Dan Thomas: A Danish Connection

SHEFFIELD UNITED 1 (Clarke, 69) BRENTFORD 3 (Omoijuanfo, 3 Watkins, 87 Stevens o.g. 90+5)

Sheffield United XI: Blackman, Stearman, Lescott (Basham, 88), O'Connell, Baldock, Stevens, Leonard, Lundstram (Coutts, 74) Fleck, Clarke, Wilson (Sharp, 56)

Unused subs: Eastwood, Brooks, Duffy, Wright

Brentford XI: Bentley, Dalsgaard, Egan (Mepham, 62), Bjelland, Henry (Lundqvist, 81), Mokotjo, Yennaris, Woods, Broberg (Clarke, 69), Watkins, Omoijuanfo

Unused subs: Daniels, Maupay, Toutouh, Marcondes

Brentford opened their Sky Bet Championship campaign with relative ease against last season's League One winners Sheffield United with a 3-1 win at Brammall Lane.

The fixture marked Brentford boss Dan Thomas' first competative game as manager of the club. The manager spoke about the pressure on him ahead of the game and the performance shown by his side will have certainly lifted a lot of this, with the Bees playing some beautiful fast-flowing attacking football. It was a almost flawless performance, beside a lapse in concentration to concede to Leon Clarke.

The visitors opened the scoring early on through new signing Ohi Omoijuanfo, who signed from Stabaek in Norway last month. The striker bagged his first goal in England on his debut through slotting the ball in off the box just inside the area, after terrific play from both full-backs, Rico Henry and Henrik Dalsgaard.

Brentford came the blocks quickly and continued to impress thoroughout the first half. Another new signing in Martin Broberg saw his cross cannon off the crossbar in the first ten minutes also, as Brentford looked destined for a second goal. However the Bees dominance was helped by a poor United side, who were struggling to keep hold of the ball for sustained periods.

After a very one-sided first half, Sheffield began to have more of a grip on the game in the second half. Yet, it was still a real shock to the system when they equalised, as they looked to continue their fantastic unbeaten run at Brammall Lane which had lasted over a year. Ryan Leonard, who signed from Southend United, launched the ball into the area from a throw-in and poor marking from the visitors allowed for ex-Coventry striker Leon Clarke to powerfully head the ball past Daniel Bentley.

Grit and determination was on display however from Brentford as they pushed in search of a winning goal. Josh Clarke, who came on just after the equaliser, spotted a dangerous run from Ollie Watkins. The teenager who joined from Exeter in the Summer recieved a picture-perfect ball and confidentally poked the ball home, as Brentford looked on course for an opening day win.

The game was wrapped up after Enda Stevens' unfortunate own goal, as Watkins' low cross bounced off the defenders knee beating 'keeper Jamal Blackman. The Brentford fans went home in good spirits, as they showed continuous support for the side and new manager Thomas - an overall fantastic opening day victory for Thomas and co.

Attendence: 30,883 (909 away supporters)

Referee: J.Simpson

Replies

Aaron: Yeah he does doesn't he. I can't believe that I managed to get him on a free transfer!

Justice: Memories.

What a win!! So late on too, looks to me like you've built a great squad for the season. Well done mate

Derby day. Brentford vs Queens Park Rangers. It was the day where fans would pray for the three points over their rivals so they can go into work the next day and have the bragging rights. The day fans pile into the ground and turn up the support that extra notch, it was truly a spectacle for the game. It's no different in this fixture, both teams want the win.

Despite the fact the fixture will be taking place in the Carabao Cup Second Round, we intend to show the same fight and desire we do every game. We go into every game wanting the win and we show the heart and the intensity that the fans desire. That's the Brentford way and the same beliefs I came over as a manager. I understand, as a fan who stood on the terreces not too long ago, that's all a fan can ask for.

I am really enjoying life back in England and life with this wonderful football club. You don't realise the pressure that a manager carries on a daily basis, but instead of crumbling under the pressure, I thrive. I get a buzz off the pressure that I have on my shoulders to deliver, I want to prove the doubters wrong and I feel like that is what I will do over the course of the season.

I read each critics views on me, whether that be in the papers, social media or whatever. I wanted to understand what the general view was and use it as a way to motivate myself to shut up every individual. To be honest, I totally understand their views and why they have that opinion because to them, I am an amatuar who has somehow made it into the Championship -but they don't understand the drive and passion I have.

