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Good day everyone, This is Brentford.. And a mere five miles west along the A4 from the delightful Syon Park is Hounslow Urban Farm where one can find tips on lambing. You may also learn when you should plant your winter wheat and how to propagate your bulbs in prime Richmond Park cattle compost. In 54 BC Brentford was a likely site of a battle between Julius Cæsar and the local king, Cassivellaunus who was a local British Celt, sounds incongruous, who farmed the lands north of the Thames and, myth has it, reared domesticated sheep and was accustomed to sleeping with them on cold nights around his brazier. I cannot verify this story but it does sound rather intriguing. Modern day Brentford is one of those places that sits rather awkwardly on a flood plane as much of west London does. Mind you the area always has and it is rather sobering to consider that building goes on regardless of the warnings. The Thames Barrier, constructed to protect London in the 1980s, stops high tides and storm surges moving in from the sea and can also ease fluvial flooding from upstream during periods of heavy rain. Fluvial deposits abound in west London and is one reason why the mixture of chalk, clay and those upstream fluvial's help grazing and wheat growing yield such decent returns. In 2015 there was a record set for the number of times the Thames barrier was closed, forty eight, compared to just four in 2013. It failed to stop homes along the Thames being submerged in January 2014 after months of severe winter storms across the country, leaving residents in Twickenham wading to work in their Wellingtons. What I particularly admire about this part of London, aside from all the trivial nonsense of farming is The Great West Road. Opened in 1925, it precip­itated a new wave of industrial devel­opment. Brentford’s ‘golden mile’ of art deco factories, built by the likes of Smith’s crisps and Maclean’s toothpaste, prompted JB Priestley to liken a drive along the Great West Road to a vista of California. That sounds a tad overdoing it but if one does drive down that stretch of road, although this only works at the quietest of times such as early dawn, I can see somewhat where Priestley was coming from. Rather intriguingly this part of west London has a paltry population of just over 14,000. It rather makes Aldershot, a town hitherto in the Football League twice, look like a metropolis. Of course Brentford feels a lot bigger. And support for football no doubt comes far and wide. And as I had written on a previous Bees thread the club only just managed to be voted into existence in the first place. On October 10th, 1889 Brentford Rowing Club, desiring a winter pursuit, met to discuss the topic. Shortly thereafter the committee members voted 8 to 5 in favour of Football over Rugby. And so a club was born and they spent 5 seasons in the top flight all, if I am not mistaken, in the 1930's. Interestingly, and off topic, Wigan Athletic were fortuitously relegated a season before equalling our 9 seasons which is something we rather require Swansea to do in 2017 or they will equal us. They are my new favourites for relegation. And finally. I was looking at a news round up of the past week and while watching the US President Elect, unless the Electoral College dump Trump, and his erstwhile adversary Mitt Romney 'cuddling' up I was reminded of this volte face by 'The Two Brentford Kings' . These were two farcical characters of a play, called the Brentford Kings, within a play called 'The Rehearsal' by the Duke of Buckingham from 1672. It is farcical because both characters enter stage smelling a nosegay or flower bouquet and holding hands whom once were both bitter rivals and the consideration is the new 'romance' or alliance is a farce or unbelievable. Bear with me here ...The play within the play collapses because of an increasing number of preposterous and incoherent scenes. In more recent times The Rehearsal has received rather critical acclaim not least because it is thought to have offered a logical political analysis of its time in the form of its very satire precisely by diagnosing the ideology implicit in its literary target, the heroic drama, in which it is said this play was a game changer. Is that not what we have just seen in the US Election and in the Trump versus Romney affair? We might therefore consider that the entire election was a rehearsal, the result a farce and the resultant 8 years will be a celebration of the critically acclaimed Presidency. Time will reveal all but remember this play, modern day or not, for one thing; it could be a farce or it could be a game changer. Are there any Brentford Kings out on the pitch tonight? I do not see any. But should we lose it the knives will be out. Rightly or wrongly, who am I to judge, I merely set the scene of discussion. Good night all. Enjoy the game. I will be over the moon if we win and rather moody if we don't. UTC.

There's lots I can understand people criticising but I really don't get how anyone can accuse LJ of not changing tactics and personnel - he's doing it every week. To me the far more valid criticism would be that four months into the season it's not at all clear what our best line-up is...

You're not a realist though, you are a total pessimist

He needs dropping to the bench for a stint, a lad his age cant be expected to carry the team all season, but the cupboard is a bit bare to replace him, thats the managers fault.

No meltdown for me, but way before tonight I thought it was madness to give our manager a four year contract extension. We are losing home and away, would have been better to wait until the end of the season before looking at Lee's contract...just to see what division (not league) we are actually in...

Yeh. ******* embarsssment when he smashed that 25 yard volley in.

41 years ago today my dad had to leave Ashton Gate early to see me being born into this world, to this day he still gets grief from my mother for being at that game....to me it shows his dedication for following City in the 70's He got to the hospital in time and City went on to beat Hull 3-0 with Cheesley bagging a hat trick! 3-0 tonight then lads!

We need a result against the Bees. No more excuses , no more stupid mistakes, just a good solid Championship performance please .

