With the exception of both sides wearing red and white striped shirts (black shorts and socks) Sheffield United and Brentford also share a common factor - both sides were formed in 1889, United on 22 March and the Bees on 10 October. Our first ever meeting came when United sunk to the Second tier of English Football during the 1934/35 season - completing the double over United as they charged away with the league and were promoted has Champions. They beat the Blades 2-1 at Bramall Lane on 22 December and on the final day of the season by three goals to one at Griffin Park with pole position all ready wrapped up.
It was a season to remember for the Bees having claimed big wins over Burnley (6-1), Barnsley (8-1) and Port Vale (8-0) all at home they somewhat deserved their Champions title. United finished eleventh. These may have been the first professional fixtures between the two clubs but perhaps the first came on 17 April 1899 - a day after United defeated Derby County in the FA Cup Final by four goals to one. A friendly match was played out in London and despite not being fully strengthened a 5-2 victory awarded the cup winners (a report of this game can be seen to your left).
The Blades extracted revenge on their opponents upon their next encounter but this didn't come until after the war when professional play resumed. By this time the Sheffield side had wormed their way back into top flight and on Christmas Day in 1946 the Blades beat Brentford 6-1 at the Lane before losing 2-1 in a traditional double-header on Boxing Day. For the record the last time United played on Christmas Day was a 2-1 win at Grimsby Town in 1958.
United would have a good season and finish sixth in the league whilst Brentford finished next to bottom and where relegated and when the Cutlers fell from grace in 1949 the pair was re-united again and would never again contest a fixture in the top flight. Between 1949 and 1953 it would be an annual event with the Blades struggling to win most games at Griffin Park - their biggest win during these years was a 5-1 victory at the Lane on Monday, 26 March 1951.
The Blades were Champions of the Second Division in 1953 and thus re-establishing themselves amongst the elite once again. United had to wait until October '79 until they claimed their first league victory at Griffin Park. They had staked a win previously in the League Cup however in September 1962, winning by four goals to one. From then on until the late eighties both sides yo-yo between the bottoms three Divisions but United only won 3 games (3 drawn) in ten competitive matches played.
In contrast the Blades have held a very good record at Bramall Lane against their London opponents, in fact they have been unbeaten on Sheffield soil for 31 and a half years. Though between the years 1989 and 2011 - a 22 year gap there hasn't been a professional meeting between the two clubs. Since the formation of the Premier League the pair have played out separate lives, the Bees have spent the majority of which in the latter two Divisions of the Football League pyramid whilst the Blades have mostly congregated in the First Division (now Championship) with very brief spells amongst the elite.
In May 2011 Sheffield United were relegated to the third tier since 1989 and thus brought around the annual fixtures between the Blades and the Bees. The results (and reports) from these games since 2011 can be found below.
13 August 2011 - Sheffield United 2 Brentford 0 (By The People)
Danny Wilson celebrated his first home game in charge of Sheffield United with a comfortable victory over Brentford. Second-half strikes from Jordan slew and Richard Cresswell did the damage as the Blades made it back-to-back wins. United had the best chance of the opening exchanges but slew fired wastefully wide when free on the left. Gary Alexander then nodded Myles Weston's curling cross narrowly over the bar as the Bees battled back. Blades midfielder Stephen Quinn shot straight at Richard Lee after 25 minutes before Niall McGinn side-footed inches wide at the other end.
United burst into life after the break and went ahead four minutes after the restart through slew. Cresswell found time and space in the visitor’s box to tee up the 18-year-old, who fired home a deflected drive from close range. And United were celebrating again in the 70th minute as Cresswell tapped home Matt Lowton's low cross to seal the points.
10 March 2012 - Brentford 0 Sheffield United 2
Sheffield United got back to winning ways after recording a 2-0 victory at Brentford yesterday after a double Ched Evans strike sealed the win. The final score may seem as though United had a fairly easy ride in London but it was the hosts who came out of the stumbling blocks first; Bidwell tested the Blades defence - forcing Williams to concede an early corner. They continued to press in the United half and defended well; Hill twice beating a tall Donaldson to headers.
Only six minutes had passed on the clock when the Bees were punished for good early possession, Welsh striker Evans capitalised on a Porter flick-on to fire the ball home with much delight to the travelling fans. The team had travelled down south a day prior to the game and were at that time second in the table and just one point ahead of their nearest opposition (Sheffield Wednesday) and was looking to turn around a bad form which had seen them win just once in four matches.
