Brentford vs Eastleigh. The FA Cup Third Round.
Griffin Park.
Saturday 7 January 2017 18:55, UK
Former Brentford boss Martin Allen's return to his old club ended in disappointment as the Bees cruised into the FA Cup fourth round with a 5-1 rout of his Eastleigh side.
Two debut goals from left-back Tom Field added to a Yoann Barbet penalty and strikes from Lasse Vibe and Romaine Sawyers, all in the first half, made it a comfortable afternoon for the Bees.
The only consolation for Allen was when big centre-back Ayo Obileye gave his National League side a brief foothold in the game after almost 30 minutes of an action-packed first half.
The Championship side took just five minutes to break the deadlock, Barbet sending Graham Stack the wrong way from the spot after the former Arsenal goalkeeper sent him tumbling in the box.
Spitfires centre-back Gavin Hoyte limped off after the penalty incident to be replaced by Jai Reason.
The Bees made it two on 16 minutes when Field got across his marker to head home Sawyers' superb outside of the foot right-wing cross from close range for his first professional goal.
Midway through the half it was 3-0 as Brentford broke quickly from a rare Eastleigh attack and Josh McEachran slid in Vibe to coolly slot home from 12 yards.
Sawyers fizzed cross-shot deserved a finish minutes later, but Eastleigh were handed a brief reprieve just before the half hour with a controversial consolation.
Bees goalkeeper Daniel Bentley complained he was wrestled off the ball by big Eastleigh striker Ryan Bird and could only watch as his off balance punched clearance headed goalwards to be converted by Obileye.
The visitors almost made it two with a similar physical set-piece, but this time Bentley was relieved to see Michael Green's inswinging corner bounce to safety off the far post.
It was only a temporary let-off for the Hampshire side though as McEachran swept up the other end and slipped in Field to slot under the onrushing 'keeper for his second.
Sawyers made it five almost on the half time whistle with the goal of the game, rifling home a 25-yard half volley from Vibe's clever chest down.
After the break Brentford - always a class above with some slick one-touch passing - emphasised the gulf in class and could have hit double figures.
Nico Yennaris tested Stack and Sawyers lashed wide as returning hero Jota - just back from a spell in his native Spain - had two strong claims for penalties waved away.
Brentford defender John Egan had to come to the hosts' rescue as Eastleigh tried to forge their way back into a game that looked well beyond them, clearing Mikael Mandron's low drive off the line.
Minutes later Obileye might have made it two but headed over when it looked easier to score as Brentford played keep-ball with the National League side.
Jota, famous for a series of last-minute winners for the Bees, came close to a fairytale return but saw his late angled drive go just past the far post.
But in the end it was all too easy for a Brentford side happy to see out the second half without incident and book their place in Monday's draw.
