Ben Burgess: All’s well that ends well

Ben Burgess became a fan favourite at Griffin Park during the 2001/02 campaign, netting 18 goals in 51 appearances while on loan from Blackburn Rovers. In total, Ben led the line for 10 clubs during a 14-year career.

Now a teacher in Lancashire, Ben still keeps a close eye on the Bees and will be providing his thoughts ahead of each game this season.

Such a perfect day

When the fixtures were released at the start of the season, I’m sure I wasn’t the only person to fear there would be so much resting on this weekend’s game.

Thankfully, for a City-supporting, Brentford-loving guy like me, Saturday really will be such a perfect day, as Lou Reed once sang.

City have the league wrapped up and the Bees have once again exceeded expectations. The fact that Thomas Frank’s side could still get into seventh place and potentially Europe is a massive cherry on top.

There is always the possibility that seasons can fizzle out for sides who have secured their Premier League safety early on, but Frank’s men do not know how to take it easy. Four wins from the last five games is an amazing return, and the celebrations in the stands when Bryan Mbuemo scored his second at Spurs was lovely to see.

One man who won’t be getting too carried away is the head coach and his staff. I’m sure they have already sat down and analysed the season in the minutest detail. Never has it been more pronounced than in the Premier League that if you stand still, you go backwards.

Some of the players brought in last summer have had a huge impact on improving the club’s performance. Ben Mee has been colossal in defence and Aaron Hickey is turning into one of the best full-backs in the league.

Things haven’t quite worked out for Keane Lewis-Potter and Mikel Damsgaard yet, but just look at Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez to see what can happen after a slow start at a new club.

I have no doubt Brentford have potential signings lined up already to make an impact next season, and with the Bees now a top-10 team, the players available will be of an even higher calibre.

City of dreams

I’m sure many of you Bees fans could never in your wildest dreams have believed your team would one day be in the Premier League and regularly beating the ‘big’ clubs.

Well, imagine being me. I spent my childhood as just one of two people who supported Manchester City in my class. I witnessed so much disappointment and mediocrity supporting the Blues: numerous relegations, false dawns and many derby defeats.

But that didn’t stop me from visiting Maine Road with my dad and sisters whenever I could, and I even carried that on when I became a professional.

I still recall getting ‘stick’ from Keith Gillespie at Blackburn Rovers because, in my car, I used to have one of those City mini kits in the back window. I even made an Uwe Rosler mirror in DT at school.

My love/obsession for the club would often spill over into awe whenever I came up against an ex-City player. I once played against David Oldfield (who scored in the famous 5-1 destruction of Manchester United in 1989) and I nearly asked him to swap shirts.

A real out-of-body experience took place at Charlton Athletic when I was playing for Blackpool. I scored a 25-yard right-foot volley against none other than the absolute legend that was Nicky Weaver. I felt my life was complete when Paul Dickov joined the Seasiders on loan and I actually got to be his strike partner and pester him with City-related questions.

This City team you will see today is arguably the best team in the world. In Pep Guardiola, we have the most intelligent, intense, innovative and humble manager in the history of football.

When we lose, he doesn’t blame others; he looks at how his team and his decisions could have been better. A defeat can be a huge learning opportunity if you approach it in the right way.

I tell my children to enjoy these times because the way he directs his players is revolutionary. I get goosebumps watching this team – never has a side been so brave on the ball.

Most teams naturally sit back and just clear the ball when they are under pressure; City do the opposite!

They control the ball and, therefore, don’t need to defend because the opposition simply can’t win it back.

That is unless you are Brentford, of course, who I’m sure you don’t need me to remind you were the last away team to win at the Etihad and, just maybe, kickstarted City’s season.