replaced Kenlock, who received a hug from manager McCarthy having been a sub himself in the first half as Town moved to a four-man backline.

Chants of ‘Mick McCarthy get out of our club’ followed the goal with Brentford dominating possession as the game moved into its final 10 minutes having grown in confidence after going ahead.

But in the 87th minute the Blues twice went close. After good work from Celina on the left, Ward smashed a powerful shot which was straight at Bentley who knew little about it as he saved. The loose ball ran to Waghorn who cut in from the right and hit another powerful strike which hit Chris Mepham in the face and rebounded out of the danger zone.

In the final scheduled minute, Canos hit a low shot which deflected off a Town player and rolled just wide with Bialkowski scampering across his goal.

Moments later, as the match moved into four additional minutes, the Spaniard was booked for a cynical foul as Connolly broke.

Town kept looking for the equaliser in the remaining minutes but never seriously looked like grabbing a goal which would have grabbed them a point.

As at the end of the first half chants were aimed in the direction of departing manager McCarthy as he left the field, the Blues boss this time not reacting.

As at Birmingham, a game of few chances were turned on a debatable penalty, although it was Brentford who had played most of the game’s football and had created more of the match’s relatively few chances.

Town huffed and puffed and frustrated the opposition as they always do but lacked quality and provided little threat in a display typical of many this season.

The defeat sees the Blues drop to 14th in the table, two points behind Norwich, with five games of the season - and the McCarthy era - left to play, starting with Barnsley at home on Tuesday.

Brentford: Bentley, Maupay, McEachran (Marcondes 74), Watkins, Mokotjo (Yannaris 66), Egan, Judge (Canos 66), Sawyers, Dalsgaard, Barbet, Mepham. Unused: Daniels, Macleod, Bjelland, Clarke.

Town: Bialkowski, Carter-Vickers, Chambers (c) (Kenlock 24 (Celina 73)), Webster, Spence, Hyam, Nydam (Ward 73), Connolly, Knudsen, Sears, Waghorn. Unused: M Crowe, Gleeson, Carayol, Folami. Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside). Att: 10,939 (Town: 1,644)

Photos: Pagepix

liam88 added 10:15 - Apr 8 God should be the one you worship not somebody who brought forth his message. Anyway back to the football or Mickball... Terrible...
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Swn98 added 10:36 - Apr 8 NO Blueboy you are incapable of reading and accepting other peoples viewpoints i have stated clearly i am going to put the last 5 plus years behind us and get behind whoever comes in,unfortunately for some strange reason you are incapable of this. With regards to your comments about your oh so cherished barometer of plus and minus arrows why dont you venture on to the forum site i think there would be numerous down arrows waiting for you there.

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blueboy1981 added 11:00 - Apr 8 ......... I think I am the best judge of what I am capable / incapable of - the day I have to resort to the opinion of the likes of you, is well and truly the day I would give up. That's not going to happen. Keep 'clapping' and 'condoning' - it's all you are about, you continually fight against yourself. Like I said - a look in the mirror would be a good start, instead of being abusive, opinionated, and vindictive towards certain people. Most people on here will have evidence that you 'swing with the wind' even recently - that's your choice, and mine is mine.

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BlueandTruesince82 added 11:43 - Apr 8 Papers saying Imps have offered Cowley an extended and improved contract to ward of potential suitors...... might be nonsense but might also suggest nothing has been agreed 'RE Town yet
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Northstandveteran added 11:44 - Apr 8 Now now children.......
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Swn98 added 12:20 - Apr 8 Ok Blueboy i've had a look in the mirror and im very happy with what i've seen so i will carry on being clappy and happy and you continue being Miserable and boring.
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Swn98 added 12:22 - Apr 8 By the way Bluebore why don't you contribute on the forum?
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bobble added 12:49 - Apr 8 is the Nathan Jones link true ?
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stringtheory added 12:56 - Apr 8 Blueboy1981 - so you support the club as it was at some time in the past when they were doing well but not as it is at the moment? In that case, would it be fair to refer to you as a ‘fair-weather' supporter? My ‘time' as you put it started around 45 years ago by the way. I didn't condone the state of the pitch, so no shame required. Surprisingly we do agree on something though, that it's not looking good at the moment. However, I've seen it as bad in the past and know that the club will sort it out as they always have done. If you claim to care deeply about the club have you considered that you may be contributing to it's ‘progressively dropping into the gutter' because that's where some of your comments come from. For the record, I do think it's time for MM to move on and for ME to change his approach and have written to both saying as much (no abuse needed). Finally, fans are a big piece of the parts that make a football club. Clapping, shouting and supporting positively through the good times and the bad times will never contribute to a club's demise but the opposite approach, negative abuse, booing, abusive comments towards managers, players et al always will.

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dubblue added 13:00 - Apr 8 Bad and all MM has been and last two seasons have been tough on fans who like their football and remember the glory days of the Town, we must remember his predecessors RK and PJ were even worse. The common denominator? That would be you Mr Evans! Yesterday 's performance (sic) was dreadful for me and I am sure the vast majority of the other 1434 town fans.
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:03 - Apr 8 Just been reading the ''on this day column 16,and 17 , NOTHING HAS CHANGED ,certainly not for the better, except change IS coming .
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Swn98 added 13:11 - Apr 8 Breath of fresh air stringtheory.
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LWNR2013 added 14:19 - Apr 8 Nathan Jones? He's been gone too long .......
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:40 - Apr 8 Swn98 , I cant stand all this negativity from you ''real supporters ''.lol
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martin587 added 15:45 - Apr 8 Swn98 Sorry,I downmarked you in error.My apologies.👍
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alfromcol added 17:46 - Apr 8 This is what the Cowleys have done at Lincoln, could they do it at PR? Average gates the season before the Cowleys joined were 2,594. Now they are 8,691 Last season, the club's turnover trebled to just over £4.5m The FA Cup run in 2016-17 helped the Imps record a pre-tax profit of £1.3m Reaching the final of the EFL Trophy has generated around £1m through gate receipts and prize money More than 26,000 Wembley tickets have been sold, more than the total for both the club's appearances at the Principality Stadium