Brentford, who required maximum points just as much as their opposition were quick on the break and threatened in patches - on 22 minutes captain Michael Doyle thwarted such an attack before Evans was caught napping and missed an opportunity to double his daily tally. With six minutes remaining of the half the Welsh forward was handed another chance to double the lead after charging through a gap between the centre-halves but with the goal gaping he unusually fired wide! Porter was denied when Moore clawed out the former Derby County striker’s header to take the break at 1-0.
It was Danny Wilson's Blades who got themselves a good start in the second half and again after six minutes saw the net bulging through an Evans strike. Moments earlier he had flashed wide following a well worked free-kick but were to make no mistake when Moore's free-kick landed straight to him, allowing him to round the keeper and slot home. The hosts still forged good attacks and undoubtedly will be feeling that they should have taking something away from the match; creating 14 attempts at goal - double than United's efforts.
With moments to spare of the afternoon Moore denied Evans of a first Blades hat-trick with his legs as United came away with three valuable points. Wednesday had already claimed there victory after storming into a 3-0 lead against Bournemouth inside ten minutes, whilst a Jonathan Forte hat-trick was enough to secure an unlikely 4-2 win for Nott's County at Charlton Athletic.
24 November 2012 - Brentford 2 Sheffield United 0
Brentford stretched their unbeaten run to eight games with a 2-0 win thanks to a first-half demolition of promotion-chasing Sheffield United. The Bees went in two-up at the break after a quality finish from Clayton Donaldson and goal of the season contender from Harry Forrester. Donaldson struck after three minutes, deftly glancing home Toumani Diagouraga's left-wing cross at the near post and Forrester made it two on the half-hour, turning brilliantly on halfway before smashing home a grass cutter from fully 25 yards.
Brentford were in almost total command before the break, but had to withstand wave after wave of pressure from the Blades in the second period and Bees goalkeeper Simon Moore, who had tipped Shaun Miller's point-blank header over before the break, had to be at his best to deny Nick Blackman in a one-on-one on the hour-mark. Brentford loan signing Marcello Trotta thought he had calmed the host's nerves late on, but his tap-in after a Harlee Dean pile driver was parried clear, was ruled out for offside.
Miller's goal bound effort was cleared off the goal line by Donaldson in the dying minutes as the visitors lost their composure, Harry Maguire escaping with a yellow for a lunge on the striker when it might have been red.
16 April 2013 - Sheffield United 2 Brentford 2
Sheffield United and Brentford were involved in a zany match last night which resulted in four penalties, four goals and three sending offs - but the overall outcome resulted in both teams sharing the spoils. From a Sheffield United point of view they will feel that victory should have been there’s. Despite trailing at half-time by a single goal netted from the penalty spot by Marcello Trotta the Blades were rewarded with a penalty of their own but defender Tony McMahon hit his effort against the bar. Barry Robson got his shining moment from the spot to level the scores before Dave Kitson netted which looked likely to be the winner but couldn’t hang on as substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips capped an entertaining match with a photo finish. The game however was tarnished by three sending offs; two of which for Brentford – but it wasn’t foul play by either side which warranted the referee’s walk of shame but from the card happy referee himself; Mr. Keith Stroud who brandished 11 yellow cards, two of which resulted in sending’s off and a straight red card to Tony Craig.
Both #5’s were handed there marching orders from this game; - Craig was shown red for violent conduct inside the penalty area whilst two yellow cards each went to Harry Maguire who misses this weekend’s trip to Portsmouth and the formidable Clayton Donaldson – the Blades can hope that the loss of these key players could turn into misfortune for Brentford. Apart from Mr. Stroud disrupting proceedings the quality of football displayed by both sides was there to be seen and the referee’s actions overshadowed two entertaining sides who showed passion and commitment throughout and based on this display Chris Morgan could well be the man to take charge in the summer.
The Blades fell behind midway through the first half; Marcello Trotta netting from the spot under controversial circumstances after questions were raised after Donaldson raced clear of the defence before being grounded by George Long who may have won part of the ball before the challenge. Tony McMahon has this season been noted for being somewhat of a dead ball specialist with two goals against Crawley and one at Oxford United to his name, but when it came to penalty kicks he failed but when Robson got his chance he made no mistake. Brentford aren’t the most imaginative team in the Division and it has been some years since they were a household name in the old First Division but over the years (in League One) have used their devises and have this season acquired a formidable team which will no doubt be one of the favourites to win this league next year if they don’t win promotion this season.
