In-form striker Donaldson is buzzing for the Bees
If the first three weeks of Brentford’s season are anything to go by, we are in for a rollercoaster of a campaign down at Griffin Park.
From high pre-season expectations to a disappointing start to a cracking home win and a great comeback plus some good signings, the opening period has had it all.
But probably the most pleasing thing so far has been the form of Clayton Donaldson.
Signed last summer with a big reputation after his scoring feats for Crewe, where he had finished as League Two top scorer in the 2010/11 campaign, the striker struggled in front of goal early on last term despite contributing massively in other ways each week.
Apart from a purple patch where he regularly found the net in the closing weeks of last season, he never really replicated the sparkling form he showed for the Railwaymen.
But this season so far has been very different with his four goals in as many league games making him the top scorer in League One.
Donaldson’s partnership with new signing Farid El Alagui also seems to be flourishing.
The duo bagged a pair apiece against Donaldson’s former employers the Saturday before last after showing signs of linking up well in the frustrating home defeat by Yeovil.
And at Walsall on Saturday the partnership again bore fruit with El Alagui heading on for Donaldson to equalise and grab a precious point.
Brentford have not had a really fruitful front partnership since the 2001/02 season, when Lloyd Owusu and Ben Burgess contributed 37 League goals between them as the club reached the play-offs.
There have been plenty of seasons since then where one striker has had a reasonable record but if these two can really hit it off then hopes of a top-six finish will be raised.
Boss Uwe Rosler has in some ways relied on the tried and tested with his summer acquisitions – bringing back last season’s loan duo Adam Forshaw and just last week Jake Bidwell – while also saying that having a fit-again Kevin O’Connor is like having a new signing.
Millwall duo Tony Craig and Scott Barron have taken a bit longer to settle into the side, while Paul Hayes had an inauspicious debut when he missed a penalty against Yeovil straight after coming on as a substitute.
It was brave of Hayes to step up, but on reflection it may have been better for Donaldson, who had equalised a few minutes earlier and was clearly buzzing, to take the kick.
The goalkeeping situation is also an interesting one with Simon Moore currently in possession of the shirt after Richard Lee started the season with an injury.
Moore has done nothing to warrant losing his place at this stage so if his form continues, Rosler may have some thinking to do over who is his first choice.
The Bees face some interesting fixtures during the rest of September – including the London derby at Leyton Orient, which is being shown live on Sky on Thursday week.
They also welcome back Marcus Bean (and Clinton Morrison) and his new Colchester side this Saturday, with their other home game against Oldham, and travel to Bournemouth and high-flying Tranmere.
By the end of that little lot, Brentford will have played nine games and we should have more of an idea of how this already fascinating season may pan out.
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