During the 2001–02 English football season, Brentford competed in the Football League Second Division. The Bees were denied promotion after defeat to Stoke City in the 2002 Second Division playoff Final.
Season summary
After a promising, but ultimately disappointing 2000–01 season, Steve Coppell replaced Ray Lewington as manager of Second Division Brentford on 8 May 2001. In the knowledge he would be provided with little money to buy players, Coppell was also tasked with raising £500,000 in transfer fees. The previous season's squad was kept together, with two fringe players released and two arrivals – youngster Stephen Hunt and defender Jason Price on a short-term contract. After a 1–1 opening day draw with Wigan Athletic, teenage Blackburn Rovers forward Ben Burgess was brought in on a one-month loan, which was subsequently extended until the end of the season.
Brentford had its best start to a season since 1934–35 and topped the table for the first time after a 4–0 win over Tranmere Rovers on 8 September 2001. After a first league defeat of the season at the hands of Swindon Town on 25 September, the Bees went on a seven-match club record-equalling winning run and seized top spot in the Second Division. Captain Paul Evans led by example, scoring 9 goals in 13 matches in all competitions before suffering a hamstring injury in mid-October. His temporary replacement was Arsenal's teenage midfielder Steve Sidwell, another loan signing which would prove to be a master-stroke and which would later be extended until the end of the season. Between 10 November 2001 and 24 January 2002, Brentford won just twice in a spell of 13 league matches, suffering eight defeats, while briefly returning to the top of the table in late December. By 21 December, Lloyd Owusu, Paul Evans and Ben Burgess had each reached 10 or more goals for the season, which was the fourth instance of three Brentford players reaching double-figures before Christmas Day.
A 4–0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in front of the Sky cameras at Griffin Park on 24 January 2002 turned Brentford's flagging season around, with twin forwards Owusu and Burgess finding the net with regularity. The Bees lost just two of the next 16 matches, but a 0–0 draw away to West London rivals Queens Park Rangers in the penultimate match of the season dropped the club out of the final automatic promotion place. Cause for concern was a goal drought suffered by Ben Burgess, who had failed to score since 26 February and the midfield was weakened by the £150,000 sale of Gavin Mahon to Watford, in a bid to reduce the wage bill. Brentford would play 2nd-place Reading at Griffin Park on the final day of the season, needing a win to secure automatic promotion, while the Royals only needed a draw. Brentford took the lead through Martin Rowlands, but were pegged back 13 minutes from time by Jamie Cureton and the match finished as a 1–1 draw, which consigned the Bees to the playoffs.
Brentford faced 6th-placed Huddersfield Town in the playoff semi-finals, a rematch of the 1995 semi-final encounter between the two sides. The Bees held the Terriers to a 0–0 draw at the McAlpine Stadium and reached the 2002 Second Division playoff Final courtesy of goals from Darren Powell and Lloyd Owusu to emerge 2–1 victors in the second leg. In the final versus Stoke City, Brentford "simply had no sting in their tail" and were defeated 2–0.
League table
Results Brentford's goal tally listed first.