At this stage of the season neither team can afford much margin for error and a win for one of the teams in red and white would have gone a long way in the automatic promotion chase and thus without wishing to make mistakes saw early exchanges cautious from both parties with good tackling and closing down dominant early on. United’s first chance came after fifteen minutes when Jamie Murphy glided down the wing and created an opportunity for Captain Michael Doyle, but he – not famed for his goal scoring abilities shunned his chance and soon after the Italian striker Trotta (on loan from Fulham) was just inches away from opening the scoring after he connected with Adam Forshaw’s centre and Kevin McDonald was forced to turn defender to prevent Lee Hodson from bulging the net in what was a nervy few minutes for the hosts.
The home faithful were sprung back into life however when the impressive Murphy left Shaleum Logan in no man’s land with both Doyle and Dave Kitson struggling to convert his plucky centre. McDonald saw his shot parried away by Simon Moore behind for a corner and Doyle was again thwarted in front of goal in a hat full of chances for the Blades. Brentford responded via 21 goal strikers Clayton Donaldson with Long relieved to see his effort fly over the bar and into the kop. On 24 minutes Mr. Stroud awarded the visitors with a penalty which Trotta duly dispatched to peg the Blades back. Donaldson who had won the penalty kick was then involved in an incident involving himself when involved with a heated discussion with McMahon after he was judged to have been fouled, the referee was sure in his decision to book the Bees forward for diving.
At the other end Kitson headed wide from a corner and following caretaker manager Chris Morgan’s decision to introduce Jonathan Forte at half-time (for Ryan Flynn) the home outfit looked clean and more dangerous. Shorty after the break United were awarded a penalty of their own and a chance to get back into the game when Kitson (50 minutes) was man handled in an off the ball incident with Craig receiving his marching orders and McMahon seeing his spot kick smash against the crossbar. Twelve minutes later United were level, but only after Kitson spurred two chances in front of goal – McMahon’s testing cross was handballed by Hodson and in the aftermath Barry Robson wheeled away in celebration when he kick beat Moore.
Kitson finally got his glory and his dozen tally of the season when his towering header broke the net after good work on the wing from Murphy. The Blades were reduced to ten men after Harry Maguire was shown his second yellow of the game after he challenged Donaldson who he too would later receive his marching orders. Maguire’s challenge had led to (another) penalty, the fourth of the night and Sam Saunders agonisingly saw his penalty duly saved spectacularly well from youngster Long. But there was to be one final twist in the tale – Bradley Wright-Phillips – a 71st minute substitute broke Blades hearts with his goal at the death to draw the match level.
10 August 2013 - Brentford 3 Sheffield United 1 (By Sheffield Star)
What promised to be a text-book introduction has since become a test of patience and crash course in contractual law. David Weir has certainly been thrown straight into the deep end at the start of his managerial career. Having seen Sheffield United's preparations overshadowed by doubts surrounding the future of arguably their most influential player, the former Everton and Glasgow Rangers defender's weekend finished on a cruel note when his team were condemned to defeat by opponents who once again seem destined to mount a serious challenge for promotion.
Both Weir and his compatriot, Neill Collins, whose second-half goal briefly dragged the visitors' back on level terms, refused to lay the blame for this result at Kevin McDonald's door. But, with United having constructed a tactical blueprint designed to exploit his immaculate technique, the midfielder's absence nevertheless had a detrimental effect upon United's performance. While Weir prepared for talks with the 24-year-old, who spent the weekend at home contemplating whether to remain at Bramall Lane or join League One rivals Wolves, Collins insisted news McDonald had met with officials at Molineux, after Friday's undisclosed offer triggered a clause in his present deal, had "nothing to do with what happened here". "It definitely goes without saying that we don't want to lose someone like Kevin," the Scot said. "But that didn't have an impact on the outcome.
"From the moment we set off for the stadium we were fully focused on what was ahead. "It's disappointing. There were reasons why we didn't win and they're nothing to do with anything that is going on off the pitch." Collins, whose effort was later bettered by a Will Grigg brace, declined to elaborate further - "Everyone who was here saw. And things like that are better being discussed in house" - but United's inability to subdue Adam Forshaw was chief among them. The youngster, who progressed through the ranks at Everton, had a hand in all three of Brentford's goals, opening the scoring from long-range before creating both of his colleague's strikes. However, although the hosts' first effort oozed quality, the other two owed more to defensive lapses than individual brilliance.
