Uwe Rosler

“Three back to back victories have got Griffin Park buzzing again”

In the words of Steve Marriott, it really is all or nothing for Brentford to gatecrash this season’s League One play-offs. And by ‘all’, that is to say the Bees probably have to win all remaining seven matches.

A few weeks ago, a top six finish looked a distant dream - a top half finish was starting to look an uncertainty. Three back to back defeats had seemingly put pay to any remaining hopes. But now three back to back victories have got Griffin Park buzzing again.

Even the most optimistic of Brentford supporters will admit that it is unlikely we‘ll sneak into the play-offs. For a start, the recent upturn in form has also coincided with a good run of results for Carlisle, who currently occupy the coveted sixth spot. But I refer you to April 2004; Crystal Palace had just lost away at West Brom and sat 12th in the Championship, some nine points of the play-offs. But six wins in the their next eight fixtures would see the Eagles soar into the final play-off position and ultimately go on to win them.

It can be done, that’s for sure. However, the way this season has gone leaves the situation out of our own hands. The Bees are in a position where by we could win all of our remaining fixtures and still miss out - that is the price we pay for inconsistency.

You would like to think that Carlisle, Notts County and Stevenage will drop points between now and May. If that happens and Brentford continue to pick up wins then who knows what could happen? Any team that enters the play offs on the back of ten straight wins are to be feared.

Tonight’s game against Oldham presents us with the opportunity to narrow the gap to five points. I think we will know by Easter Monday whether there is genuine reason for excitement about our recent form. Let’s just hope it doesn’t prove to be yet another false dawn of this season.

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