The final stages of this absorbing contest hopefully provided a pointer to the future as James Vaughan came off the bench for his first appearance since September and Town withstood Brentford’s late barrage to claim a very welcome first win in five.
Whether or not Wigan Athletic can be persuaded to extend Grant Holt’s loan – and Town manager Chris Powell admitted that is looking increasingly unlikely – a fit and firing Vaughan can play a key role over the remaining 26 matches as his club, currently back up to 15th, aim to push on into the top half of the Championship.
Top scorer for the last two seasons but without a goal in more than a year, Vaughan played the final 13 minutes of regulation time, plus six added on, to signal his return after his latest injury, to a calf muscle, and put himself in line for a return to former club Norwich City on Saturday.
Carrow Road, of course, is also very familiar to Holt as well as midfielder Jacob Butterfield, and following up victory over in-form Brentford with a positive result in Norfolk would be a real plus, particularly in the light of Town’s recent difficulties on the road.
With Mark Warburton freshly named as manager of the month, striker Andre Gray as player of the month and Brentford chasing what would have been a club second-tier record sixth successive win, there was a feeling this might just be the match when the Bees found themselves stung, rather than the opposition.
But Town had to work really hard for their fourth win in seven unbeaten home matches, with keeper Alex Smithies pulling off a string of saves against a side who played some neat football and never stopped running.
Powell had called for his team to start putting away some of the plentiful chances they have been creating.
And Sean Scannell duly obliged with a decisive strike after slick approach play by Butterfield, Jack Robinson and Nahki Wells to rock Brentford after they had fashioned the clearer-cut opportunities early on.
The excellent Robinson, who like fellow full-back Tommy Smith got forward with real purpose, and Scannell were also instrumental in forcing the own goal by Jake Bidwell early in the second half which strengthened Town’s position.
But there was always the feeling busy Brentford could get back into it, and after a series of substitutions by Warburton which all had an effect, former Leeds United midfielder Jonathan Douglas steered home a shot.
How Town could have done with Wells notching minutes later, but just as against Sheffield Wednesday in the previous home game, he was denied by a keeper who spread himself and saved at close range.
Wells is going through a tough time – it’s now five games (three starts) and for the numerically minded, 355 minutes on the pitch, without a goal.
But the nine-goal Bermudian continues to get into good positions, and once he gets his season’s haul into double figures, more will surely follow.
Holt, available for four more games before Wigan are able to recall him, again played a big part, his physical presence clearly troubling the visiting defence.
And Jonathan Hogg, back in midfield after Diego Poyet’s return to West Ham United, had a fine game, breaking up Brentford attacks and doing his best to spark some for Town.
It was easy to see why Brentford are up where they are (now fifth) and that made this victory all the more pleasing.
Very little comes easily in the Championship, so more of the same will be necessary at Norwich, who lifted themselves up to eighth with a 1-0 win at Wigan, a result which will surely only increase manager Malky Mackay’s desire to get Holt back.