Legend WinDrawLoss
Pre-season DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)13 July 2001Sutton UnitedA0–065217 July 2001Hampton & Richmond BoroughA2–0n/aAbbey (2)20 July 2001WokingA3–1785O'Connor, Evans, (og)24 July 2001IndiaH3–03,634Owusu (2), Evans28 July 2001Coventry CityH0–0n/a1 August 2001PortsmouthH2–21,361Hutchinson, Powell3 August 2001WimbledonH0–41,5506 August 2001Chertsey TownA6–0n/aHutchinson, Charles (2), Geddes (2), Tabb (pen)
Football League Second Division No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)111 August 2001Wigan AthleticA1–15,925Ingimarsson218 August 2001Port ValeH2–04,561Evans, Burgess325 August 2001ChesterfieldA1–03,571Evans427 August 2001Cambridge UnitedH2–14,674Evans (2)58 September 2001Tranmere RoversH4–05,211Owusu, Burgess, Evans, Williams615 September 2001Notts CountyA0–05,043718 September 2001Bristol CityH2–26,432Burgess, Powell822 September 2001Oldham AthleticH2–25,522Owusu, Evans925 September 2001Swindon TownA0–25,5191029 September 2001Colchester UnitedH4–15,179Evans (2), Burgess, Owusu115 October 2001Brighton & Hove AlbionA2–16,823Rowlands, Ingimarsson1213 October 2001Peterborough UnitedH2–111,097Owusu, Evans1313 October 2001BournemouthA2–03,934Hunt (2)1423 October 2001BuryH5–15,389Owusu (2), Gibbs (2), Burgess1527 October 2001ReadingA2–114,680Ingimarsson, Price163 November 2001BlackpoolH2–07,605Sidwell, Owusu1710 November 2001Stoke CityA2–317,953Burgess, Owusu1820 November 2001Huddersfield TownA1–18,513Burgess1924 November 2001Queens Park RangersH0–010,849201 December 2001Wycombe WanderersA3–58,013Owusu, Evans, Burgess214 December 2001Cardiff CityA1–310,184Evans2215 December 2001WrexhamH3–05,326Ingimarsson, Hunt, Burgess2321 December 2001Northampton TownH3–05,142Evans, Owusu, Burgess2426 December 2001Cambridge UnitedA1–23,989Burgess2529 December 2001Tranmere RoversA0–19,3892612 January 2002Port ValeA1–24,588Owusu2719 January 2002Wigan AthleticH0–15,5492822 January 2002Northampton TownA0–14,1842924 January 2002Brighton & Hove AlbionH4–07,475Ingimarsson, Burgess (2), Sidwell302 February 2002Colchester UnitedA1–13,657Owusu319 February 2002BournemouthH1–06,698Owusu3212 February 2002Cardiff CityH2–16,718Hunt, Burgess3316 February 2002Peterborough UnitedA1–15,100Owusu3422 February 2002Notts CountyH2–15,367Evans, Burgess3526 February 2002Oldham AthleticA2–34,935Burgess (2)362 March 2002Bristol CityA2–011,421Owusu, Rowlands375 March 2002Swindon TownH2–05,644Owusu (2)389 March 2002WrexhamA3–03,343Evans (2), Rowlands3912 March 2002ChesterfieldH0–05,3724016 March 2002Wycombe WanderersH1–07,165Ingimarsson4119 March 2002BlackpoolA3–14,865Rowlands, Owusu (2)4230 March 2002Stoke CityH1–08,837Sidwell431 April 2002BuryA0–24,332446 April 2002Huddersfield TownH3–07,393Owusu, Sidwell, Rowlands4513 April 2002Queens Park RangersA0–018,3464620 April 2002ReadingH1–111,303Rowlands
Football League Second Division play-offs
No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)NotesSF (1st leg)28 April 2002Huddersfield TownA0–016,523SF (2nd leg)1 May 2002Huddersfield TownH2–1 (won 2–1 on aggregate)11,191Owusu, PowellFinal11 May 2002Stoke CityN0–242,523Match played at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff.
FA Cup
No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R117 November 2001MorecambeH1–04,026GibbsR28 December 2001Scunthorpe UnitedA2–33,457Dobson, Burgess
Football League Cup
No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorer(s)R121 August 2001Norwich CityH1–04,111O'ConnorR212 September 2001Newcastle UnitedA1–425,633Owusu
Football League Trophy
No.DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceSR117 October 2001Wycombe WanderersA0–12,051 Sources: Soccerbase, 11v11
