No word from Thomas Frank, as the BBC close it all down, so that’s your lot. Off to the report you go ... and many thanks for reading this MBM.
Brendan Rodgers speaks to the BBC. “It was a very good result for us. The objective was to get through. We started very well, played with a nice control. The first 20 to 25 minutes were very good, but we didn’t have precision in our final pass and let Brentford into the game. But they’re a good side, they play well, you know you’ll have to defend. A good win that gets us into the next round.”
For the first ten minutes, a rout looked on the cards. Brentford began very nervously indeed. But they rallied, and were the better team in the second half. Their second string can be very proud of their efforts against one of the best squads in the country. “We are happy to go through to the next round,” Leicester match-winner Kelechi Iheanacho says. “We worked really hard to the end, a lot of pressure from them. I was a bit nervous because they kept coming, but we defended well and in the end we got the win.”
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FULL TIME: Brentford 0-1 Leicester City
Leicester weren’t great in that second half. But they’ve held firm, and their early efforts were enough. The Foxes go through to the fifth round; the Bees have played FA Cup football at Griffin Park for the very last time.
90 min +2: Marcondes finds a second wind and dribbles down the right. But Fuchs is on hand to put a stop to his gallop.
90 min +1: Yearwood tries to drive Brentford forward, but his fizzed pass towards Marcondes pings off the tired attacker.
90 min: There will be three added minutes.
88 min: Maddison slides one down the right for Justin, who shuttles the ball on for Albrighton. He’s in plenty of space, but with the hosts light at the back, hoicks a dreadful cross deep into the stand.
87 min: Not from this corner, no. Racic has another whack at goal, but this one isn’t so graceful, and the ball flies harmlessly into the crowd behind.
86 min: Racic sprays a pass down the left for Henry, whose low cross is hacked out for a corner by Soyuncu. Can Brentford find the equaliser their second-half efforts deserve?
84 min: Racic meets Marcondes’s corner from the right with a sensational volley. It’s heading in, but Ward tips over magnificently. And from the next corner, Henry hooks in from the left, Mbeumo coming in from the other side and slamming home! Griffin Park erupts. But the flag goes up, correctly, for offside.
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83 min: Marcondes crosses from the left. Fuchs ducks under it, in order to let the ball out for a goal kick. But the referee thinks he’s taken a touch and awards a corner. From which ...
82 min: A last throw of the dice by Thomas Frank. Valencia is replaced by Mbeumo.
81 min: Not a lot going on. It’s very flat. Leicester will be happy enough as the clock ticks down.
79 min: Another corner for Leicester, Maddison to take out on the right. It leads to a shanked long-range effort by Praet. Henry launches a quick counter, creaming a pass down the left that initially looks to have sprung Dervisoglu clear. But the flag correctly pops up for offside.
78 min: Albrighton’s corner is a non-event. Then Gray is replaced by Maddison. It’s fair to say the rhythm of this match has been totally broken.
77 min: Thompson can’t continue. A power bar can’t restore his energy levels. Henry comes on in his stead.
76 min: Before the corner can be taken, Thompson is treated for cramp.
75 min: So having said that, Perez feeds Justin down the right. The wing back beats Thompson, checks back, and curls a shot towards the bottom left. It’s deflected out for a corner.
73 min: Leicester ping it around at high speed in the middle of the park, but don’t go anywhere. Their early domination seems a long time ago.
71 min: A nice dummy by the newcomer Dewsbury-Hall sends Praet into acres down the left. Praet’s pullback finds Choudhury, who instead of shooting from the edge of the area passes to nobody in particular. Brentford clear.
70 min: Yearwood bustles down the middle and slips a pass wide right for Dasilva, who blooters a witless effort deep into the stand. Not sure whether that was an attempt at a cross or a shot. Either way: no.
68 min: Leicester replace their goalscorer Iheanacho with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, making his senior debut.
66 min: Scrappy again. There’s been a strange ebb and flow to this match.
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64 min: This is a great cup tie now. Marcondes nearly latches onto a long pass, but Ward comes right to the edge of his area to clear. Brentford are asking some serious questions now.
62 min: Brentford hit the post! Marcondes, out on the left, curls the ball low into the mixer. It evades everyone, and bounces off the bottom of the right-hand stick. The ball rolls back across the face of goal, but Fuchs is on hand to clear, skilfully so with Valencia lurking.
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61 min: Yearwood embarks on an Andy Robertsonesque closing-down spree. He forces Leicester all the way back to Ward, who slices clear. That got the crowd going, if nothing else.
