Sheffield United and Brentford share a little piece of history in the fact that they were both formed in 1889, United on 22 March and the Bees on 10 October. Despite our long history there have been too few professional fixtures between the two clubs.
They had to wait until 1934, 45 years after their existence until they first met in the league, they met at a glorious moment in Brentford’s history when they were champions of Division Two and winning the league by five points. They completed the double over United, at the Lane they won 2-1 on 22 December and with the title already sealed, on the final day of the season claimed a win by three goals to one.
Whilst these were the first professional meetings between the two clubs, it wasn’t the first that they had met. In celebration of winning the FA Cup in 1899 the Blades opted to play a friendly two days after the final, united won the game by five goals to two. A report in the Yorkshire Herald, printed on 18 April summarised the match; ‘Keeping an old promise Saturday’s cup winners journeyed to Brentford yesterday to play the locals. They were without Bennett, Thickett and Boyle. There were three thousand spectators. In the first half Beers and Johnson scored for Sheffield, while on changing ends Hedley (twice) and Field once added points, but Johnstone and Richardson retaliated for the home lot. Fine weather prevailed. Result: Sheffield United five goals; Brentford two goals.’
Sheffield United recorded their biggest victory against the Bees on Christmas Day 1946 when at Bramall Lane the Blades by six goals to one in what are the only meetings between the sides in the First Division. The Bees extracted revenge a day later in a two-one victory.
During the Second Division season of 1951/52 the Bees were twice triumphant against the Blades, winning 4-1 at Griffin Park on 17 November when United were top of the league and again by the same score-line on 5 April at the Lane – the defeats were even more ‘unbearable’ with the fact that it was Sheffield Wednesday, and not United who would win promotion from the same Division that season.
In recent seasons, at League One level the Blades have celebrated some success over Brentford. They won 2-0 twice during the 2011-12 campaign but last season picked up just a point – goals from Clayton Donaldson (3 minutes) and Harry Forrester (29) gave the Bees two goals without reply victory at Griffin Park on 24 November.
In the return fixture at Bramall Lane, United had already dismissed manager Danny Wilson but still had a shout at automatic promotion, however a 2-2 draw at home to their promotion rivals scuppered any possibility of that achievement and made it an uphill struggle. It was a bizarre night that saw four goals, four penalties and three red cards. Marcello Trotta (24 minutes) opened the scoring from the spot after Clayton Donaldson was fouled in the box by keeper George Long. Shortly after the break United were awarded a penalty of their own when Dave Kitson was fouled in an off the ball incident which Tony Craig was handed a straight red card by referee Keith Stroud. Tony McMahon blasted his effort against the crossbar. But soon levelled when, following a handball in the box Barry Robson (62) converted.
Dave Kitson (68) headed home Jamie Murphy’s deadly cross to put the Blades in front and on 71 minutes the visitors were given their second penalty of the match; Harry Maguire picked up his second booking of the night and United reduced to ten men – Sam Saunders however saw his shot saved by Long. Donaldson was handed his second booking for a rough challenge and in the dying minutes substitute Bradley Wight-Phillips (89) scored in front of their own fans to earn the Bees a point.
|
At Sheff. Utd. (13) |
At Brentford (13) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
4 |
30.77 |
Brentford |
7 |
53.85 |
|
|
Brentford |
4 |
30.77 |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 |
30.77 |
|
|
Draws |
5 |
38.46 |
Draws |
2 |
15.38 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
24 |
1.85 |
Brentford |
21 |
1.62 |
|
|
Brentford |
19 |
1.46 |
Sheff. Utd. |
17 |
1.31 |
|
|
On Neutral Ground (0) |
Overall (26 matches) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
8 |
30.77 |
|
|
Brentford |
0 |
0.00 |
Brentford |
11 |
42.31 |
|
|
Draws |
0 |
0.00 |
Draws |
7 |
26.92 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
41 |
1.58 |
|
|
Brentford |
0 |
0.00 |
Brentford |
40 |
1.54 |
|
|
Records |
|||||
|
Highest Aggregate |
7 |
Sheff. Utd. |
6 - 1 |
Brentford |
1946/1947 |
|
Highest Sheff. Utd. score: |
6 |
Sheff. Utd. |
6 - 1 |
Brentford |
1946/1947 |
|
Highest Brentford score: |
4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 4 |
Brentford |
1951/1952 |
|
Season |
Date |
Home |
Score |
Away |
Competition |
|
2012/2013 |
Tue 16 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Brentford |
League One |
|
Sat 24 Nov |
Brentford |
2 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League One |
|
|
2011/2012 |
Sat 10 Mar |
Brentford |
0 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League One |
|
Sat 13 Aug |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Brentford |
League One |
|
|
1988/1989 |
Sat 22 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Brentford |
Third Division |
|
Sat 24 Sep |
Brentford |
1 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
|
1983/1984 |
Sat 25 Feb |
Brentford |
1 - 3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
Sat 22 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 0 |
Brentford |
Third Division |
|
|
1982/1983 |
Sat 30 Apr |
Brentford |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
Sat 27 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 2 |
Brentford |
Third Division |
|
|
1980/1981 |
Sat 18 Apr |
Brentford |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
Sat 27 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 0 |
Brentford |
Third Division |
|
|
1979/1980 |
Tue 06 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 2 |
Brentford |
Third Division |
|
Mon 22 Oct |
Brentford |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
|
1952/1953 |
Wed 17 Sep |
Brentford |
0 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Mon 08 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 2 |
Brentford |
Second Division |
|
|
1951/1952 |
Sat 05 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 4 |
Brentford |
Second Division |
|
Sat 17 Nov |
Brentford |
4 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1950/1951 |
Mon 26 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
5 - 1 |
Brentford |
Second Division |
|
Fri 23 Mar |
Brentford |
3 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1949/1950 |
Sat 08 Apr |
Brentford |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Sat 03 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Brentford |
Second Division |
|
|
1946/1947 |
Thu 26 Dec |
Brentford |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Wed 25 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
6 - 1 |
Brentford |
First Division |
|
|
1934/1935 |
Sat 04 May |
Brentford |
3 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Sat 22 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 2 |
Brentford |
Second Division |