Английская Википедия:2001–02 Brentford F.C. season
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After a promising, but ultimately disappointing 2000–01 season, Steve Coppell replaced Ray Lewington as manager of Second DivisionBrentford on 8 May 2001.[1] In the knowledge he would be provided with little money to buy players, Coppell was also tasked with raising £500,000 in transfer fees.[2] The previous season's squad was kept together, with two fringe players released and two arrivals – youngster Stephen Hunt and defenderJason Price on a short-term contract.[3] After a 1–1 opening day draw with Wigan Athletic, teenage Blackburn RoversforwardBen Burgess was brought in on a one-month loan,[4] which was subsequently extended until the end of the season.[5]
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.[6][7] 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.[7][8]CaptainPaul Evans led by example,[9] scoring 9 goals in 13 matches in all competitions before suffering a hamstring injury in mid-October.[10] His temporary replacement was Arsenal's teenage midfielderSteve Sidwell, another loan signing which would prove to be a master-stroke and which would later be extended until the end of the season.[11] 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.[7] 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.[12]
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,[13] with twin forwards Owusu and Burgess finding the net with regularity.[14][15] The Bees lost just two of the next 16 matches, but a 0–0 draw away to West London rivalsQueens Park Rangers in the penultimate match of the season dropped the club out of the final automatic promotion place.[7] Cause for concern was a goal drought suffered by Ben Burgess,[15] who had failed to score since 26 February and the midfield was weakened by the £150,000 sale of Gavin Mahon to Watford,[16] in a bid to reduce the wage bill.[2] 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.[17] 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.[18]
