Tumaini Carayol’s match report has landed, so I’ll leave you with that. Thanks for your company and emails throughout a memorable game of football. Bye!
So, Brentford will play Swansea or Barnsley at Wembley after a wildly entertaining, slightly unhinged game of football. It turned on two moments - a debatable penalty when Brentford were 2-0 down on aggregate (I thought it was the right decision, though others didn’t), then Chris Mepham’s disastrous red card in the 28th minute. Bournemouth worked ferociously hard to stay in the tie, by fair means or foul, but eventually succumbed to a late goal from the substitute Marcus Forss.
“Rob,” says Ivor Leonard. “Can you give my mate in Hobart a shout? He’s a Brentford fan because he’s called David Gentford! He’s had a rollercoaster over the last few years. Really hoping that they do it for him this time. Think he’s the most knowledgeable man in Hobart on Brentford...”
Why not: congratulations Mr Gentford!
Pontus Jansson speaks “This is football [looks at the fans], I’ve missed it so much. I’m just so fucking happy! Without [the fans] today I don’t think we would have made it. We have to win the final, we haven’t done anything, but we are so happy to have the fans back. This is football.”
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The final whistle prompts a guttural roar from somebody standing inappropriately close to a TV mic, and then come the smiles and the euphoria. It’s a lovely scene, especially as there are fans in the ground, but you have to feel for the Bournemouth players. They are broken.
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Full time: Brentford 3-1 Bournemouth (agg: 3-2)
Brentford are through to another play-of final after a tumultous victory over Bournemouth!
90+4 min Stacey is booked for a foul on Forss. With 30 seconds remaining, I think that’s it for Bournemouth.
90+2 min The corner is headed away by Pinnock. Begovic stays forward, but is caught offside when a cross comes back into the box. That was not the smartest bit of play, especially as his teammates were telling him for about 15 seconds that he was offside.
90+2 min Danjuma’s free-kick is headed up and over his own bar by Toney. Begovic stays forward.
90 min Four added minutes.
90 min Dalsgaard is booked for a moronic foul on Danjuma near the left touchline. This is a chance for Bournemouth, and Begovic is coming forward.
90 min The outstanding Bryan Mbuemo is replaced by Mads Bidstrup.
88 min It’s David Raya’s turn to whip out War and Peace before he takes a goalkick. Thomas Frank’s watch is no longer being tapped.
88 min Bournemouth do get the ball, and keep it for a little while, but then Long’s cross is too deep for Danjuma.
87 min “6.30 on a Saturday morning is not prime sports-watching time,” says Adam Roberts, “but this game is like a quadruple espresso.”
87 min Bournemouth’s 10 men are struggling to get the ball, never mind keep it. After a long spell of possession, Fosu’s cross is just too heavy for the tireless Mbuemo.
86 min I think, had VAR been in use, Marcus Forss’s armpit hair would have been offside in the build up to that third goal.
85 min This would be a sickening defeat for Bournemouth, who have worked so hard with 10 men. Cameron Carter-Vickers has been especially heroic.
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84 min Emiliano has a shot blocked after good play from Toney, and then Fosu’s overhit cross almost sneaks in the far corner.
82 min A change of plan for Bournemouth - Shane Long is on for Adam Smith.
Dalsgaard moved forward, shaped to shoot and then clipped an angled ball into the area. Smith did well to win it in the air, ahead of Forss, but could only head it to Emiliano on the left of the area. He hammered a left-footed cross towards the near post, where Forss stuck out his first leg leg to volley into the net from six yards. I thought it was an own goal from Carter-Vickers at first but replays show it was unquestionably Forss’s touch, and a damn fine one at that.
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GOAL! Brentford 3-1 Bournemouth (agg: 3-2; Forss 81)
Brentford are ahead for the first time in the tie!
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80 min “Hi Rob,” says Brian Withington. “Begovic making full use of opportunity to audition for Comedia Dell’Arte? Possibly a bit too tall for Punchinello, though.”
All these highbrow references going straight over my head. What do you think this is, the Guardian?
79 min Another Brentford change: the excellent Sergi Canos is replaced by Tariqe Fosu.
