Good evening and welcome to stadium:mk for Brentford's penultimate pre-season friendly against MK Dons.
The Bees have had a productive pre-season so far, beating Aldershot and Oxford, while drawing with Lausanne-Sport and Southampton.
And they will be looking to build for the new campaign, which kicks off at Sheffield United on August 5.
Head coach Dean Smith said: “We're looking to start getting 90 minutes into the players now. Woodsy had 90 minutes on Wednesday. Romaine had 85 on Wednesday.
“A few had 75 against Southampton so we're starting to build up to the 90 minute mark.”
One player that is unlikely to make the trip is Nico Yennaris who has been battling a groin complaint.
Smith added after the 2-2 draw with Southampton: “Nico felt his groin in training on Friday. He probably came back a little too quickly so it'll probably be another two or three days out.”
That’s it and Brentford have won. Here’s our assessment of the contest. See you on Saturday.
Jota nearly grabs a fourth, drawing a save from Nicholls. Reece Cole almost adds another to his goal of the second contest with an outside of the foot shot that flashes just wide.
Harlee Dean misplays a pass to Brandon Thomas-Asante. He races forward and lashes a shot over the crossbar.
GOAL! MK Dons 2-3 Brentford (Florian Jozefzoon 76)
Great goal from the Bees with Reece Cole involved once again. He plays in Jota who causes problems. The Spaniard sets up Florian Jozefzoon who picks his spot. Bees ahead.
Where the substitutes are playing
Sergi Canos is up front. Jota and Jozefzoon supporting. Sawyers drops into the middle trio. Barbet takes up his normal position.
Five substitutions
On: Jota, Cole, Barbet, Canos, Sawyers
Off: Clarke, Maupay, Bjelland, Watkins, Mokotjo
Great interlinking play from Ollie Watkins, Henrik Dalsgaard and Neal Maupay. All three are looking good here. Substitutions incoming.
When you think it’s unlikely that most of this Brentford team will start on opening day, they’ve produced a strong performance against a side that could do well in League One next season. The strength in depth at the club is the best I’ve known it to be.
Tom Field has stepped up his game after what would have been a disappointing first half for him. He’s shown good character here.
GOAL! MK Dons 2-2 Brentford (Watkins 56)
Brilliant goal from the Bees. A lovely chipped ball from Ryan Woods sends Henrik Dalsgaard free into the right hand side of the box. He puts it across goal and Ollie Watkins drives the ball into the net.
This is better from Brentford. Jozefzoon gets down the left and wins a corner. The corner is danegrous but cleared by the home side.
Neal Maupay wins a free kick in a dangerous area. Florian Jozefzoon standing over it as is Tom Field. It’s the latter but his effort is held by Nicholls.
With Josh Clarke on the right flank, it’s allowing him and Henrik Dalsgaard to overlap. Certainly from corners, Clarke is the one going back to that position with Dalsgaard pushing furtehr forward. That can certainly work in the season.
We’re back underway here at MK Dons. Brentford trail 2-1. Can they come back into the game. Ethan Ebanks-Landell has been replaced by Joe Walsh.
Brentford are playing some good stuff with Florian Jozefzoon and Josh Clarke catching the eye.
GOAL! MK Dons 2-1 Brentford (Ryan Seager 28)
Oh dear, oh dear. Tom Field and Luke Daniels won’t want to look at that again. The left back mishits a backpass to the onrushing Daniels. Ryan Seager intercepts and puts MK Dons back in front.
The build up to the goal was the best bit of play we’ve seen from Brentford tonight. They were happy to be patient, knock the ball around and stretch the play. Their set piece expertice caught out the MK Dons defence with one man still on the line playing everyone onside - Maupay punished.
GOAL! MK Dons 1-1 Brentford (Neal Maupay 21)
Brentford are level. The corner is headed down to the far post and Maupay is there, onside, to turn the ball home. Bees fans can be heard singing “We are going up.” Still remember seeing 3,000 partying Bees singing that three years ago.
Brentford have worked their early problems out. They play some slick passing moves with the likes of Neal Maupay and Ollie Watkins involved. that end with Florian Jozefzoon’s cross being turned behind for a corner.
Good header from Luke Daniels as he races out of his area and heads the ball clear to Ollie Watkins. Brentford are starting to settle into the contest here. Kamo Mokotjo draws a save from Lee Nicholls in the MK Dons goal. He can only parry it but the Bees are penalised in the follow up.
First Brentford corner of the afternoon. Harlee Dean seems in some pain. We believe he has taken one where it hurts. He’s receiving treatment right now.
This has been below par from the Bees as Dalsgaard gives the ball away when trying to pass to Mokotjo. Seager gets a sight of goal but his shot goes harmlessly wide.
It has to be noted that MK Dons are not giving Brentford much time on the ball and this is limiting what the Bees can do with it. Dean Smith’s side will have to adapt to how they cope with it as other clubs will be looking at this strategy to nullify the Bees.
GOAL! MK Dons 1-0 Brentford (Seager 6)
MK Dons play a ball over the top down the right flank. Ryan Seager is on the end of Kieran Agard’s cross to make it 1-0 to the home side. Not the start Brentford would have wanted.
It’s a sparce crowd here at stadium:mk tonight. If a ball is kicked 10 rows into the stands by the press box then this reporter may be called into action to retrieve it.
Ryan Seager has a go from distance. It’s a good curling shot but it doesn’t come back enough to thoroughly test Luke Daniels in the Brentford goal. The visitors are yet to start playing their football just yet.