By Bruce Archer
Brentford’s injury-plagued striker Farid El Alagui made a sweet return to action last night to score a stoppage time winner against Dagenham & Redbridge in the first round of the Capital One Cup.
El Alagui, who suffered a knee injury in October last year, came on after 54 minutes at Griffin Park with Brentford trailing their League Two opponents 1-0.
And the Frenchman’s impact was immediate.
First he was booked for diving on the edge of the box as he jumped over a lunging tackle, seemingly more to avoid a tough challenge, but five minutes later he had leveled the tie, rolling in after a goal mouth scramble.
The leveller came much to the relief of Bees' on loan defender Ben Nugent who had put through his own net to gift the Daggers the lead.
Martin Fillo, on his first competitive start for the club, put the Bees ahead after a through ball from Sam Saunders found him one-on-one, and the Czech Republic international slipped the ball coolly passed Chris Lewington.
With 10 minutes remaining, however, Daggers' Josh Scott struck to level it up again and extra time was on the cards.
Provider: Sam Saunders set up Martin Fillo to give Brentford the lead SP78314
However, the drama was not over and in stoppage time Brentford won a free kick near the right touchline midway into the Daggers’ half.
Spanish debutant Javi Venta, playing his first ever game in England, floated the ball into the penalty area and El Alagui met it to seal the match and send Brentford into the second round of the cup.
Brentford manager Uwe Rosler said: “Farid has been through so much since last October, the long, dark, heavy days in the pool and in the gym.
“He came here to play football he doesn’t have any family around here and for him that was a very tough time, but he never lost his spirit.”
He added: “The first half was not satisfying, I was hoping to get more control with three in midfield but it didn’t work as much as I hoped.
“The second half was good, we got the tempo up and the movement up and we attacked them, and obviously the substitution with Farid.
“In the first half we didn’t have anybody attacking the ball, but with Farid in the team you know what you’re going to get, an honesty and someone who is determined to score at all costs because he goes in where it hurts."
Brentford go into the second round draw for the League Cup for just the second time in the past five years, and Rosler’s preference is a strong opponent to play at Griffin Park.
He said: “My ambition before the game, and still is, is that we have a good cup run.
"I want a home tie and I would like to test ourselves against a strong team in the next round.”
The draw takes place tomorrow [Thursday August 8] and will include Premier League sides who did not qualify for a European competition last season.
The second round ties will take place on the week commencing August 26.
Penny for your thoughts: Uwe Rosler at half-time SP78314
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here