BRENTFORD boss Andy Scott will sit down with Sam Saunders this week to discuss his future.
The 26-year-old has struggled to nail down a first-team spot since signing from Dagenham last summer, and has since seen Nicky Adams and Robbie Simpson brought in on his right-wing berth.
Saunders has failed to feature for the first-team this season, and Scott admits he could follow former team-mates Danny Foster and Ben Strevens out of the Griffin Park exit door.
He said: "Things haven't quite worked out for Sam, he hasn't been playing and has seen other players brought in in his position.
"I will have a chat with him and see what he wants to do. I don't want players at the club who aren't happy, and Sam is the most likely to want to move on."
Hounslow Chronicle
Andy Scott wants his Brentford team to bring consistency to their game and use last night's cup win to kick-start their season.
The Bees have played well in their opening three league games but have just one point to show for it, from last Saturday's 1-1 draw at Swindon Town.
They upset Hull in the Carling Cup last night though and Scott has challenged his side to take that performance into Saturday's home game against newly-promoted Rochdale.
"Consistency is a word I'm going to use yet again, and I've used it in previous years," said Scott.
"But, when you step up a level, you have got to be consistent at that level and when you're setting a standard you need to keep to it and beat it as well.
"If we produce that performance every week, for one, everyone is going to enjoy coming to watch us at Griffin Park and, second, they will have a lot of entertainment and, thirdly, we're going to do well.
"The question is can we do that week in, week out?
"From what we have seen this season I am pretty confident we can do that and work on it and improve on bits and pieces.
"It is a work in progress and I'm not going to shout from the rooftops just yet, but there are certainly a lot of improvements and there are more to be made."
Charlie McDonald got off the mark for the season against Swindon on Saturday but David Prutton's equaliser just before half-time denied them three points.
Scott though is refusing to panic with his side sitting third bottom and is instead confident they will come good.
"I was happy with the way we were playing, apart from the first 45 minutes at Carlisle," he said.
"Since then I've been happy with the way we've been applying ourselves and playing and we have just succumbed to a few silly errors.
"The most pleasing thing about it for me is how we have brought so many new players into the club, and our work ethic and ability to go to the end is still there and the new ones have taken it on board.
"I've said all along I am confident in this squad because I know the capabilities of the players and any disappointment along the way, I know we will react to it.
"We haven't won in the league yet, but we know we can win games.
"Our belief before the cup game was very high and we knew if we performed well we had a chance."
Your Local Guardian
Marcus Bean's dramatic winner against Hull could be the spark for Brentford after a difficult start to the season.
Bean headed home Charlie MacDonald's centre two minutes from time after Robbie Simpson's 25-yard free-kick had equalised Mark Cullen's opener for Hull at Griffin Park.
Brentford, with only one point from their opening three games in League One, had an escape when Richard Garcia hit a post but manager Andy Scott said: "I was delighted with our work ethic to keep going to the end.
"We've been poor in the cups since I've been here but now we have a squad strong enough to cope in the Cup and League. I've enjoyed watching us this season and Hull is a good scalp."
Hull boss Nigel Pearson said: "Brentford showed a lot of desire in both boxes and I can't take anything away from them."
This Is London
Andy Scott heaped praise on
Marcus Bean last night after the midfielder's late goal secured Brentford a shock 2-1 win over Hull City in the second round of Carling Cup.
Bean's diving header two minutes from time sealed the Bees' spot in the next round - the draw for which takes place on Saturday - after Robbie Simpson had cancelled out Mark Cullen's opener for the former Premiership side.
It was Bean's first goal since March last year and Scott was pleased to see his midfielder get on the scoresheet.
"Beany is one of those players who, a lot of the work he does goes unnoticed and the stuff he does wrong is noticed," he said.
"He does make mistakes, but he gets on the ball and wins a hell of a lot of balls back and he likes to get in the box and his energy takes him forward.
"He saw an opportunity and we're trying to encourage him to get on the ball and use it and pass it.
"He got in the box and he had a habit of doing that in his first year here.
"We need goals from everywhere and the front two were outstanding last night but we needed a midfielder to pop up with a goal and it was a fantastic finish."
It is the first time Brentford have got passed the second round of the League Cup since 1991, when they lost their third round tie 4-1 at Norwich.
"Last night we still made a couple of errors," added Scott.