78 min Jansson is booked for a foul on Begovic after he claims a corner.
78 min It’s attack v defence now. Emiliano, 20 yards out, makes room for a nice curling shot that is punched away by Begovic as he dives to his left. A comfortable save.
76 min Toney is penalised for fouling Rico off the ball. He needs to be careful, having had a yellow card, though Rico did make the most of it, and then a bit more for the road.
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75 min Another change for Bournemouth: Jack Stacey replaces Dominic Solanke, which suggests a switch to 8-0-1. You can’t blame Jonathan Woodgate in the circumstances.
75 min “You know what this game needs?” says Robert Speed. “VAR.”
74 min Canos’s deep cross is headed back across goal by Mbuemo and cleared quite brilliantly by Carter-Vickers in the six-yard box. Toney was waiting behind him to score. Mbuemo has had a sensational second half.
73 min A deep cross from Pinnock is headed back across goal by Toney and out for a throw-in. He was going for goal but was under a lot of pressure from Rico. Meanwhile, replays show that was an excellent chance for Emiliano a moment ago. He got the wrong side of Pearson, six yards out, but mistimed a half-volley between his own legs.
71 min Mbuemo wins another corner for Brentford. He takes it himself, swinging it towards the far post. It somehow beats everyone in the middle - including Emiliano, who had a good chance on the half-volley. He was under pressure from Pearson and the ball slithered under his foot.
70 min Dalsgaard plays a terrific pass inside Solanke for Mbeumo, whose cross is spanked over on the volley by Toney. That was a chance, albeit a sharp one. Mbeumo’s pace and movement have made him a constant menace today, first at centre-forward and now, even more so, at right wing-back.
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68 min More fun and games from Begovic, who falls over in his own six-yard box before a Brentford throw-in. He tells the referee that Forss deliberately kicked him; replays show there was a slight brush of sock against sock.
67 min Begovic again takes an age over a goalkick. The referee wold be within his rights to give him a second yellow card, though there’s very little chance of that happening. Moments later, a zesty, calculated ball-and-man tackle from Smith irritates Canos, who squares up to him afterwards.
66 min “I’m very much hoping that Kevin Ryan’s friend (47 min) is not following the match,” says Daniel Barnett, “then, what with it being played on Shabbos.”
65 min Bournemouth have been through the spin cycle ever since Chris Mepham’s slapstick red card in the 28th minute, yet they are still level in the tie and hanging on grimly. There have been too many unimaginable twists in the playoffs down the years for us to assume anything about Brentford going to Wembley.
64 min Another change for Brentford: the goalscorer Vitaly Janel is replaced by Saman Ghoddos.
62 min Danjuma shows great skill to beat two players in the Brentford area and lay the ball back to the onrushing Solanke on the edge of the area. He is expertly shepherded away from the ball by Dalsgaard.
61 min “Is anyone else,” begins Sam Campbell, “looking forward to Jack Wilshire coming on later to calm things down a bit?”
60 min Canos’s cross is headed away to Dalsgaard, 25 yards out. He sprays it high over the bar.
58 min If nothing else happens in the next 32 minutes - arf - the tie will go to extra-time.
57 min “Begovic reading War and Peace?” says Chris Morrell. “I think he’s got to the fourth chapter of Proust’s A la Recherche de Temps Perdu.”
I think I saw a Wisden Almanack or two in his kit bag as well, and one of my long reads.
54 min: MORE UTTER CHAOS! Mbuemo robs the dithering Rico and bursts into the area. Carter-Vickers makes a vital tackle - there was still a big appeal for a penalty - and then Begovic dives desperately at the feet of Toney. The ball breaks back to Mbuemo, who sweeps it into the side netting. The last one wouldn’t have counted as the referee had blown for a foul on Rico by Forss.
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52 min Replays show that Lerma touched the ball a split second - if that - before Janelt. It was a slightly woolly challenge from Lerma, possibly because of the presence of Emiliano. Not that Brentford will care either way.