The game against QPR is one that I am very determined to win. I go into every game, as I stated, wanting to get a good result - but I wanted to beat our rivals just that extra bit more. I feel like I am becoming a Brentford fan, in fact I am a Brentford fan. I share that passion that everyone else does in the ground, nobody wants it as much as I do. We were going to be the team that progresses.

Ian Hollaway is an indiviudal I respect. He has achieved a lot in his management career and nobody could ignore him when he led Blackpool to the Premier League. It was a tremendous achievement. The way he conducts himself is often frowned upon by other managers and recently he's been trying to get into my head by making jokes but I enjoy it. It adds the extra spice to the game and Ian is a character that football needs.

I cannot wait to get out there later tonight and shake Ian's hand before and after the game. There is going to be a real intensity to the game from us, it's just about whether Ian and Queens Park Rangers can put their money where their mouth is and show the same fight that we do. If so, it'll make for a real tasty encounter... Come on you Bees!

Replies:

Aaron: I really enjoyed it, it's a great way to get things going! Hopefully I have, we'll see over the course of the campaign.

'I am very happy with the start we've had here. Of course there are a couple of defeats in there that I would have preferred to have not have on the record, but these things happen. I think the performance has been there in every game and that's the main thing because it will help us to pick up results over the season. Both games we've lost we've come away happy with our performance, accepting that we were just outclassed in the end.'

'The Forest game will be one I look back on fondly, definitely. We played some brilliant football and that game epitomised just what I want to do with the team. We want to play attractive and exciting football that will get the fans excited to watch, but also outclass the opposition to get the vital three points.'

'There are things that I want to improve. I felt the attacking at Wolves was slightly below-par despite my earlier comments. Ohi has slightly slipped off the radar after a bright start and I've had a word or two with him about getting that level of performance back. He's a top professional and is still learning, so he will achieve that. September will be a tricky month with a lot of difficult games, but we look forward to it.'

Ryan Woods has been a standout performer in our first month here at Brentford. Woods is an energetic midfielder who works tirelessly in the midfield to create chances and win the ball back and is perhaps undervalued. Chipping in with two goals in August, both in the Carabao Cup in separate rounds, the 23-year-old has received a lot of praise already this season.

'He's a terrific player and one who deserves a lot more recognition,' stated Sky Sports pundit David Prutton. 'Ryan is a consistent performer and this is a great trait to have as a player because you know you can rely on him. I would say he's one of the first names on the teamsheet each week because you know that you'll have the same drive in him every week without fail.'

'This is his third season with Brentford and I would be quite surprised if he doesn't receive a lot of interest going forward if he maintains this consistency as I think this will be his breakout year.'

Good start there! I personally think that's one of the best starts you could've hoped for. A win against your rivals is always good, and I don't think you should be too upset about losing to Wolves who are pretty much Barcelona set upon Championship teams this year

Looking forward to the next one!

The Carabao Cup Third Round draw has concluded. 32 sides will play in the next round as they look to make their way to the final at Wembley, in search of the trophy. We have seen a number of surprises already in the competition and things look to be getting exciting in the competition.

The talking point of the competition so far are Mansfield Town, who have beaten stronger opposition in Wigan and Burton to make their way to this stage; as well as Coventry City of League Two who have beaten Sunderland and Wolves, both after extra-time. The rewards for those two teams are ties against Spurs and Villa, with Mansfield hosting Mauricio Pochettino's men at the One Call Stadium and Coventry travelling to Villa Park.

However, the tie of the round is without a doubt the clash of the two titans. Liverpool will welcome Arsenal to Anfield as the two sides play for a spot in the fourth round of the competition.

The two Manchester clubs face tough opposition in the next stage as Manchester United play Leicester and Manchester City play recently relegated Hull. Chelsea meanwhile have easier opposition in League One side Northampton Town, managed by ex-Chelsea forward Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Brentford will entertain Southampton at Griffin Park after they beat local rivals Queens Park Rangers 3-1 in the last round. The Saints squeezed past fellow Premier League opposition in Watford in the last round, with Shane Long scoring a late winner in a 2-1 victory to get Maurico Pellegrino's side over the line.

Replies:

Aaron: Cheers mate! I needed to get that win because I couldn't get my career off to a bad start by losing to QPR Wolves are a nightmare to play on this game too, my record against them is terrible. Yet I beat them in the cup on a previous save, mustn't like the Carabao Cup!

Tough draw!

(Above) Dalsgaard tussles with Kieron Freeman against Queens Park Rangers in the Carabao Cup clash last month.

