The 2014–15 season was the 125th season of competitive association football and 95th season in the English Football League played by Brentford, an English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. Their second-place finish in the 2013–14 season guaranteed promotion to the Championship from League One. The season covers the period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.
Season review
Pre-season After securing the signing of former loanee Alan Judge, Brentford continued strengthening their squad with the arrival of Marcos Tébar, Andre Gray, Moses Odubajo, Scott Hogan, Daniel O'Shaughnessy, Tommy Smith and Nick Proschwitz. Following the rejection of a new contract, Clayton Donaldson signed for Birmingham City and fellow striker Luke Norris departed for Gillingham. Will Grigg moved to MK Dons on a season-long loan and Alex Pritchard joined the Bees on a similar loan deal from Tottenham Hotspur. Jake Bidwell, Stuart Dallas and David Button signed new deals that secured their services until 2017 while the Development Squad was strengthened with new additions and the retention of existing squad members.
August Brentford's season began at home with a 1–1 draw against London rivals Charlton Athletic. Igor Vetokele put the visitors ahead in the 63rd minute heading in from an in-swinging corner. The Addicks had a chance to wrap the game up soon after but failed to capitalise from an open goal when David Button was caught away from his line. Debutant Tommy Smith came off the bench to grab an equaliser for the Bees, slotting home via a deflection in the 85th minute. In the first round of the League Cup Brentford needed extra time and a penalty shoot out to see off League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge. In a 6–6 thriller Stuart Dallas scored a brace, before Nick Proschwitz, Andre Gray and Montell Moore scored their first goals for the club. Harlee Dean netted a sixth in extra time to bring the match to penalties, and the Daggers missed two as Brentford converted four in a row to secure the win.
Spanish midfielder Jota signed from Celta de Vigo on a permanent deal and Arsenal midfielder Jon Toral joined on a season-long loan on 15 August. The Bees suffered their first defeat of the new campaign away to Bournemouth at Dean Court with Junior Stanislas scoring the only goal of the match in the 72nd minute in an even contest. Three days later a 2–1 win away to Blackpool moved the team up to 12th in the league table. After going a goal down an Alex Pritchard strike levelled the teams at half time. A persistent Stuart Dallas slotted home in the 52nd minute and The Bees held on to gain their first away win in the Championship. Ex-Bee Clayton Donaldson returned to Griffin Park with Birmingham City on 23 August and was brought down in Brentford's penalty area by Tony Craig which resulted in Craig's dismissal. Paul Caddis sent Button the wrong way to convert the penalty and put the Blues ahead. Moses Odubajo capitalised on a long ball from his own half in the second period and deftly chipped the Birmingham keeper to level the score.
Fulham were Brentford's opponents in the second round of the League Cup and arrived at Griffin Park for the first time in 16 years on 26 August. Ross McCormack netted in the 68th minute to give Fulham the lead and the visitors maintained a solid defence to prevent the Bees from equalising, sending them out of the Cup. Having met the club's valuation, Wigan Athletic were given permission to speak to and agree terms with Adam Forshaw, whilst Jake Reeves had his contract terminated by mutual agreement leaving him free to sign for Swindon Town. Brentford ended August with a win away to Rotherham United. A first half injury time goal from Gray and a second half injury time goal from Proschwitz gave the Bees a 2–0 victory and moved the team up to 8th in the league table.
September Adam Forshaw's move to Wigan Athletic was confirmed on transfer deadline day. Portuguese striker Betinho joined on a season long loan from Sporting Lisbon as Alfie Mawson extended his loan period with Wycombe Wanderers until the beginning of January 2015. Scott Hogan, who was carried off injured during the Rotherham match, was confirmed to have injured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee ruling him out for most of the season. Brentford gained their first home win of the campaign against Brighton following the 2 week International break. The Bees were 2–0 up with goals from Moses Odubajo and Andre Gray before Gordon Greer volleyed home to send the teams in 2–1 at the break. Jonathan Douglas scored in the 55th minute to put the home side three up, and although Danny Holla netted another for the Seagulls, Brentford held on for the win moving them up to 6th place in the league table.
A solid performance in goal from John Ruddy denied Brentford during the first half of their home encounter with Norwich City and the Bees were punished for their lack of shot conversion in the second half with goals from Alexander Tettey and Cameron Jerome giving the visitors a 3–0 victory. Following the match, Alan McCormack signed a new contract with the club, extending his stay until 2016 with an option of a further year. The losing momentum continued away to Middlesbrough with Brentford failing to find their rhythm and returning to London the wrong side of a 4–0 scoreline.
A missed penalty from James Tarkowski did not derail Brentford as they got back to winning ways with a victory over Leeds United at Griffin Park on 27 September. Jota scored his first goal in English football to put the team ahead and an opportunistic strike from Alan McCormack in the second half secured the points. Three days later at Vicarage Road a Jonathan Douglas goal levelled the score after the Bees had gone 1–0 down after Odion Ighalo scored from the rebound of his saved penalty. Brentford held on until the 70th minute but were defeated by an unstoppable volley from Matěj Vydra from just outside the penalty area, and they ended the month 12th place in the Championship table.