It was a strange goal from Vitaly Janelt. A right-wing cross from Jensen was cleared to the edge of the D, where Janelt charged onto the ball with a first-time shot in mind. At the same time, Emiliano ran towards it from the other direction and threatened to get in the way. He pulled away at the last minute, then Lerma tried to clear the ball at the same moment as Janelt struck it with his left foot. The ball took a really strange trajectory, looping over Begovic and into the far corner. It’s definitely Janelt’s goal.
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GOAL! Brentford 2-1 Bournemouth (agg: 2-2; Janelt 50)
Brentford have come from 2-0 down to level the tie!
49 min Solanke cuts inside sharply from the left and works Raya with a crisp low shot from 25 yards. It was a comfortable save for Raya, who pushed it round the post as he dived to his right, but it was a decent effort.
48 min Dalsgaard fouls Solanke near the touchline, which allows Begovic to waste another 35 seconds before taking the free-kick. Every little helps.
48 min “I’m sure this isn’t much fun for Brentford or Bournemouth fans but as a neutral, amateur hour defending, cheating, pretend fights and general sh1thousery is absolutely brilliant,” says Matt Emerson. “I’m hoping for seven goals plus a proper bench clearing brawl in the second half. Obviously no-one likes to see that sort of thing. Apart from all of us.”
47 min Bournemouth are playing a 4-4-1, with Danjuma up front at the moment and Solanke on the left wing.
47 min “I have a friend who is a keen Brentford supporter so I’d wished him well for this match and in any case I admire the way the Bees are run and the way they play football,” says Kevin Ryan. “However last night my so-called friend emailed me to say he’d watched the Big Lebowski on TV last night for the first time and switched off after half an hour as he thought it was ‘tedious’. He also asserted that the John Goodman character was ‘ridiculous’. This, coming from someone who is a big bloke with a loud voice, very right-wing views and who makes wild assertions that are almost always wrong. Sound familiar? Anyway, I still hope the Bees win and get to the final playoffs but I have to admit I’m saying it through gritted teeth.”
He’s not wrong, Kevin, he’s just an [that’ll enough – Movie Quotes Ed]
46 min Emiliano has an early shot blocked, and then Toney screws a follow-up volley out for a throw-in. Bournemouth take their time over it, and why not.
46 min Peep peep! Brentford begin the second half. In fact they have kept the same formation - Bryan Mbuemo has moved to right wing-back, with Forss replacing him up front.
Brentford are bringing on Marcus Forss for Mads Roerslev, which probably means a switch to a back four.
“Mind you,” says Adam Roberts (see 21 min), “our under-10s behaved better than most of the players out there today.”
It’s almost as if they’re auditioning to play in the Premier League.
Half time: Brentford 1-1 Bournemouth (agg: 1-2)
Where to start with that first half? There were two goals, a red card, at least 48 penalty appeals, not to mention controversy, drama, desperation, petulance, cheating, needle and even a bit of football. It was largely unedifying yet hugely entertaining, not unlike those stand-offs outside JJs nightclub in the 1990s.
Arnaut Danjuma scored his second goal of the tie, running the length of the field to punish Brentford for leaving nobody back at a corner. But a debatable handball against Lloyd Kelly allowed Ivan Toney to equalise with a nerveless penalty, and then Brentford alumnus Chris Mepham was sent off for a professional foul on Bryan Mbuemo.
After all that, Bournemouth are a goal up in the tie and Brentford are a man up on the day. But don’t rule out more red cards.
45+6 min Lerma is booked for holding onto the ball to stop Brentford taking a quick free-kick.
45+5 min Free-kick to Brentford 45 yards out on the right. Jensen’s delivery catches the wind and almost embarrasses Begovic, who scampers back to save. I think it was a mishit from Jensen, though it’s not beyond him.
45+5 min Now the two benches are having a full and frank exchange of views over something or other. All the petulance and stoppages suit Bournemouth more than Brentford at this stage.
45+2 min Dalsgaard shoots miles over the bar from 30 yards, which allows Asmir Begovic to read a few more pages of War and Peace before taking the goalkick. Begovic was booked earlier in the half, and has apparently concluded that the referee won’t have the bottle to send off a second Bournemouth player, the goalkeeper at that, for timewasting.