Collins, who could be absolved of responsibility for either, said: "I'm sure fans get sick of hearing me say this but there are lads here who are working their nuts off to try and get us out of this division. I can absolutely assure them of that. "They've stuck behind us for two years now and so that's the very least our supporters deserve. We're just disappointed that we couldn't reward them here with a result. "The other thing I can tell them is that we aren't going to make or hide behind excuses. You never improve or fulfil your potential if you do that. "The gaffer made sure we were well prepared and briefed on what was ahead. We always knew this was going to be a tough game.
"It's early days yet but this is a division where you don't want to fall too far behind anyone else. So that's why we'll work hard to iron things out." "One of the things we should have done better, us as players, was consolidate our position better," he added. "Once we had equalised, we should have made sure that at the very least we came away with a point. "It's frustrating that we didn't, but we'll get there. We'll get it right." Although Brentford enjoy a deserved reputation for incisive attacking play, they are also well-versed in the dark arts, as Febian Brandy discovered to his cost. The United winger was on the receiving end of some particularly meaty challenges as last season's beaten play-off finalists seized control of the midfield.
Forshaw served notice of things to come when he sent a fierce shot fizzing inches over George Long's crossbar before caressing the ball home from just outside the area. Lyle Taylor, making his full United debut after arriving from Falkirk, responded with a decent attempt of his own following Stephen McGinn's surging run. But it was Collins who dragged United back on level terms after escaping his marker before converting Jamie Murphy's corner. Having seen Conor Coady nearly convert Marcus Williams' low centre seconds earlier, Weir's charges had Brentford firmly on the back foot only to surrender the iniciative by gifting them two goals.
Grigg pounced when Forshaw robbed McGinn of possession on the by-line before cutting a low cross back into the box. He was then presented with an even simpler finish when Long, who later denied the centre-forward a hat-trick from the penalty spot when he collided with Harry Maguire, could only parry his teammate's centre. Long, who hopes to win his first England under-21 cap when they entertain Scotland at Bramall Lane tomorrow, also made important saves to thwart Conor McAleny and Forshaw.
"We've got some new players and a new manager," Collins said. "A new manager who is bringing some really good ideas to the club and wants us to do the right things. "You can tell someone like Conor (Coady), for example, is going to turn out to be a really big talent while Lyle scored goals for fun in Scotland. He's got bags of ability too. "We've also got to remember that they're still right at the start of their Sheffield United careers. You don't get much time in football these days but that doesn't mean it doesn't still take time to settle properly and adjust. They'll be really good additions for us, though. Without a doubt. You can see that."
Statistics
| P | W | D | L | F | A | |
| Bramall Lane | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 19 |
| Griffin Park | 15 | 5 | 2 | 8 | 22 | 25 |
| Total | 28 | 9 | 7 | 12 | 46 | 44 |
* Up to and including 3, February 2014.
Results
1934/35 - Division 2
22 Dec - Sheffield United 1 Brentford 2
04 May - Brentford 3 Sheffield United 1
1946/47 - Division 1
25 Dec - Sheffield United 6 Brentford 1
26 Dec - Brentford 2 Sheffield United 1
1949/50 - Division 2
03 Dec - Sheffield United 1 Brentford 1
08 Apr - Brentford 1 Sheffield United 0
1950/51 - Division 2
23 Mar - Brentford 3 Sheffield United 1
26 Mar - Sheffield United 5 Brentford 1
1951/52 - Division 2
17 Nov - Brentford 4 Sheffield United 1
05 Apr - Sheffield United 1 Brentford 4
1952/53 - Division 2
08 Sep - Sheffield United 3 Brentford 2
17 Sep - Brentford 0 Sheffield United 0
1962/63
26 Sep - Brentford 1 Sheffield United 4 (LC)
1979/80 - Division 3
22 Oct - Brentford 1 Sheffield United 2
06 Nov - Sheffield United 0 Brentford 2
1980/81 - Division 3
27 Dec - Sheffield United 0 Brentford 0
18 Apr - Brentford 2 Sheffield United 1
1982/83 - Division 3
27 Nov - Sheffield United 1 Brentford 2
30 Apr - Brentford 2 Sheffield United 1
1983/84 - Division 3
22 Oct - Sheffield United 0 Brentford 0
25 Feb - Brentford 1 Sheffield United 3
1988/89 - Division 3
24 Sep - Brentford 1 Sheffield United 4
22 Apr - Sheffield United 2 Brentford 2
2011/12 - League One
13 Aug - Sheffield United 2 Brentford 0
10 Mar - Brentford 0 Sheffield United 2
2012/13 - League One
24 Nov - Brentford 2 Sheffield United 0
16 Apr - Sheffield United 2 Brentford 2
2013/14 - League One
10 Aug - Brentford 3 Sheffield United 1