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blueboy1981 added 17:50 - Apr 8 stringtheory - only 45 years ? - I'm afraid you come nowhere near me in terms of length of following service of the Club, by a number of years. So no need to preach to me as to what has gone on before, or cast assumptions - I've seen it all because I've been there. Contributed in every possible way, both in personal presence, and considerably financially. I have two choices now :- 1. Keep clapping' and 'condoning' - as some of you do, I'm assuming you know no other way. OR 2. Challenge and object to what is going on for ALL to see at our Club - and campaign for a return of previous pedigree, standards, and general level of entertainment. I choose the later, along with many others. The likes of you - are in my opinion doing NOTHING other than to assist and condone the continuing demise of the so called Club that means so much to you ........ !!!!! Questionable at best, may I suggest. We have an element of 'accepting losers' following our Club - that helps NOTHING in terms of a future for it. I am PROUD to not be a member of such a group - and equally PROUD to see it totally different.

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alfromcol added 18:08 - Apr 8 Would the Cowleys inspire you? See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43655576
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BlueandTruesince82 added 18:25 - Apr 8 No doubt Cowleys are forward thinking in terms of club management although getting students down from the Uni in a town where there is little else to do is something of a no brainer. They are certainly likeable and would undoubtedly do a lot to regain fans trust. It's a question of style though...... One hopes that ME interviews candidates as previous appointments have appeared to be a case of approaching predetermined candidates.... So with any luck style comes up during the interview and if it is to be Cowleys that they reassure the step up allows for a more attractive affair..... Still Steijn.

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blueboy1981 added 18:39 - Apr 8 alfromcol - have always respected your posts. In answer to your question - yes, although I do wonder if the step up for them maybe too great at this stage, I also wonder about their style of play sometimes, however I think they are 'clever' enough to play whatever style / tactics are necessary to offset the effect of the opposition... ! Not every Manager has that ability to change to what suits the situation at the time ....... maybe we all know someone who fits that very bill ... ?? Personally I favour the Dutchman Maurice Stejn - but whoever takes over - ONWARDS and UPWARDS - we want our REAL Club back post haste. Lets all re-unite where possibly.

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Hatman added 18:49 - Apr 8 Danny Cowley for ITFC Manager...!
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alfromcol added 19:10 - Apr 8 Thanks Blueboy. With a years contract to go and obviously Lincoln keen to keep them, the cost might be too much for ME. On second thoughts, might be able to get them on loan??
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:31 - Apr 8 I just think it may be a ''Bridge to far '' for the Cowleys,but I do admire them.
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MicksZzzTactics added 20:01 - Apr 8 Regarding Cowley... Very latest odds from 'BetVictor' . Now whether to put much credence into this hardcore money-making business part of the by default otherwise very DUBIOUS thing known as the 'Rumor Mill', is an entirely personal matter of taste or belief :-) :-) (Note: That strangely the much talked-about again Mr. Steijn, whom I like a lot too, doesn't figure at this bookie or many other renowned ones for that matter?!) http://www.thesackrace.com/teams/ipswich-town As I reported earlier at one point Cowley, for some unknown (but unmistakably smelling of insider knowledge) reasons was at close to 'dead certain bet' at 1/1 .... then 2/1 ... then as other household names entered the hat-in-the-ring contest then suddenly 8/1 and 10/1. But as you can see luckily he is now back leading the pack at 3/1, and by "luckily" I mean when taking into consideration the list very scaringly STILL contains many "Lesser Dinosaurs" and/or 'Has-Been" managers (like say Pardew whom I'm very pleased to see has dropped from 4/1 to 10/1 in recent days) who imho would be a very either a plain bad fit or merely by & large a "more of the same dross" fit for this moribund club So while it would be a big leap level-wise for Cowley (who happens to be no. 3 on my personal wish-list) I concur with other positive & open-minded posters' most recent views on him & and in that he could actually 'pull this off' at ITFC to all (with the possible exception of the vindictive die-hard Mick-worshipperZzz lol) fans' delight. Maybe not immediately but given a couple of years including of course the proper faith & backing by Evans And by backing I'm not necessarily talking countless of millions here ,cause as several other clubs have shown in just very recent years in the Championship a large transfer budget isn't the 'ALL & EVERYTHING' prerequisite there is to be viewed as successful!!! As you can actually entertain your customers while playing serious offensive-minded football on little or no funds PLUS be highly competitive in the process (see wildly offensively impressive & 'Total Shots' crazy Millwall this year) and actually get promoted too (see the ex-Dortmund youth coach & thus newly German-led Huddersfield last year etc etc.!).

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stringtheory added 20:28 - Apr 8 blueboy1981 - I wasn't preaching, just responding to the comments you aimed in my direction. A pity you didn't do likewise to mine. You're confused about the difference between clapping and condoning, they are different things. What's this campaign you say you're part of? That sounds a bit grand. Ah, the one that consists of slavishly slagging off all and sundry via this site, including any other poster who has a different view of what is happening, then checking how many likes you've scored. Brilliant. Please explain how I 'assist and condone the continuing demise of the so called club' by continuing to support it as positively as I can, rather than join an online competition to troll the most abusive comments (seen only by other posters I reckon) that I can muster? Finally, you imply that I'm one of a group of 'accepting losers', and that we're putting the club's future in danger - that one baffles me, care to explain?

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