45 min There will be six minutes of added time. Roerslev’s deep, lofted cross is chested back to Begovic by the leaping Smith, who flattens Mbuemo in the process. Cue yet another penalty appeal, albeit it fairly muted by today’s standards.
44 min Bournemouth appeal for vociferously, and unsuccessfully, for a penalty when Billing’s header hits the hand of Pinnock. That wasn’t a penalty because, although Pinnock’s hand was in an unnatural position, the ball deflected off the top of his arm. I’ll be honest, though, I haven’t a clue any more.
42 min “At least we know now,” begins Sam Campbell, “that if Brentford go ahead in the tie they won’t partake in any time wasting.”
Nothing compares to football when it comes to the, erm, flexibility of the moral compass.
41 min Poor Chris Mepham; a moment like this needs the Curb Your Enthusiasm music.
🟥 A horror moment for Mepham!
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 22, 2021
He brings down Mbeumo and sees red on his Brentford return. 'Chris Mepham, he's one of our own' rings out as he leaves. 😬😬
📺 Watch on Sky Sports Football
📱 Follow the action here: https://t.co/12gORX58yP
📲 Download the @SkySports app! pic.twitter.com/QlpELck1Hs
40 min It’s been so breathless that I didn’t have chance to say that Mathias Jensen (see 4 min) is still on the field.
38 min Another unsuccessful penalty appeal when Toney is blocked by Carter-Vickers. That was an easier decision for the referee as Toney ran into the back of the defender. But they are all trying it on today, which is both unsavoury and highly entertaining.
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36 min Begovic takes the opportunity to receive treatment and use up a bit more time. He also had the effrontery to appeal for a foul after bouncing off his own team-mate Kelly.
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35 min: What a clearance from Rico! Pinnock hurled in a long throw from the left towards the six-yard box. Begovic came for it, ran straight into the back of Kelly and fell over comically, as if he’d charged straight into a lamppost in a silent film. Dalsgaard guided a backheader towards the empty net, but Rico - facing his own goal - did brilliantly to boot it clear from under the crossbar.
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33 min: Toney misses a great chance! Brentford should be level on aggregate. Dalsgaard sprayed a terrific pass to Canos, who cut inside and floated an angled beyond the far post. Toney, unmarked four yards out, headed wide.
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30 min Bournemouth make a necessary substitution: Diego Rico comes on for David Brooks, which means Lloyd Kelly will move to centre-back.
30 min The resulting free-kick leads to a huge Brentford penalty appeal when Toney misses an attempted volley on the turn and falls over. He thought he was knocked off balance by an unwitting ankle tap from Dominic Solanke; it’s hard to be certain but I think he had a case. The referee disagreed.
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Chris Mepham, once of Brentford, has been sent off for a professional foul. He miscontrolled a long clearance and was robbed by Mbuemo, who was about to run through on goal. Mepham fell over and grabbed Mbeumo by the leg, bringing him down as well. There were no complaints from anyone connected with Bournemouth, which tells its own story.
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28 min: MEPHAM SENT OFF FOR BOURNEMOUTH! Oh my goodness, it has all changed now.
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25 min The Sky Sports summariser Don Goodman thinks Bournemouth were hard bone by with the penalty. I don’t think it should be a penalty, but I think it was the right decision based on the current interpretation of the law. He was sliding and his hand was at head height.
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24 min There’s a febrile atmosphere at the Brentford Community Stadium, and I’ll be very surprised if this doesn’t kick off at some stage. Brentford are possibly a bit too pumped up, and Bournemouth look the smoother side on the ball. Brooks wins a corner with a dangerous run, and then Bournemouth take an age to take it. Thomas Frank spends the whole time tapping his watch.
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21 min “When my boys were younger, I used to help out ‘coaching’ the primary school football team,” says Adam Roberts. “If they had defended like Brentford on that B’mouth goal, I would have been livid. My main job was shouting at defenders and the goalkeeper where to stand and to pay attention. It’s astonishing that not one of the Bees’ players or coaching staff noticed that no Brentford player was within 20 metres of the halfway line.”
It looks like it’s a deliberate tactic, which is fascinating and funky and just plain wrong. Surely the pros don’t outweigh the one big, potentially season-ruining con.
