Things didn’t look good from the 18th second, when Josh Gowling went down under a heavy tackle, and didn’t get up again, leaving the pitch on a stretcher. The pack was reshuffled, and James Keene came on up front to partner James Hayter.
Brentford piled on the pressure early on and created many good chances, most of which were sent wide. A couple of corners were also cleared away from dangerous positions by the Bournemouth defence.
As it transpired, the first goal went to Bournemouth, and what a goal too. The ball was played in to Keene just inside the Brentford penalty area, and he jinked one way and the other in front of the defence, before creating enough space to squeeze a low drive in to the corner.
The goal gave Bournemouth a massive confidence boost, and a short time later when a long range Brian Stock effort was only parried by the Brentford goalie, James Hayter was quickest to react and drilled home the second goal.
Although it was now 2-0 and everything was going swimmingly well, Griffin Park has never been the happiest of hunting grounds and with such a long time to go in the game there was always the nagging doubt this could still be thrown away! But the half was seen out comfortably, and Bournemouth were good value for the half time lead. James O'Connor was playing well up and down the wing, and the defence as a whole consistently made the right pass or right clearance so as not to give Brentford much in the way of chances.
HT: 0-1
The onus was on Brentford to come at us in the second half, which they did. but the defence restricted the Brentford forwards to few shots on goal, which in the main flew over the bar into the away end.
The long ball tactics were being comfortably soaked up by Neil Young and Shaun Cooper in the middle, and anything that got through was ably dealt with by Gareth Stewart.
James Hayter's long range dipping effort could have rounded off the day nicely but it dropped just wide.
In the end a comfortable, if slightly unexpected win, all credit to Sean and his squad for another great performance.
probably Neil Young for keeping the defence together so well. AFCB: Stewart, Young, Gowling, O'Connor, Cooper, Hart, Browning, Stock, Foley, Surman, Hayter
Subs: Moss, Cooke (on for Surman, 86), Rodrigues (on for Keene, 78), Keene (on for Gowling, 1), Coutts
Justin Loader, Hedge End