AFC Bournemouth head coach Jonathan Woodgate had a clear game plan heading into the final three games of the regular Championship season. A play-off place had already been secured and whilst the team were flying off the back of seven consecutive victories, his apparent clear mindset was to get through the final games unscathed, protect and rest certain players and come into the play-off games as fresh as possible.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank took the opposite stance, he wanted momentum from his side and Brentford hit the end of season showcase in the best form.
Who would come out on top? Well, it proved to be AFC Bournemouth, just. A narrow 1-0 victory to take to London on Saturday. 90 minutes where both sides know that a place at Wembley us up for grabs.
Man of the match against Brentford
Cook
Danjuma
Brooks
Kelly
After the match, Woodgate told Sky Sports…
“I thought we performed really well right from the start. Absolutely outstanding on the counter-attack. Listen, it’s half time. We go into half time with a 1-0 lead and it’s far from over. They are an exceptional team, so we need to be right at it next Saturday.
“It could have been more, but you take 1-0 before the game. I thought they implemented the game plan well, thought we looked dangerous throughout. We now need to go and put in a professional performance against a really good team.”
Talking us through that winner 😍
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) May 17, 2021
A solid display from @c_meps in the second half 👊👏
Mepham told @kristemple that Bournemouth won't be sitting off Brentford in the second leg! 🔊👇 #afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/YC276klLnB
— BBC Radio Solent Sport (@solentsport) May 17, 2021
Who will win the Play-Offs?
Brentford
Swansea
Barnsley
AFCB
thegazzyb wrote
We had to work bloody hard for that result! Brentford are tough opponents, no doubt.
Great effort, no complaints tonight. Our boys gave it everything.
Half the job is done now! Now to rest up and be ready to match that effort again on Saturday.
Hoping for good news on the injury front too. Pearson LOOKED as though he came off as a precaution after a lengthy chat with the physio. Fingers crossed that was the case, love the guy!
Half way there. Nice to see some of you back in the stadium today🙌🏾🍒.
— Dom Solanke (@DomSolanke) May 17, 2021
I said it before the game and I’ll say it again, make it happen. Let’s get the job done 💫🏆 pic.twitter.com/gGXULhGOzK
— Arnaut Danjuma (@Danjuma) May 17, 2021
https://twitter.com/BillingPhilip/status/1394374806095663111?s=20
northstandmark wrote
Very tight, well set up for the second leg. Both clubs will take something from that.
We have the slender lead obviously. But my god we had to work hard for it. Injuries and walking wounded, it seemed to me that we looked worse for wear than them.
They will need a goal and the maths for them is simple. We’re in that tricky position whereby we need to figure out whether to sit back or go forward.
All to play for. The playoffs hey! – Join the conversation, click here.