Danish full-back Henrik Dalsgaard has spoken highly of manager Dan Thomas in an interview this afternoon. The defender answered questions at a community event as he and a number of the Brentford squad took to local schools to teach pupils about life skills and the importance of planning ahead to the future.

The 27-year-old has yet to miss a game so far this campaign for the Bees and has been praised highly by the boss already this season; as he has helped the club make a bright start in the Championship, sitting in 8th after five games.

When questioned about the effect the managerial change has had on the squad, Dalsgaard stated, 'I don't really think there has been a real change. I really enjoyed being managed by Dean (Smith) last season and I learnt a lot under his tutorledge, but the gaffer has come in and picked up where he left off.'

'I owe a lot to both managers. He's only been here just over a month or so but I think I have improved a lot as a player as he has a different approach to the game. The squad feels better than ever and to say that after the fantastic season we had under Dean last season says a lot. We are going into games full of confidence and knowing that we can get a result every game.'

'He's installed that sense of belief in us, but I don't want to discredit the previous regime as that was equally as good. You can tell the fans are behind the manager already, they are enjoying the games as much as we are on the pitch and I think that will be a real beneficial factor when it comes down to it.'

Brentford are back in action after the international break on Friday night when they clash with Aston Villa. The Villans sit 10th in the table having won three of their first five this season, however are tipped to win promotion this season under the guidance of the experienced Steve Bruce.

Replies:

Aaron: Agreed but it's definitely one we can overcome if we get the tactics right and perform on the night.

Arguably the biggest match in my short time as Brentford manager. The anticipation was high and the fans were eager to welcome the Saints to Griffin Park. Many say that the Carabao Cup has lost it's reputation and that it's now a 'nothing' trophy, however for clubs outside the top six or so, this was very much not the case.

There has been a buzz in the air for several days coming into this. Southampton are a well known side who have a tremendous amount of quality and it was going to be a real battle to get over the line, everyone recognised that. However, deep down everyone was hoping for that little bit of cup magic to work once again and we could overcome the odds and continue our march in the cup.

As the players waited for the signal to enter the field of play, I made my way down the touchline applauding the wonderful support of the home crowd once again. I was very appreciative of the fans, who pay good money to get behind the lads everywhere they go. The atmosphere was electric and the players had a steely look in their eye as they came striding out the tunnel. It was time.

A perfect night for football with the floodlights beaming on the pitch. I cannot continue to emphasise just how electric that atmosphere was. As soon as the whistle blew both sides came out fighting and it made for a fantastic game of football, especially for a neutral who didn't feel the nerves the game brought to both sets of supporters. Both sides had had early pressure, with Nathan Redmond hitting an effort straight at Bentley being the main opportunity.

Fifteen minutes had been played when Toutouh received the ball from a throw-in and played the ball just outside the area to Ryan Woods who was in a small amount of space. I remember hearing a chorus of 'SHOOOOOOT!' before Ryan struck the ball sweetly in off the inside of the post and into the goal. Limbs. I jumped up in celebration with the fans who lifted the roof before we all realised that there was still another 75 minutes to go. We had the advantage.

Nathan Redmond remained a real threat throughout the first half. I pinpointed the winger as someone to watch and he was proving me right, testing Bentley frequently from outside the area. But that was the key thing, we were limiting the Premier League side to efforts from outside the box and it was frustrating them. We had held on for the first fourty-five and we were looking the better side.

I remember telling the players to just keep up the good work. There was no need to make silly decisions because we had the advantage so we just needed to play a simple style of football and see out the rest of the game. As a manager, you just have to hope that the players keep a calm head and ensure the job is done and with these boys, I knew I could trust each and every one of them on the pitch.

The gears seemed to shift the second half though. Southampton shown the class they have and immediately replied in the second half with a swift move which Redmond tapped home. We survived a barrage of attacks for the remainder of the half, however Shane Long proved to be a danger having come off the bench. Extra time it was and no matter what happened, I told the players of my immense pride in their performance.

Sadly for us the difference in class proved too much. The Saints players seemed to have that extra something about them that propelled them on and they soon raced into a 3-1 lead in the first half of extra-time. The fans resigned to the defeat but sung their hearts out for the hardworking display shown by the players on the pitch.

We had a chance late on to narrow it down to 3-2, however Alex McCarthy denied Jozefzoon, who had just returned from injury to make an appearance in the game. The players looked dejected after the whistle, but I ensured that each one felt the pride of not just me but the home support before they went home. They had battled hard and shown the fight that only Brentford Football Club had, buried deep in the ethics of the football club. It was a spirited defeat and a night I will forever remember.

