Football:Bent rouses Brentford into attack formation

Brentford 2 Bristol City 1 Brentford win 4-2 on aggregate

David Webb's famous 1970 FA Cup final winner will be shown ad nauseam in the build-up to Saturday's final, but Webb himself will not be wallowing in nostalgia.

Webb, whose goal against Leeds in the Old Trafford replay won Chelsea their last major domestic honour, will be too busy preparing for his own return to Wembley as manager of Brentford. Last night, his Second Division team gained a nervy victory over Bristol City to earn a place in the play- off final against Crewe on 25 May. It will be their first trip to Wembley since the 1985 Freight Rover Trophy final and only their second in total - unless the 1942 War Cup Final is included.

Having seen Darren Barnard nullify their 2-1 first-leg lead, Brentford struck twice through Bob Taylor and Marcus Bent in a dozen minutes to secure victory.

Brentford had only scored once in seven home matches since February, but they began as if Sunday's win at Ashton Gate had revived their confidence. Yet, having won a corner within 10 seconds, they soon began defending so deep they ceded midfield to Bristol City.

This allowed Brian Tinnion to revive memories of the Anfield winner which hastened the exit of Graeme Souness from Liverpool as he twice troubled Kevin Dearden with long-range shots.

City's pressure eventually told after 48 minutes when Barnard skipped in from the left and drove powerfully inside the far post. This at last roused Brentford, but it took an error by Shaun Taylor to allow them an equaliser.

A long ball was flicked on by David McGhee, Taylor hesitated and his namesake, Bob, seized on the ball to score. Within minutes of Shaun Goater missing a good chance to level the aggregate, Bent hit a second after dribbling across the box.

City's defeat denied Paul Allen a return to Wembley 17 years after becoming the youngest FA Cup finalist in 1980. However, it offers Webb a chance to profit from the play-off system he hates.

"They should have gone up without these poxy play-offs," he said. "It's another 10 days of headaches." Softening, he added: "They gave their all in these two matches and I can't ask any more than that."

Brentford (4-4-2): Dearden; Hurdle, Bates, Hutchings, Anderson; M Bent, Smith, Statham, Dennis (Canham, 80); McGhee, R Taylor. Substitutes not used: Rapley, Fernandes (gk).

Bristol City (3-5-2): Welch; Shail (Carey, 62; J Bent, 78), S Taylor, Edwards; Allen, Hewlett, Owers, Tinnion (Goodridge, 70), Barnard; Goater, Nugent.

Referee: J Kirkby (Sheffield).