Brentford’s U21s came from behind to beat the Blues 2-1 at Portman Road in the second of three meetings between the clubs this week.

Town’s U18s defeated their Bees counterparts by the same scoreline at Wheatsheaf Park last Saturday with the teams’ senior sides facing one another at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday.

As has become their first team’s trademark, the Bees’ U21s started positively, threatening within the opening minute when Iwan Morgan cut in from the right and hit a shot which Blues keeper Henry Gray palmed wide.

The resultant corner was played short and then sent in for Morgan at the far post from where he headed into the net, but having strayed offside. Moments later, from a subsequent corner, Isaac Holland saw a shot deflect over.

Despite the Bees’ early pressure, the Blues took the lead in the fifth minute from their first opportunity.


A ball was played forward for Jesse Nwabueze (pictured), who out-battled Vonnte Williams before confidently finishing past keeper Julian Eyestone.

Town threatened again in the 11th minute when Tommy Taylor played a great ball into the path of Oli Davis on the left of the box. Davis laid it back to Ash Boatswain but the Montserrat international’s effort flew over the bar.

A minute later, Boatswain hit a low effort from distance towards the left, which Eyestone saved confidently.

But the lead only lasted until the 14th minute when Ethan Brierley wafted the ball into the area from midway inside the Blues’ half and Kyreece Lisbie, son of former Town striker Kevin, flicked a header past Henry Gray from eight yards.

Nwabueze forced Eyestone into a save in the 19th minute from a Taylor lay-off with Town pushing to restore their lead, then four minutes later Boatswain headed over from a Davis cross from the left.

However, the Bees began to dominate the ball as the game passed the half-hour mark but without creating an opportunity until the 34th minute when Morgan dispossessed Town skipper Jacob Mazionis on the Blues’ right. The striker took the ball in on goal but Mazionis did superbly to get back and tackle the Wales U19 international.

On 39 Yogane sent over a deep cross from the left which reached Holland breaking to the back post but his effort was blocked by Josh Lewis. From the resultant corner on the right, a Brentford header flicked wide of the far post.

Town didn’t threaten again until the second of two additional minutes when Taylor played a clever ball in for Boatswain but Eyestone was able to grab ahead of the striker.

After weathering Brentford’s early storm, the Blues went ahead via their first attack, Nwabueze using his physique to get on the ball before finishing with the confidence of a man netting his fourth goal in three games, the other three having come off the bench.

Having gone in front, Town pressed for a second but the Bees deservedly levelled and were in control for much of the half thereafter but without causing Gray to make another significant save.

The visitors were first to threaten following the restart in the 50th minute. A Yogane cross from the left looped to the far post from where it was nodded back by Benjamin Fredrick and somehow Gray was able to grab hold of it with Brierley having appeared certain to force it over the line from point-blank.

Two minutes later, Taylor received a pass a few yards outside the area before hitting a shot which arced only just over the bar.

On 53, with Brentford again in charge, Brierley struck a well-hit 25-yard effort but it was too close to Gray, who claimed.

Crosses repeatedly flew into the Town box with the Blues’ backline making a number of important headers.

Town made their first change on 57, goalscorer Nwabueze making way for summer signing Tudor Mendel-Idowu.

Brentford should have gone in front in the 62nd minute when Gray passed the ball out straight to Brierley. The former Rochdale midfielder brought it forward, rounded the New Zealand U20 keeper and stroked towards goal, only for Town defender Daniel O’Connor to divert it wide with Mazionis behind him sliding painfully into the post.

From the resultant corner on the right, Bees defender Benjamin Arthur headed across the face and wide.

Mendel-Idowu shot high and wide on 66 before Ayyuba Jambang took over from Daniel Babb at right-back. Two minutes later, Brentford swapped Ashley Hay for Ethan Laidlaw.

In the 75th minute, with Brentford still looking the most likely scorers of the game’s third goal, Town swapped left-back Lewis and central midfielder Emmanuel Okunowo for Jesse Ayoola and Luke Towler, while the Bees replaced Holland with Max Dickov, son of former Manchester City striker Paul.

Four minutes later, Brierley shot over after a Lisbie cut-back from the right had been half-cleared to the edge of the area.

Brentford had been the better side in the second half and in the 81st minute they took the lead. Lisbie was sent away down the right and crossed low for Morgan, who tapped home at the far post.

In the 87th minute, Brentford switched Williams and Yogane for Chanse Headman and Ollie Shield.

The game went into five minutes of added-on time with the Blues looking for an equaliser but not particularly convincingly.

And in the game’s final penalty box action, Brentford almost increased their lead in the 92nd minute, Dickov crashing a powerful strike off the bar after a corner from the left had reached him on the other side of the box.

A fair result with the visitors having been the better team for most of the match and having created most of the game’s chances.

U21s: Gray, Babb (Jambang 66), Lewis (Ayoola 75), Mazionis (c), O'Connor, Turner, Davis, Okunowo (Towler 75), Boatswain, Taylor, Nwabueze (Mendel-Idowu 57). Unused: Fleischer.

Brentford: Eyestone, Holland (Dickov 75), Yogane (Shield 87), Williams (Headman 87), Fredrick, Arthur, Lisbie, Brierley, Morgan, Owen, Laidlaw (Hay 68). Unused: Avenell. Att: 461.

Photo: Matchday Images

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