It seems as though The Bees died off after their early sting! Perhaps your Bees should become Hornets, and not die after stinging enemies!

'I came into this month saying it would very tricky, we played a lot of top clubs and did ourselves justice in the end. Again, it was a similar story to August and we can hold our heads high knowing that we are enjoying a very good start to the season. The feel-good factor is definitely in the air at the moment and we are using that to give us a confidence boost going into every match. The fans are really helping us.'

'There were some negatives to this month, but I like to not ponder on them. Conceding late on to Wednesday was really upsetting as I thought we had snatched a point with a stoppage time equaliser, but that's football for you and sometimes these things go against you. We responded to that loss very well and it shows the character we have as a team.'

'Perhaps we'd have liked to end the month on a better note also, but Boro managed to get the goal they needed and defended resolutely for the rest of the game, credit goes to Tony (Pulis) for the way he set up there. Victories against Villa, Derby and Reading who are all very good sides shows the strength we have and I am very proud to say we played those sides off the park, really.'

'The fans will forever remember that game against Southampton and we played terrifically to take them to extra-time. The Bolton game too will be one to look back on, it was a crazy game to say the least and to be fair to them, I think we were lucky to survive and take all three points. However, I'm not complaining and we have really justified ourselves this month, I'm very pleased.'

Ollie Watkins has such great maturity so far this season since his move from League Two side Exeter City. The winger found himself not only scoring but creating numerous chances on the flanks, as he terrorised defences with his pace and dribbling ability. Scoring his third goal of the season in a 2-0 win to Aston Villa, the 21-year-old has also registered the same number of assists.

With his value rising to just under £6,500,000, Watkins will certainly be one to watch as his stock continues to grow. Leaving his previous side for just short of £2,000,000, Brentford will be pleased that Watkins could be a great piece of business for them - considering he is only getting better and better with the more football he plays.

'When we signed Ollie, we were very pleased to have attracted such a great young prospect after he had just won the Player Of The Year award in League Two with Exeter. It was perhaps a risky move because the jump between that division to the Championship is quite big and often would be quite daunting for a young lad, however he has adapted very quickly and only continues to excel,' stated chairman Matthew Benham.

Replies:

Justice: No words

A good month really, I don't think you've got anything to be worried about here you got some nice wins whether scrappy or not. Beating the big boys Villa should be a real positive.

Well done mate, defying the odds so far in your 15th place prediction.

What a Bjelland

I don't usually share stories like this, but today we're going down a different narrative. A wise man once said that people make fun of what they cannot understand. I think it's a universally known phrase and it is still as meaningful as it was back when that person quoted it, way back when.

Kristina has been an avid fan of my work since we met. We bonded over football because she was just as passionate as I were with the sport and I think that's why we seemed to click almost straight away. When I accepted the job and gained the support of the fans, she did too. The fans accepted her into the culture of the job as they accepted me as they knew that she was to be a pivotal figure in the club.

Acting as a mouthpiece almost, she provides a link between the fans and myself. I deactivated my Twitter account when I took the job to avoid any distractions and allowed her to act as a secretary for me in a sense. After every game she'll post her honest views, no matter how critical of me and that has helped the fans understand that she's here to communicate and not be biased towards me.

Herself and Natalie Sawyer have become good friends recently. Natalie presents Sky Sports News and is a huge supporter of the club. They've spoken countless times about the way things are heading and it's great to see her connect with fans, whether they be as well known as Natalie or not. She has won the hearts of the fans as I have too in the past few months - it's a group project, we say.

Sadly, as the exposure comes in and she becomes more and more well known amongst the league and the follower count grows, so do the number of trolls she meets. Some of the messages she has received is shocking to me and things I never thought I could imagine. Many believe that she is 'deluded' and doesn't have the right to voice her opinion simply due to who she is. We expected this to a degree, but it is still something that is surprising to us both.

It doesn't deter her though and she uses those trolls as a way to fuel her passion to the football club and help in whatever capacity she can. Football is a game of inclusion and a game that is loved worldwide. We learn to include and not discriminate in any shape and together we can help make football a game for all. That's the aim of so many. Football is an escape from the ugly society created, right?

Replies:

Aaron: Yeah we'll take the three points regardless, of course it would be nice to do so in a fancy way but you don't get any extra for that. I'm really enjoying how well we're doing so hopefully it can continue. Onwards and upwards!

Justice: I have been tempted to nickname him, to be fair.

Sadly, in my experience, football is an ugly society created. In some case