⚽️ Most goals in @SkyBetChamp & play-offs since Feb 27
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 22, 2021
11 ARNAUT DANJUMA
9 Adam Armstrong, Teemu Pukki
8 Andre Ayew, Daryl Dike pic.twitter.com/V8tOePXlsk
20 min Bournemouth break five on four, only for Brooks of all people to overrun the ball. They look so menacing on the counter-attack.
18 min If you’re a neutral, this is all sorts of fun - drama, controversy, farce, needle. And we’ve got at least another 75 minutes to come.
GOAL! Brentford 1-1 Bournemouth (agg: 1-2; Toney 16 pen)
Toney walks up slowly and sidefoots an emphatic penalty to Begovic’s left. He went the right way but couldn’t reach it. Toney grabs the ball and runs back to the halfway line, but then Begovic chases after him and pushes the ball out of his hands. Toney responds by pushing Begovic, and both players are booked. That was a bit weird from Begovic, though, as Don Goodman says on Sky, it may have been designed to get Toney in trouble.
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Emiliano’s cross hit the raised arm of Kelly. It probably is a penalty under the current interpretation of the law, though I’m not sure it would have been given but for an almighty appeal from the Brentford supporters.
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15 min: PENALTY TO BRENTFORD! It’s been given for handball against Kelly, though he is fuming and there’s pushing and shoving on both sides.
13 min Another corner for Brentford, who again have everybody within 20 yards of goal. They didn’t forget to leave somebody back, it’s a deliberate tactic. Nothing comes of this corner, for Brentford or Bournemouth.
12 min A whole season of intense, high-quality work, 48 games, and then you forget to leave anyone back at a corner. I’m at Jack’s flabbered gast.
11 min Brentford are always getting frustrated, and Toney has a word with the referee after being fouled by Mepham.
8 min Brooks stays down after an awkward fall and then ssshhhhes one of the Brentford players encouraging him to get up. He’s fine to continue.
Brentford won the first corner of the game, and for some reason all their outfield players were within 20 yards of the Bournemouth goal when it was taken. A simple lobbed clearance found Danjuma near the halfway line. He charged to the edge of the penalty area and, just as in the first leg, slid the ball coolly to the left of David Raya.
That’s a stunning cock-up from Brentford - or, more specifically, from whoever is supposed to stay back on corners. It might have been the injured Jensen, but either way it’s a shocker.
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GOAL! Brentford 0-1 Bournemouth (agg: 0-2; Danjuma 6)
Arnaut Danjuma has doubled Bournemouth’s lead in the tie!
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4 min Jensen is still on the field, but Saman Ghoddos is getting ready to replace him if necessary.
2 min Yet another injury problem for Brentford - Mathias Jensen is limping heavily after going down off the ball. This doesn’t look good.
2 min Brentford are playing with a back three, which means their official website told a big smelly lie.
1 min Peep peep! Bournemouth, in their turquoise blue away strip, kick off from right to left. Brentford are in red and white.
There’s a huge roar as the Brentford players stroll onto the field. Thomas Frank has already done a lap of the pitch to applaud and encourage the returning supporters. Those fans will leave the ground in a few hours’ time in a state of euphoria or in despair; there’s nothing inbetween.
A late change to the Brentford team
Christian Norgaard has been injured in the warm-up, so Mads Roerslev comes into the side. That’s another blow to Brentford. These are the revised teams:
Brentford (possible 4-3-3) Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock, Janelt; Roerslev, Jensen, Emiliano; Mbuemo, Toney, Canos.
Substitutes: Daniels, Goode, Forss, Ghoddos, Reid, Fosu, Roerslev, Stevens, Bidstrup.
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1) Begovic; Smith, Carter-Vickers, Mepham, Kelly; Pearson, Lerma; Brooks, Billing, Danjuma; Solanke.
Substitutes: Travers, Stacey, Rico, Wilshere, Kilkenny, Riquelme, Anthony, Long, Surridge.