59 min: A chance to try again from pretty much the same spot, as Perez clatters into the back of Valencia. Da Silva takes, looping towards the back post. Racic rises highest, but can only head the ball straight up into the air, allowing Ward to step in. The keeper doesn’t claim, but only because he’s fouled by Racic. Pressure off.
57 min: Marcondes tries a trick play, shaping to hoick the ball into the mixer but slipping a pass down the left. It’s intended for Zamburek, but it’s a real clanker, and is easily snaffled by Iheanacho. What a waste.
56 min: Dervisoglu spins out of a tight spot in balletic fashion. A lovely piece of skill. Leicester are suddenly on the back foot, and Gray is panicked into clipping Zamburek from behind. A free kick out on the left. Brentford load the box.
54 min: Zamburek loses control of both legs, the ball clattering between them in the slapstick style. A moment that would be perfectly soundtracked by a xylophone trill. That allows Perez to tear up the other end and win a corner. Albrighton takes, sending the ball towards nobody in particular.
52 min: One of those scrappy periods.
50 min: Dervisoglu, out on the right, loops a glorious diagonal pass towards Valencia, who enters the Leicester box before screaming a rising shot across the face of goal and wide. He should at least have hit the target. A great chance gone by.
49 min: Acres of space for Perez, who slips the ball right for Iheanacho. The ball’s shuttled on to Justin, who reaches the byline and slaps a low cross straight into the hands of Daniels. For a second there, Brentford were opened up. Justin should have done better.
48 min: Marcondes hits it deep. Too deep.
47 min: Valencia again dribbles down the right, slipping Roerslev in on the overlap. Roerslev wins a corner, which Marcondes will take.
46 min: Brentford are immediately on the attack, Valencia forcing a throw deep in Leicester territory on the right. The ball’s flung straight to a blue shirt, and Leicester clear. Still, an early statement of intent by the home side.
And we’re back! Brentford get the ball rolling for the second half. One change for the home side: Mokotjo isn’t able to continue, on account of that knock late in the first half, so he’s replaced by Dasilva.
Half-time entertainment. A reminder that more than one Thomas Frank is available.
HALF TIME: Brentford 0-1 Leicester City
There’s just time for Marcondes to send a dipping effort over the bar from 25 yards. And that’s that for the first half. Brentford, after an incredibly shaky start, would have taken this scoreline after four minutes; they’d have snatched your hand off, in fact. But they’ve since gathered themselves. They’re still right in this tie. More soon!
45 min: Mokotjo comes off worst in a 50-50 with Morgan. He’s limping a bit. Fortunately the whistle will be blown in 60 seconds.
44 min: Mokotjo floats a diagonal ball into the Leicester box from the right. Marcondes springs the Leicester trap, but the ball’s a little bit too high and it skims off the top of his head. Then Leicester go straight up the other end and nearly make it two, Perez slamming a shot straight at Daniels, Gray recycling the ball for Albrighton to head over. End-to-end fun.
42 min: Gray sashays in from the left and one-twos with Perez. He thinks about shooting, but instead opts to feed Justin down the inside-right. He overhits the pass and it’s a goal kick. A sad end to a lovely move.
40 min: Marcondes takes. Jeanvier, racing in, can’t quite get a head on it. Marcondes comes again, playing Valencia in down the right, but the flag goes up for offside. Brentford are beginning to threaten Leicester. Just a little, but small acorns and all that.
39 min: Thompson works his way down the inside left and sends a bobbling shot towards the bottom right. It’s probably going wide, but Ward takes no risks and fingertips it out for a corner.
37 min: Fuchs finds Gray on the edge of the area with a searching ball from the left. Gray’s shot is blocked. Leicester come again, Praet dropping a shoulder to make space down the left, then looking to plant a worldie of a curler into the top right. He gets it all wrong, and the ball goes sailing off into the stand again.
35 min: An aimless hoof into the crowd is caught by a punter in a Norway bobble hat. He smiles quite a lot. A fan of Egil Olsen, perhaps.
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33 min: Albrighton strips Yearwood and strides towards the Brentford box, before sending a low drive inches wide of the left-hand post. Not sure Daniels was getting there. Leicester so close to doubling their lead.
32 min: Dervisoglu spins his way down the inside-left channel. He’s rather clumsily clipped by Morgan, just to the left of the D. But there’ll be no free kick in a dangerous position, because the ref waves play on.
