Bees buzzing for Latics’ arrival

ATHLETIC appear to be heading to Brentford at just the wrong time.

The Bees’ form, poor until recently, turned dramatically on its head within the space of only four days.

First, the team managed by Andy Scott saw off near-neighbours Charlton 2-1 thanks to goals from Gary Alexander and Toumani Diagouraga.

And on Tuesday night, Brentford progressed to the Southern quarter-finals of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, winning a penalty shoot-out 5-4 at Leyton Orient.

The victory over an Addicks side featuring former Athletic striker Pawel Abbott was only their second in npower League One all season, serving to end a run of five matches in all competitons without victory.

But Brentford have also shown this season that they have a side capable of rising to the occasion.

A late winner from Marcus Bean saw off Championship side Hull City 2-1 in round two of the Carling Cup.

And Griffin Park was buzzing once again when the Bees progressed past Premier League club Everton 4-3 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw, in the next round.

Brentford entered this season with high hopes of a play-off push, but are second-bottom of the division.

After gaining promotion the previous season, the Hounslow outfit finished a respectable ninth in 2009-10.

Home form was the driving force behind their success, with only two defeats on their own soil.

Athletic drew 1-1 in the corresponding fixture last season, with on-loan Blackburn Rovers striker Nick Blackman scoring the only goal of his loan spell.

That was one of 12 draws at Griffin Park last term, a tally which topped every other professional side in England.

One very familiar face likely to be in the home team’s line-up this weekend is Nicky Forster.

Though he has yet to strike this season, the 37-year-old forward is still a dangerous customer. Now back at the club at which he made his name in the mid-1990s, the former Gillingham, Reading and Brighton forward has 219 career goals to his name in a 19-year career spanning 705 professional appearances.