That Brentford formation is based on their official website, though it doesn’t quite look right and it might be a red herring. Most places list them in a 3-4-1-2 as follows: Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock; Roerslev, Jensen, Janelt, Canos; Emiliano; Toney, Mbeumo.
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Here’s Thomas Frank
“I wish we could just cut and paste [last year’s semi-final comeback], that’d be nice! But this is football, we’re working with human beings and we have a tough opponent who will do everything they can to win. I’m honestly extremely excited. Of course we’re all bit a nervous - if you’re not nervous, pttthht, we’re playing for so much - but the fans are back, we have everything to play for against another good football side. Hopefully it’s one of those occasions we will always remember.
“Rico has had a setback so he is out for today. Emiliano is perfect for a game like this and Bryan has been in form, so that’s why I changed it. Now Marcus [Forss] needs to be a gamechanger from the bench.”
The teams in formation
Brentford (possible 4-3-3) Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Pinnock, Janelt; Norgaard, Jensen, Emiliano; Mbuemo, Toney, Canos.
Substitutes: Daniels, Goode, Forss, Ghoddos, Reid, Fosu, Roerslev, Stevens, Bidstrup.
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1) Begovic; Smith, Mepham, Carter-Vickers, Kelly; Pearson, Lerma; Brooks, Billing, Danjuma; Solanke.
Substitutes: Travers, Stacey, Rico, Wilshere, Kilkenny, Riquelme, Anthony, Long, Surridge.
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Both teams are missing important players because of injury
Rico Henry, who returned as a substitute on Monday, must have had a relapse because he isn’t in the squad. That’s a blow for Brentford, who are also without Josh Dasilva, and it’s not yet clear how they will line up. I think Thomas Frank may switch to 4-3-3. What we know for sure is that he has made three changes from Monday’s first leg: Henrik Dalsgaard, Emiliano Marcondes and Bryan Mbeumo come in for Mads Roerslev, Tariqe Fosu and Marcus Forss.
Bournemouth coach Jonathan Woodgate makes one change, with Chris Mepham replacing the injured captain Steve Cook at centre-half.
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The teams
🚨 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈 𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🚨
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) May 22, 2021
➡ Dalsgaard, Emiliano, Mbeumo
⬅ Roerslev, Fosu, Forss
Your Bees this afternoon 👊#BrentfordFC #BREBOU pic.twitter.com/j33rnHFJc5
📝 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 📝
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) May 22, 2021
🔺 One change from Monday
🔺 Mepham in for Cook
🔺 Pearson fit to start
Here's how we line up for today's play-off second leg. 𝗟𝗘𝗧'𝗦 𝗚𝗢, 𝗟𝗔𝗗𝗦! 🔥🔥#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/JXYt6r7UVD
Pre-match scene-setter
This is really good as always from Ben Fisher.
Preamble
Hello, good morning and welcome to live coverage of the Championship playoff semi-final second leg between Brentford and Bournemouth. The good news is that it one of these teams will be at Wembley a week today, with the chance to become £200m richer, win promotion to the Premier League and maybe even become £200m richer.
The bad news is that one of them will have played 48 games for nothing. All those third-man runs, all that zestful counter-pressing, all that willpower to resist the appreciable temptations of the Nando’s drive thru... it’ll all have amounted to nowt. The stakes are so high, too high in some ways, and for different reasons both teams are desperate to get promoted.
Brentford have not been in the top flight since 1947, and had their hearts broken by Fulham in last year’s final. Bournemouth had never been in the top division until 2015, but they enjoyed their five-year stay so much that they would really rather like to get back at the first attempt.
Bournemouth lead 1-0 from the first leg on Monday, when Arnaut Danjuma’s goal settled a tense game at the Vitality Stadium. Brentford overcame a similar deficit against Swansea in last year’s semi-final, and this year they will have 4,000 fans at their new stadium. But Bournemouth are terrific on the break - they almost played like the away team in the first leg - and will fancy their chances of scoring.
If they do, Brentford will need at least two: happily for them, given the first-leg score, the away-goals rule isn’t used in the playoffs, not even after extra-time. Few will be surprised if this goes the distance.
Kick off 12.30pm. The winners play Swansea or Barnsley at Wembley next weekend.
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