Good start to the season but now weve been well and truely found out. All the eggs in an 18 year old basket. Manager hasnt a clue who his best team is and in my opinion has bought very poorly. New contract was ill timed and undeserved. Tough month ahead.

I know; the happiest of clappers is I. But seriously; we're slap-bang mid-table, which was where I thought we'd be most of the season. Some seem to think we'd be genuine contenders in a league with the likes of Brighton, Newcastle and Norwich despite only having the ship righted by a cracking run in last year. Me? Glad not to be trying to scrape together points to drag ourselves out of the relegation zone. Another done; on to the next one.

Ack. Another narrow loss in a game where we failed to take our chances. Really think the biggest factor here is having not got a striker in to replace Kodjia - Tammy was always going to have times he wouldn't score, and Engvall still is an unknown quantity. Some will likely go mental at this, and they are entitled to do so. But am happy to let this team continue to develop. If we were taking the sort of beatings we got last year despite some good performances, then I'd be worried. But I'm not yet.

Forgot about yourself there Ivor. Defeatist.

This makes literally no sense.

Teams got wise to Tammy.

I am not bothered how far off the top we are; I am bothered how near the bottom we are. This is now hardly a blip. Those of us who have supported City through the years have been here too many times before Thy need to pull their finger out TONIGHT, not in three weeks time. Minimum we need is a draw

Sorry. I agree don't think this an over reaction We are in trouble and digging ourselves deeper by the game

If only there was. How stupid of me to go to a ****** fan's forum and look at the match thread to find info. Won't make that mistake again. Thanks.

Bobby Reid and Joe Bryan done nothing all game, but we can't criticise them because they are Bristol lads! People saying Freeman was anonymous, yet created 3 of our best chances in first half and linked up well with Matthews. Korey Smith has lost his energy and ability to pass forward. Tammy needs to be more clinical. Yes he's been great this year but gone off boil and needs to learn when to put foot through ball We might need 3 windows to change the squad as Johnson said, but keep losing games & dropping down the table, and players won't want to join us

I share your pain and thank you all for making this unproductive evening more interesting . My dear down hearted Babbers just remember how quickly things can change in Football , Are Preston in line for a trouncing Saturday ? Let's hope so . Come on you Reds ;

Yeah Cotterill was a disastrous appointment wasn't he. Really wish you'd give it a rest with your relentless negativity.

Back now to usual otib divide. Realists v Blind Optimists

Pahahaha - really?! Wait until we are in a relegation battle before we address our lack of goals?! Classic.

Bit embarrassing to call people out and imply you're going to fight them though. So someone called you a **** on the internet. So what? You don't know them and they don't know you. It can't be personal as they know nothing of your life. So why let it bother you and why try and get all macho over it?

Why have I been thinking for days that tonight game is away? Ffs... Didn't realise til halfway through this match that we are at the Gate, almost said earlier, ''well done to the travelling Reds, can hear you loud and clear on the radio'' . I must be going mad.. COYRls ... Home to Brentford - kinda game we most certainly should be winning... come on ten mins to score twice... we can't be dropping points at home ffs.

We are a young developing side. If you think we won't have runs like this then you are deluded. We are along way off challenging at the top end of this league. People need some perspective .

Engvall is this seasons Simon Cox

Yes it does, I wonder how we have 9 shots at goal 2 on target, 60% possession and 4 corners? Doesn't sound so negative or boring but like you I am too far away to tell.

Needs to be if Tomlins on it

Bristol City 1Fielding 27Matthews 4Flint 23Magnusson 13Golbourne 21Pack 7Smith 15Freeman 14Reid 3Bryan 9Abraham Substitutes 8Brownhill 10Tomlin 11O'Dowda 16Engvall 17Moore 18Wilbraham 29Lucic

Yes

Are we really playing with one up front at home?

Tend to agree. Would rather have FF there.

Hope I'm proved wrong but I don't feel confident about it.

Sounds like he's wrestling with our defence

Fielding made two cracking saves.. Who wanted to drop him..?

What! when he says "Guess what? Bristol City are on the attack"

Hate to think how bad the Swedish commentators are then tommy.

Except a "chance for Bristol City" was actually a Brentford shot saved by Fielding.

Jebus ! How bad is this bloke on radio Bristol

I have a horrible feeling things are gonna get pretty nasty on here come 9:45. Hope im wrong but that team selection doesnt look great... COYR!!!!

I apologise to you. Sorry for reading it wrong.

Way too many ***** on here

Bloody predictive text

Thank you kind sir. My work colleagues today would probably disagree with you but who cares!

Thanks mikep at least there are some non arrogant cnuts on this forum.

13 new signings in the Summer yet 8 of tonight's starting line up were at the club when LJ arrived.

Well a rare one for me as I'm checking in from Mumbai, India this evening. In a bar which is charging 280 rupees for a beer which is a little excessive for over here but the food is pennies and they have WiFi! COYR!

Score draw.....

Condensed Version Brentford: Drive along the M4 towards London and when nearly at the end of the Motorway you will see a fallen down ruin on the RHS with floodlights..........enough said. Apparently they make Richmond Cattle Compost there as well. Shit eh ! Could it be that Donald Trump and Mitt Romney are plotting a takeover ? City 2-0 (Tammy brace)