"But we were decent on the ball, had plenty of energy, created a lot of chances and dominated the game on the ball as well as off of it and you need to do that against good sides.
"Everyone worked their socks off and we could maybe have got a couple of more.
"The keeper had an unbelievable save from Gary's header.
"I said at the fans' forum in the summer that I wanted to take the cup competitions more seriously this year and I felt this was the first time since I've been here that we've had a squad that can cope with the demands of the cups and the league.
"Against a side that has come down from the Premier League and bought Jay Simpson from Arsenal for a lot of money, it is a very good scalp for us.
"We want that achievement to be rewarded with a good tie in the next round."
Your Local Guardian
ANDY Scott hailed
Marcus Bean after he headed Brentford into the Carling Cup third round after a shock victory against Hull City last night.
The Bean machine struck the decisive blow three minutes from time to KO the Championship outfit - his first goal in more than a year - after Robbie Simpson cancelled out Mark Cullen's opener.
Scott said: "Beany's one of those players whose work goes unnoticed, but when he makes mistakes people do notice. It's frustrating because he does make mistakes, but he wins a hell of a lot of balls back.
"He likes to get in the box, his energy takes him forward. He had a habit of doing that in his first year here, and we need goals from everywhere.
"We needed a midfield player to pop up with a goal, and it was a fantastic finish."
Staines News
RICHARD Lee reckons his performance against Hull City last night has given boss
Andy Scott a headache.
With loanee Alex McCarthy unavailable, the former Watford keeper finally made his Brentford debut, and pulled off a string of fine saves as the Bees shocked their Championship opponents thanks to Marcus Bean's late winner.
And Lee hopes he's done enough to keep the shirt for Saturday's clash with Rochdale.
He said: "It was a nice feeling. It's been a while since I've had that feeling, and was good to get a game under my belt.
"The couple I had played before hadn't been great, so it was nice to show what I'm capable of.
"I was disappointed not to start the season, but I understood why I didn't. I hadn't played in six months and I knew it took a couple of games to get back into it.
"I hope I've shown what I'm capable of - it's up to the boss now what he does. The reason I came here is to play football and that's still the same."
With Simon Moore poised to go out on loan, Lee is ready to battle it out with McCarthy for the number one jersey.
He added: "I read on Sky that Alex had been signed and was disappointed, obviously.
"But it doesn't change the script - I've come here to play. I know the better I play in games the better chance I've got of playing games."
Hounslow Chronicle
DIVING header from
Marcus Bean two minutes from time saw Brentford into the third round of the Carling Cup with a deserved 2-1 win over Hull City.
The midfielder stooped low in the area 10 yards out to power Charlie MacDonald's cross into the bottom corner to send the Griffin Park crowd wild.
It was no more than the League One outfit deserved for outplaying the Tigers for long spells.
But it did not start well for the Bees, striker Robbie Simpson heading back across his own goal for the waiting Mark Cullen to slam home for the visitors.
But midway through the half Brentford responded, this time Simpson curling a beauty over the wall into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Nigel Pearson's side started the brighter after the break when Robert Koren saw his chipped effort from 20 yards bounce back off the angle.
Minutes later Jamie Devitt sent an angled drive just wide before Brentford began the fightback.
It was all the Londoners for the final half-hour and only a super goalline stop from Matt Duke denied Simpson's header.
Brentford: Lee, Legge, Woodman, Bean, Osborne, O'Connor, Weston, Diagouraga, MacDonald, Simpson, Alexander. Substitutes: Moore, Balkestein, Saunders, Forster, Cort, Spillane, Hunt.
Hull City: Duke, Solano, McShane, Cooper, Kilbane, Garcia, Cairney, Devitt, Koren, Simpson, Cullen. Substitutes: Oxley, Dawson, Anthony Gardner, Bostock, Halmosi, Barmby, Atkinson.
Referee: I Williamson (Berkshire)
Yorkshire Post
Brentford were worthy winners as they progressed to the third round of the Carling Cup, courtesy of a 2-1 upset win over Championship side Hull City at
Griffin Park on Tuesday night.
After an even first half the Bees really took control during the second half and - playing with passion, commitment and a high degree of skill - more than matched a side relegated from the Premier League in the summer.
A stunning free kick from Robbie Simpson and a last minute header from Marcus Bean saw the Bees through on a night when ever single player played his part in a merited victory.
