Brentford’s JPT hopes crushed by Posh

Peterborough United 2 Brentford 1

Brentford went out of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy despite a spirited late fightback at London Road.

A first-half own goal by on-loan defender Martin Taylor put Peterborough ahead after 20 minutes, before Sam Saunders and Marcello Trotta both saw efforts miss the target for the Bees.

Keeper David Button, meanwhile, reacted smartly to save from Posh forward Paul Taylor before half-time.

Grant McCann increased the home side’s lead on 70 minutes, which signalled an improvement from Brentford.

Ben Nugent’s headed goal set up a tense end to the game and Trotta and George Saville both had chances to equalise in the dying moments.

Brentford, who made five changes to the side which lost at the weekend, including a debut for France Under-20 defender Raphaël Calvet, were content to keep the ball in the early stages, before Peterborough gradually took control.

And Posh went ahead when Taylor deflected the ball into his own net after Button could only parry Paul Taylor’s shot.

The goal sparked Uwe Rosler’s men into life, though, and moments later Saunders was unlucky to see his well struck free-kick drift wide of the post from 25 yards, while Trotta looped a header just over the bar.

However, the hosts began to assert their control on the game once more, as Button was forced into two smart saves from Taylor.

Rosler introduced Josh Clarke at the start of the second half in place of Martin Fillo, but it failed to change the pattern of play, despite the tenacity of Jonathan Douglas, making his first start of the season.

The Bees did come close to an equaliser when Toumani Diagouraga’s 20-yard volley looked to be heading for the bottom corner but was hacked off the line.

Nugent was brought on for the unlucky Taylor but there was nothing the new man could do as United increased their lead with 20 minutes left.

Forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing burst into the box and fell under a challenge from Calvet.

The right-back, signed from Auxerre in September, appeared to make contact with the ball first, but the referee had no hesitation and pointed to the spot – dishing out a yellow to Calvet in the process.

McCann’s cheeky, chipped penalty found the roof of Button’s net.

Brentford responded strongly and volleys from Trotta and Saville should have brought a goal back for the away side, but both put their efforts wide.

But Brentford’s perseverance paid off as Jake Bidwell’s cross found Nugent, whose looping header dipped over keeper Bobby Olejnik to give the visitors hope.

In the dying minutes, Saville forced Olejnik into a save with a sweet strike from the edge of the area and Trotta nearly equalised in the final seconds.

Brentford: Button; Calvet, Bidwell, Craig, Taylor (Nugent 63); Douglas, Saville, Diagouraga, Saunders (El Alagui 72); Trotta, Fillo (Clarke 46).
Subs not used: Logan, Reeves.

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