30 min: Daniels takes a heavy touch when dealing with a backpass, and is nearly robbed by the ever-buzzing Perez. He boots away, just in time.
28 min: Justin dribbles down the right and from a tight spot chips into the mixer. Perez rises to head, six yards out, but sends the ball away in the wrong direction. Valencia hacks clear.
27 min: Ward punches the corner clear with great feeling. After a fast start, this match has fallen a little flat. Not that Brentford will mind, as they slowly work their way back into it and enjoy a little possession.
26 min: More uneventful fare. Then Zamburek suddenly threatens to turn Morgan down the left, and earns a corner off the Leicester captain.
24 min: The game turns a little scrappy. In the technical areas, both managers do quite a lot of shouting, chewing gum and gesticulating. More when we have it.
22 min: Zamburek falls asleep and lets Choudhury steal the ball with great ease. Choudhury makes to break down the right, and is tugged back by Zamburek. Just a free kick, though the referee could well have booked the Brentford midfielder for his cynicism.
20 min: But Brentford come again. They seem to have finally found their feet. First Zamburek has a crack from distance, then Dervisoglu tries a curler towards the top left. It’s well wide, but at least Leicester are being asked a few questions now.
19 min: Gray passes straight to Roerslev. What a nonsense. Brentford launch a quick counter, Zamburek tearing down the right. The problem is, nobody in red and white has kept up with him. He’s forced to turn tail.
18 min: Gray takes the free kick himself. His old foe Yearwood deflects it over the bar for a corner. From which ...
17 min: Gray shuffles in from the left and is crudely brought down by Yearwood. This is a free kick in a very dangerous position, just to the left of the D.
16 min: Suddenly Brentford spring into life! Roerslev drops a shoulder down the right to sail past Fuchs. His cross finds Marcondes, coming in from the left. Marcondes sends a rising shot towards the top left ... but just wide. The side netting ripples, and that’s something for the home fans to cheer, and their team to build on. Much better.
15 min: Iheanacho rasps a shot goalwards from a tight angle on the left. Daniels isn’t to be beaten at his near post.
14 min: A lull, which will suit Brentford as they battle to get some sort of foothold in this game. Moves of more than two passes remain at a premium for the home side.
12 min: Brentford launch it upfield, and Zamburek battles for a high ball with Justin. The pair clash in mid-air, and Justin lands awkwardly, no fault of his opponent. Just winded, and he’s good to go after a brief pause.
11 min: Iheanacho, Albrighton and Gray combine well down the inside-left channel. A one-two nearly comes off on the edge of the box, but the ball flies out for a goal kick. Leicester look dangerous every time they go forward. Brentford continue to look extremely jittery.
10 min: More room for Perez down the left. He slips Albrighton into the box on the overlap, but in doing so is clipped from behind by Yearwood, who is fortunate not to go in the book. Brentford are fortunate the ref blows up for a free kick instead of letting Albrighton continue on his way. The set piece is wasted by Gray, who shoots into the side netting from a tight angle.
8 min: Perez dances down the left and pulls a ball back for Praet, who looks in the mood this afternoon. From the left of the D, the midfielder launches a shot goalwards. Jeanvier does well to get in the road to block.
6 min: So down goes the volume at Griffin Park. Fans worried at all the changes made by Thomas Frank consider the terrain stretching out in front of them. This shadow Brentford selection have looked shaky from the get-go. They need to clear their heads quickly.
GOAL! Brentford 0-1 Leicester City (Iheanacho 4)
Can you say a goal has been coming after just over three minutes? Yes. And here it is. Praet, in the centre circle, plays a stunning defence-splitting pass towards Albrighton down the right. Albrighton fizzes a low first-time cross into the box, and Iheanacho slaps the sitter into the net from six yards.
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2 min: And now a scare for Leicester, as Ward faffs around with the ball at his feet, and is nearly stripped of possession by Dervisoglu. Fortunately for the keeper, he’s clumsily bowled over, and the whistle grants him a reprieve. Somewhere, in a parallel universe, it’s 1-1 after one minute and 20 seconds.
And we’re off! Leicester get the ball rolling. Praet launches it long. The ball breaks to Iheanacho, to the right of the D. He slips the ball down the channel for Perez, who is onside and clear in the box! Perez rounds Daniels, and is about to tap home on the 12-second mark when Racic nips in to toe-poke clear. What a start that would have been!
