First half goals from Kamohelo Mokotjo and Neal Maupay helped see visitors Brentford to victory over a largely inept Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
It was a ninth season of me and my step mum making the annual pilgrimage to my late fathers beloved Black Cats which we have done around his February birthday every year since his passing in 2008, and the first season we would see them not taking part in a Premier League match after their relegation from the top flight last season.
And his boys were struggling too, sitting second bottom in the Championship, however last weekend fightback from 3-0 to claim a point at Bristol City would have no doubt given the club a lift coming into this one against a Brentford side who had been rather inconsistent of late but sat in tenth spot which a chance of claiming a play off berth still.
Still their was reason for optimism amongst the home contingent, however it was the Bees who began well and forced Lee Camp into a near post save early on, and then on 11 minutes saw another effort side footed at Camp as the visitors continued to start on the front foot.
But it wasn’t long before the visitors grabbed an inevitable opener as a ball laid back to Mokotjo saw him fire a first time effort from twenty yards out beyond Camp into the far corner and Brentford had the start they wanted, and Sunderland the one they didn’t need.
On 17 minutes the visitors produced more good link up play before seeing a curled effort go just over, and the hosts were all over the place and it looked likely that the Bees would add to their tally if truth be told.
On twenty minutes nice skill from the visitors down the right eventually saw an effort go over the hosts bar, and then a minute later the hosts finally managed to put a decent attack together, and although nothing came of it the home crowd were at least awakened and then saw a long range effort easily gathered by Bees keeper Dan Bentley.
However any positive ness gained from that burst vanished in the 27th minute as the Bees doubled their lead, when a cut back saw Maupay cheekily flick the ball home from close range, and the hosts had a mountain to climb with two thirds of the contest remaining.
The hosts tried to respond when firing into the side netting, before they got in down the right but a weak effort was blocked out for a corner, however these were just flashes of good in what was becoming a rather inept performance from the hosts overall.
And in the 34th minute the Bees looked certain to make it three, however the ball was somehow overrun and Camp managed to gather the loose ball and thwart what would have probably ended the contest their and then.
And late on in the half another sloppy error from the hosts saw the visitors in down the right hand side, however the ball into the box was poor for once, and was cleared after another block from a desperate defender.
However for a poor as Sunderland had been in the opening forty five minutes they so nearly grabbed a goal back in first half stoppage time when a loose ball from a free kick was thumped against the bar with Bentley a spectator, and it meant the visitors went into the locker room two goals to the good and probably feeling they could be further in front. For Sunderland it had been a woeful forty five minutes and Chris Coleman had one hell of a team talk to deliver.
Half Time Sunderland 0 Brentford 2
Whatever Coleman said in the changing room worked initially as the hosts certainly came out much brighter in the opening five minutes of the half, with a cut back being struck wide of the near post, and then another cut back just going behind an onrushing player, but the intent was now there.
Brentford saw an effort whistle over, before another decent attacking position for the home side saw the ball get stuck under the hosts players feet, and saw the ball eventually go for a corner, and then ten minutes into the second half another woeful finish saw another opening go by for the Black Cats, but it had been all Sunderland this half so far.
The visitors still remained a threat though and just before the hour saw a free header from close range go over, before the hosts saw a deflected cross almost creep in the near post, but Bentley got down well to tip the ball behind for a corner.
As the midway point of the half approached the visitors broke down the left, and eventually saw an effort deflected wide of the post, with the home fans booing the referee rather loudly after he didn’t give them a free kick which led to the visitors breaking. It had been a rather frustrating day for the home fans I can tell you.
With thirteen minutes left the hosts burst forward but saw the final effort well saved by Bentley, and then with nine minutes left the hosts saw a decent ball into the area mis headed from point blank range and the ball actually went for a throw in. It kind of summed up the home sides day if truth be told.
With five minutes left the hosts almost capitalised on an error, however Bentley saved, then saw the visitors break but drag an effort wide. Then more woeful finishing from Sunderland saw them hold their hands in their hands, before the visitors nearly sealed it in stoppage time but saw a defender get back to thwart them.
However those first half goals from Mokotjo and Maupay proved more than enough for the Bees to take the three points here, and although the hosts improved after the break, it was a largely inept performance from them. My late father would have been turning in his grave, and my step mum’s take on it was ‘pathetic’. The boos at full time said it all too, and Coleman has one hell of a job to do to keep the Black Cats in the division.
Full Time Sunderland 0 Brentford 2
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