October First half goals from Jota and Alex Pritchard and a third in the second half from Jonathan Douglas gave Brentford a winning start to October at home to Reading. Brentford's visit to Wigan saw the first meeting of the ex-management team of Rösler and Warburton. Despite chances from both sides, strong defensive performances kept the game goalless.
Harlee Dean returned to the starting line up in place of James Tarkowski as Brentford entertained Sheffield Wednesday at Griffin Park to celebrate 125 years since the club's formation. Brentford slipped to 12th place in league with the game ending in a second 0–0 draw. An unchanged line-up travelled to Bolton for the final game of October. An even first half finished goalless before Bolton broke the deadlock with an opener from Neil Danns. Alan McCormack was stretchered off and replaced by Tommy Smith before Mark Davies added a second for the home team. Substitute Jon Toral grabbed his first goal for the Bees but as the team sought an equaliser David Button was caught away from goal after moving upfield for a corner, and a quick move from Bolton allowed Craig Davies to net Bolton's third and secure the points.
It was confirmed on 31 October that Alan McCormack would be ruled out for three months due to the ankle ligament injury picked up during the Bolton match.
November
November began with the arrival of league leaders Derby County to Griffin Park. Moses Odubajo moved to defence to replace the injured Alan McCormack whilst Jon Toral was handed a starting place and Toumani Diagouraga replaced Alex Pritchard in midfield. Derby went ahead in the 29th minute through Chris Martin. A strong run from Odubajo in the second half set up Andre Gray for an equaliser and substitute Stuart Dallas scored the winner for Brentford in the 90th minute to knock Derby off the top of the table and move the Bees up to 12th. Brentford emerged 3–1 winners against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground four days later. Goals from Toral, Gray and Pritchard gave the Bees a 3–0 lead before Michail Antonio netted an consolation goal for the home side.
Brentford made the short trip across London on 8 November to play Millwall and with Jonathan Douglas suspended Jota returned to the starting line up. Gray scored either side of the interval to put the Bees two goals up before Millwall got back into the game with two goals in quick succession to level the score. Millwall persisted to try to find a winner until Danny Shittu deflected Gray's shot into his own net in the 64th minute to hand the win to the visitors.
Following the International break, Fulham arrived at Griffin Park for a Friday night televised match in front of a sell out crowd of 12,225. After a goalless first half, Fulham gained the lead against the run of play through Hugo Rodallega and continued to pressure for a second goal. Brentford sought an equaliser and were successful in the 81st minute when Harlee Dean unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area to beat Marcus Bettinelli. The game seemed to be heading for a draw until Jota took an opportunistic shot that was deflected into the Fulham goal.
Brentford secured five wins in five games during an unbeaten November after a 4–0 home win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Alan Judge scored his first of the season in the first half before Stuart Dallas, Andre Gray and Jota guaranteed the win with goals in the final 15 minutes. In recognition of the months achievement Andre Gray and Mark Warburton won Player of the Month and Manager of the Month respectively.
December
The first match of December was away to Huddersfield Town where Brentford's five match unbeaten run was brought to a halt. Sean Scannell put Huddersfield ahead in the 18th minute and they went further ahead with an own goal from Jake Bidwell at the start of the second half. Jonathan Douglas scored for Brentford soon after but the team were unable to come back and the defeat dropped them to 5th place in the league. A week later Brentford maintained 5th place with a win over Blackburn Rovers at Griffin Park. Goals from Douglas, Gray and Jota secured a 3–1 win, with Rudy Gestede scoring a consolation goal for the visitors via a deflection off Harlee Dean.
Three first half goals in a dominant half gave Brentford the advantage away to Cardiff City on 20 December. Alex Pritchard scored first with a strike from outside the penalty area and Gray added a second eleven minutes later with a deft chip over the Cardiff goalkeeper. Jota scored the third with an ambitious strike whilst surrounded by three defenders, but a rejuvenated Cardiff came out strong for the second half and despite scoring twice they could not overcome the deficit. The win moved Brentford into 3rd place in the league going into the Christmas period. Second played third as Ipswich Town arrived to Griffin Park on Boxing Day, and the visitors started strong with a goal in the first minute from Daryl Murphy. Murphy added a second twenty minutes later and Paul Anderson scored a third to give Ipswich the lead at half time. Second half substitute Sam Saunders marked his return from injury with two second half goals as Brentford attempted a comeback, but a fourth from former Brentford loanee Tommy Smith ensured that Ipswich wrapped up the win and briefly topped the Championship table.
Brentford finished 2014 with a defeat away to Wolves on 28 December. After going two goals down Danny Batth scored an own goal in the 86th minute to make the score 2–1 dropping the Bees to 6th place in the table as 2014 ended. The club announced the signing of Scottish International Lewis Macleod from Rangers on 31 December, with the transfer to be made official on 3 January 2015.
January