The teams are out! Brentford wear their red and white stripes, while Leicester sport their first-choice blue. Plenty of noise at Griffin Park, a proper FA Cup atmosphere. We’ll be off in a minute!
And now a word with Thomas Frank. “Our confidence is high. We know confidence in life and football is so important if you want to create something special ... or some magical moments, as we call it here, the last season at Griffin Park. So we hope with a sell-out and a top Premiership side, we are definitely ready for it. We like to show what we are all about, and put the best possible side out there, but we also need to think that we are going into a three-game week. We have a pretty big game coming up on Tuesday. But if you ask me whether I want to win today or Tuesday, I say yes and yes! Leicester is a very interesting opponent, but this could also be our last FA Cup game here so everyone is a little bit buzzing.”
A chat with Brendan Rodgers. “We’ve obviously picked a strong team, like we’ve done in all the cup competitions. The value for us is the momentum, and obviously we want to win. Today is going to be a really tough day for us, Brentford have done really well in the Championship this season, and play a really good level of football with good ideas. It’s going to be a huge test. We are trying to keep the intensity, it’s no different to over Christmas when I made [similar changes] for a Premier League game. It’s not just the cups. I trust in all the players.” He then drifts off into a nostalgic reverie, having coached at Griffin Park during his time with the youth team at Chelsea. Let’s leave him to enjoy his memories.
Other beverages are available. Vodka and Red Bull, for example. Or whisky. Or tea. This punter has opted for a cup of PG Tips, and with good reason: it’s the taste.
Full marks for the retro DIY rosette, by the way. Are they coming back into fashion? Hope so.
A quick tab before the match. Time for a pint, as well? Yes, why not. It’s OK, it’s socially acceptable, it’s gone 12.
Both teams mix it up for the FA Cup. Then give it a good old shake. The only Brentford players to retain their place from the goalless Championship draw with Huddersfield last weekend: Julian Jeanvier and Kamohelo Mokotjo. Bryan Mbeumo is on the bench, but fellow strikers Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma aren’t in the squad, the latter due to the death of his father.
A similar story for Leicester. Only two of their players remain from the starting XI sent out to thrash West Ham on Wednesday night: Caglar Soyuncu and Ayoze Perez. Kasper Schmeichel, Youri Tielemans, James Maddison and Harvey Barnes drop to the bench. Jamie Vardy misses out altogether on account of his glute injury.
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The teams
Brentford: Daniels, Roerslev Rasmussen, Luca Racic, Jeanvier, Thompson, Marcondes, Yearwood, Mokotjo, Zamburek, Dervisoglu, Valencia.
Subs: Henry, Pinnock, Norgaard, Gunnarsson, Da Silva, Mbeumo, Hammar.
Leicester City: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Soyuncu, Fuchs, Praet, Choudhury, Gray, Perez, Albrighton, Iheanacho.
Subs: Schmeichel, Evans, Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes, Ricardo Pereira, Dewsbury-Hall.
Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire).
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Preamble
Two fine teams have been drawn together for this FA Cup fourth-round tie. Brentford are one of the country’s in-form sides, having won six of their last nine, drawing two of the other three. They’re fifth in the Championship. Leicester, meanwhile, are flying high in the Premier League, and their manager, formerly of Parkhead, is 31 matches unbeaten in domestic cups.
Whether Thomas Frank or Brendan Rodgers will field those fine teams is, however, a moot point. Leicester have a huge midlands derby coming up on Tuesday night, battling Aston Villa in the hope of reaching the League Cup final. Brentford meanwhile have a big game against Nottingham Forest coming up on the same evening, with a return to the top flight for the first time since 1947 very much the priority. Both bosses have therefore strongly hinted at making a few rotations. The magic of the modern FA Cup, right there.
But both clubs dream of victory nevertheless. This could potentially be Brentford’s last FA Cup tie at Griffin Park, as they leave the old place in the summer. Leicester also have history on their mind; the last time these two played in the FA Cup was 1949, the Foxes winning 3-1 and going on to reach the final. A sign?
Neither club has won the cup. That 1949 final was one of four unsuccessful visits to Wembley for Leicester; they also lost finals in 1961, 1963 and 1969. An unwanted Buffalo Bills style record, there. Brentford’s FA Cup highlights are comparatively modest: four quarter-final appearances, the last against Liverpool in 1989, another the aforementioned game with Leicester in 1949. Could this be Brentford’s year? Or Leicester’s at last? It’s got to be somebody’s. It’s on!
Kick off: 12.45pm GMT.
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