Brentford 2, Huddersfield Town 0

Jan 23 2006 By Mel Booth, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner

It enabled Brentford - with Sam Sodje outstanding at the back - to recover from the 17th-minute dismissal of Newman and take the lead inside 25 minutes, after Tom Clarke had harshly been punished for what looked a ball-winning tackle.

There seemed little danger as Kevin O'Connor sent in a resulting 25-yard shot, but Rachubka spilled the ball as he dived to his left and Campbell squared for Owusu to finish.

If that moment wasn't bad enough for Rachubka, worse was to follow three minutes into the second half when he raced from the box to challenge the quick-breaking Campbell.

Rachubka was close enough to make a genuine effort for the ball but, as Town's last man and with Campbell sent tumbling, referee Keith Stroud decided a goalscoring opportunity had been denied and had no hesitation in sending him off.

It was a blow, because Town had only just reshuffled to 4-4-2 with striker John McAliskey replacing midfielder Tom Clarke and suddenly they no longer had an extra man.

McAliskey did quite well with some neat touches, but Michael Collins had to give way for Phil Senior to replace Rachubka and that meant most of Town's threat was focused down the left, when Danny Schofield just couldn't prompt a breakthrough.

There was plenty of effort from Town, who were always wary of Brentford's pace and had to rely on three great covering tackles from Andy Holdsworth to keep them at bay, but there wasn't the cutting edge to upset Sodje and partner Michael Turner in the heart of defence.

They did a tremendous job protecting George Bankole, who looked so unsteady with his clearing kicks that Allen sent on Stuart Nelson for the final 18 minutes, and even though Jackson sent David Mirfin up front in the closing stages to try and salvage a point, it was Brentford who struck the killer blow 13 minutes from time.