Playing squad Players' ages are as of the opening day of the 2001–02 season. No Position Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Signed from Signed in NotesGoalkeepers1 GKÓlafur Gottskálksson Hibernian200013GKPaul SmithCarshalton Athletic200025GKAlan JulianYouth2001Defenders2DFDanny BoxallCrystal Palace19983DFIjah AndersonSouthend United19954DFÍvar IngimarssonÍBV19995DFDarren PowellHampton19986DFScott MarshallSouthampton199912DF Michael Dobson Youth200015DFJay LovettCrawley Town200023DFDavid TheobaldIpswich Town199926DFLee FieldwickYouth200027DFMatt SomnerYouth2001Midfielders7MFPaul Evans (c) Shrewsbury Town199911MFMartin RowlandsFarnborough Town199818MFEddie HutchinsonSutton United200020MFKevin O'ConnorYouth200021MFMark WilliamsYouth200022MFJay SmithYouth200128MFStephen HuntCrystal Palace200131MFJay Tabb Crystal Palace200032MFSteve SidwellArsenal2001On loan from Arsenal34MFStephen EvansCrystal Palace2002Forwards9FWLloyd Owusu Slough Town1998 17 FWMark McCammon Charlton Athletic2000 24FWJulian Charles Hampton & Richmond Borough1999 30FWBen BurgessBlackburn Rovers2001On loan from Blackburn Rovers33FWMark PetersSouthampton2002Players who left the club mid-season8MFGavin MahonHereford United1998Transferred to Watford10FWScott PartridgeTorquay United1999Transferred to Rushden & Diamonds14MFTony FolanCrystal Palace1998Released16MFDerek BryanHampton1997Released19DFPaul GibbsPlymouth Argyle2000Transferred to Barnsley29DFJason PriceSwansea City2001Released32FWAdrian CaceresSouthampton2001Returned to Southampton after loan Source: Soccerbase
Coaching staff NameRole Steve CoppellManager Wally DownesAssistant coach Roberto ForzoniAssistant coach Jim StannardGoalkeeping coach Phil McLoughlinPhysiotherapist Colin MartinMedical Officer John GriffinChief scout
Statistics
Appearances and goals Substitute appearances in brackets. NoPosNatNameLeagueFA CupLeague CupFL TrophyPlayoffsTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals1GKÓlafur Gottskálksson280202000003202DFDanny Boxall0 (5)00000000 (1)00 (6)03DFIjah Anderson33 (2)01020103040 (2)04DFÍvar Ingimarsson466202010305465DFDarren Powell411202000314827MFPaul Evans40141020103047148MFGavin Mahon34 (1)0202000—38 (1)09FWLloyd Owusu43 (1)202011103150 (1)2210FWScott Partridge0 (1)0—0 (1)0——0 (2)011MFMartin Rowlands13 (10)70 (1)00 (1)0003016 (12)712DFMichael Dobson38 (1)02120003045 (1)113GKPaul Smith1800000103022015DFJay Lovett20—0000002016MFDerek Bryan0 (1)0000000—0 (1)017FWMark McCammon1 (13)00 (1)000000 (1)01 (15)018MFEddie Hutchinson2 (6)00 (1)00010003 (7)019DFPaul Gibbs23 (4)221200 (1)0—27 (5)320MFKevin O'Connor13 (12)01 (1)01 (1)0100 (2)016 (16)021MFMark Williams0 (20)10 (1)00 (1)00 (1)0000 (23)122MFJay Smith0000000 (1)0000 (1)023DFDavid Theobald5 (1)0000010006 (1)028MFStephen Hunt34 (1)4100 (1)0103039 (2)429DFJason Price151—2010—18131MFJay Tabb0 (3)0000000000 (3)0Players loaned in during the season30FWBen Burgess431721201030511832FWAdrian Caceres50—00——5032MFSteve Sidwell29 (1)420——3034 (1)4 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
Goalscorers NoPosNatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTFLPTotal9FWLloyd Owusu2001012230FWBen Burgess171000187MFPaul Evans1400001411MFMartin Rowlands7000074DFÍvar Ingimarsson60000632MFSteve Sidwell40——0428MFStephen Hunt40000419DFPaul Gibbs2100—35DFDarren Powell10001229DFJason Price1—00—121MFMark Williams10000112DFMichael Dobson010001Total77210282 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: Soccerbase
Discipline NoPosNatPlayerFL2FACFLCFLTFLPTotalPts19DFPaul Gibbs81200000—101133DFIjah Anderson910000000091125DFDarren Powell701010001090932MFSteve Sidwell7010——1090911MFMartin Rowlands510000000051828MFStephen Hunt41000010005187MFPaul Evans400010001060629DFJason Price40—1000—50530FWBen Burgess300000000030312DFMichael Dobson30000000003038MFGavin Mahon20001000—30317FWMark McCammon200000000020218MFEddie Hutchinson100000000010120MFKevin O'Connor10000000001019FWLloyd Owusu100000000010123DFDavid Theobald100000000010121MFMark Williams1000000000101Total6344040103075487 Players listed in italics left the club mid-season. Source: ESPN FC
International caps NoPosNatPlayerCapsGoalsRef4DFÍvar Ingimarsson207MFPaul Evans10
Management NameNatFromToRecord All CompsRecord LeaguePWDLW %PWDLW %Steve Coppell11 August 200111 May 2002 |
Summary