Afterwards a delighted Andy Scott reflected on the commitment shown by his side that produced a match-winning performance: "Tonight we still made a couple of errors, but were decent on the ball, had plenty of energy, created a lot of chances and dominated the game on the ball as well as off of it. Everyone worked their socks off and we could maybe have got a couple of more."
With on loan goalkeeper Alex McCarthy unavailable, Scott made just one change to the side which drew at Swindon, with Richard Lee making his competitive debut between the sticks.
However, the Bees got off to the worst possible start when Simpson failed to clear a cross from the right, with his header falling to the feet of Mark Cullen, who slammed the ball past Lee to give the Tigers an early lead.
They almost doubled their lead when Robert Koren's fierce shot was the edge of the box was parried by Lee.
Midway through the half Simpson atoned for his earlier error with a sublime free kick from 25 yards, which found the left hand corner of the net to pull his side level.
Shortly after Simpson struck another free kick into the hands of Matt Duke as the Bees grew in confidence.
Brentford continued in a positive vein after the break, with Myles Weston running through Hull's midfield before seeing his shot blocked.
At the other end a chip shot from Koren came back off the woodwork, while shortly after Jamie Devitt picked the ball up in midfield before firing a low shot wide right.
As Brentford began to exert some sustained pressure, Gary Alexander had time to turn on the edge of the box before blazing over the bar. Simpson was also denied by a superb save from Duke who blocked his header from close range.
Weston was again involved when his jinking run to the bye-line resulted in his cross bouncing off the top of the crossbar.
With extra time looming, Bean popped up to head home a Charlie MacDonald cross from the right and send his side through to the next round.
Brentford: Lee; O'Connor, Legge, Osborne, Woodman; Simpson, Bean, Diagouraga, Weston; MacDonald, Alexander Subs: Moore, Spillane, Balkestein, Hunt, Cort, Saunders, Forster Attendance: 3335 Man of the Match: Gary Alexander Goals: Simpson 20, Bean 88
Your Local Guardian
NIGEL Pearson admitted that there will be no "quick fix" for Hull City this season after they were dumped out of the League Cup by Brentford last night.
The Tigers suffered an embarrassing exit at Griffin Park when Marcus Bean fired the League One Bees into the third round with a dramatic 88th-minute winner.
It was another regrettable away day for a City side that has now gone 28 league and cup games without a victory on their travels.
And Pearson accepted that his troops face an arduous season unless they can make significant improvements.
"There's obviously not a quick fix for us," said Pearson.
"We've made mistakes that are very disappointing.
"It was our desire not to be another side on the end of an upset but they've played well enough to win the game.
"There's no hiding place from results like this, you've got to be honest about it.
"It's something that we've got to rectify, no doubt about that."
City looked to be on course for a first away win since March 2009 when Mark Cullen fired an opener after just six minutes.
A delightful Robbie Simpson free-kick, one that Pearson strongly disputed, hauled the League One side level before an open second half saw both sides hunt for a winner.
Cullen looked to have grabbed the spotlight again only to see his clever chip ruled out for offside eight minutes from time before Bean sent Griffin Park into raptures with a fine diving header.
Pearson believed City were on the rough end of the key decisions but held his hands up that Brentford had deserved a place in the third round of the League Cup for the first time in 18 years.
Pearson added: "The Brentford first goal was certainly not a free-kick. I've seen it a number of times and it's ridiculous.
"Then Mark (Cullen) is clearly onside for his disallowed goal in the second half.
"I couldn't take anything away from Brentford, they were very good in terms of their commitment and desire.
"We have to take it on the chin. We didn't take our chances and paid the price for it.
"They showed a lot of desire in both boxes and I'm not very happy at the second goal in particular where we didn't track runners or put pressure on the ball.
"There was some positives for us, though. I thought Mark Cullen was excellent, he showed a lot of quality.
"I thought Liam Cooper again did very, very well and Jamie Devitt showed flashes of quality in the wide areas.
"But you've got to be able to deal with what the game presents and we didn't do enough."
This Is Hull and East Riding
Hull City are out of the Carling Cup after a 2-1 defeat at Brentford on Tuesday night.
Mark Cullen had given City an early lead but that was soon cancelled out before the home side grabbed a winner three minutes from time.
City made four changes with Nolberto Solano, Richard Garcia, Jamie Devitt and Cullen coming into the side. Kamil Zayatte, Andy Dawson, Ian Ashbee and John Bostock made way. Kevin Kilbane captained the side from left back with City playing a 4-4-2 formation.
