Brentford B secured a place in the Premier League Cup final on Thursday evening with a composed 2-0 victory over Southampton U21s at St Mary’s Stadium. Goals from Iwan Morgan and Caelan Avenell proved decisive as Neil MacFarlane’s side outclassed their hosts in a performance that showcased both attacking sharpness and defensive discipline.

The win sets up a compelling showdown against West London rivals Queens Park Rangers, who advanced past Burnley in the other semifinal earlier in the week.

Brentford began the night on the front foot, moving the ball with authority and purpose in the opening stages. Their intent paid off early when Morgan showed great determination inside the penalty area, eventually slotting home from close range to give the Bees a deserved lead.

Southampton nearly responded quickly. Brentford goalkeeper Reggie Rose was alert to make a crucial save to deny Romeo Ayachukwu as the Saints looked to level the score. The early minutes were played at a high tempo, with midfielder Brierley coming close to doubling the advantage for the visitors after latching onto a poor clearance, only to see his half-volley drift narrowly wide.

As the first half progressed, Southampton pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but Brentford’s defense held firm. One of the key moments came when Benjamin Arthur made a crucial intervention to block Will Merry, who had broken through on goal following a misplaced pass at the back.

Brentford continued to manage the game well after the interval. Content to maintain their structure, the visitors absorbed Southampton’s pressure and waited for the opportunity to strike again.

That chance came when midfielder Josh Stephenson drove through the middle and slipped a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Avenell, who calmly finished with a side-footed shot into the top corner to double Brentford’s lead.

From that point on, Brentford B’s defense remained compact and organized, preventing Southampton from generating any clear-cut scoring chances for the rest of the game. The final whistle confirmed Brentford’s place in their second Premier League Cup final under MacFarlane.

The team’s calendar remains busy in the coming weeks. In addition to the upcoming cup final against QPR, the Bees will compete in the London Senior Cup final against Hanwell Town. Brentford will also wrap up their Professional Development League campaign on Monday, May 5, with a matchup against Barnsley at Gtech Community Stadium.

A win in that game would see them finish at the top of the PDL South section, potentially setting up a playoff clash against the second-place finisher in the South and the top two sides from the North section.

Match Lineups

Southampton U21s
McNamara, Abu, Lawrence, Payne, Kayi Sanda, Bragg (c), Merry (Moore 58), Ayachukwu, Ehibhatiomhan (Oyekunle 58), Sesay, Larios (Malak 73)
Unused subs: Abbotson, Charles
Booked: Payne (25′), Malak (77′)

Brentford B:
Rose, Avenell (Headman 90+1), Williams (Grey 66), Stephenson, Arthur, Fredrick, Dickov, Brierley, Morgan (Peters 85), Owen, Krauhaus
Unused subs: Tavaziva, Wilcox
Booked: Morgan (25′), Owen (29′), Krauhaus (83′)

Balleagues

Bal Leagues is a passionate team of sports journalists, analysts, and sports fans who are dedicated to delivering an accurate, insightful, and timely coverage of the global game. From breaking news and in-depth previews to head-to-head stats, predictions, and transfer stories.

We bring the pulse of football, basketball, American football, and other major sports straight to your screen. We are here to provide content you can trust, written by people who live and breathe the game.