Former Tiger Gary Alexander started up front for Brentford while Nicky Forster was on the bench.
The Tigers made a great start, taking the lead inside six minutes. Cullen played the ball out to the right where Richard Garcia was in space. His cross led to a lack of communication at the far post between two Brentford defenders and when the ball dropped to Cullen, he produced a clinical finish from ten yards.
Solano's free kick a minute later also hit the target, but this time goalkeeper Richard Lee was there to keep the ball out of the net.
City were looking good and Robert Koren's shot from 20 yards warmed the hands of Lee in the 13th minute.
But from a 20th-minute free kick, Brentford were level. Liam Cooper was harshly penalised for a foul on Charlie MacDonald and Robbie Simpson curled home the free kick from just outside the box.
City were also forced into a change with Paul McShane leaving the field after taking a kick to the back of the leg. Anthony Gardner was his replacement.
The game had now evened itself out with the home crowd sensing a little vulnerability in the City back line.
Cullen picked up a booking for a late challenge on Craig Woodman as City looked to up the tempo with the game moving towards half time.
Half Time: Tigers 1-1 Brentford
City went close four minutes into the second half when Koren picked up Cullen's pass, but the Slovenian's shot from 20 yards came back off the crossbar.
Devitt was booked on 58 minutes for a foul on Simpson and in his bid to ipress, Cullen was also becoming frustrated and walking a disciplinary tightrope.
Brentford should have been in front on 66 minutes when Alexander was left completely unmarked to meet Woodman's corner, but Matt Duke produced a superb save to push the ball wide.
City's second change came with 20 minutes remaining as Nick Barmby replaced Jay Simpson.
Tom Cairney went close to putting City back in front from a free kick on the edge of the box but saw his effort well saved by Lee.
Myles Weston's run down the left ended with his attempted cross coming back off Duke's bar as the home side went in search of a winner.
Cullen had a goal ruled out for offside eight minutes from time. It was a close decision that went in favour of the home team.
Brentford took the lead three minutes from time. MacDonald was sent racing away down the right and when he crossed, the onrushing Marcus Bean produced a diving header into the net.
City had one last chance in added time when Koren went down 20 yards out. Solano's effort was palmed down by Lee and as Barmby looked to make the most of the rebound he was flagged offside.
Tigers: Matt Duke, Nolberto Solano, Paul McShane (Gardner 22), Liam Cooper, Kevin Kilbane, Richard Garcia, Tom Cairney, Robert Koren, Jamie Devitt, Jay Simpson (Barmby 70), Mark Cullen.
Subs: Mark Oxley, Andy Dawson, Anthony Gardner, Peter Halmosi, Nick Barmby, John Bostock, Will Atkinson.
Brentford: Richard Lee, Kevin O'Connor, Craig Woodman, Marcus Bean, Charlie MacDonald, Myles Weston, Toumani Diagouraga, Karleigh Osbourne, Robbie Simpson, Gary Alexander, Leon Legge.
Subs: David Hunt, Pim Balkestein, Sam Saunders, Nicky Forster, Carl Cort, Michael Spillane, Simon Moore.
Referee: Mr I. Williamson.
Attendance: 3,335.
Official Hull City Website
Bean bakes up Cup shock A diving header from Marcus Bean two minutes from time saw Brentford into the third round of the Carling Cup with a deserved 2-1 win over npower Championship side Hull.
The midfielder stooped low in the box 10 yards out to power Charlie MacDonald's cross into the bottom corner to send the Griffin Park crowd wild.
It was no more than the League One outfit deserved for outplaying the former Premier League Tigers for long spells of a thrilling cup tie.
But it did not start well for the Bees, striker Robbie Simpson heading back across his own goal for the waiting Mark Cullen to slam home for the visitors.
But midway through the half Brentford responded, this time Simpson curling a beauty over the wall into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Nigel Pearson's side started the brighter after the break when Robert Koren saw his chipped effort from 20 yards bounce back off the angle.
Minutes later Jamie Devitt sent an angled drive just wide before Brentford began the fightback.
It was all the Londoners for the final half-hour and only a superb goal-line stop from City keeper Matt Duke denied Simpson's near-post header.
Brentford also hit the woodwork when winger Myles Weston saw his cross skim the top of the bar before Bean's thrilling finale.
ITV Sport
