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Twelve months earlier, an automatic promotion place had slipped out of their hands during the final months of the season, due to poor form and injuries. Almost a year later and it appeared that the air was escaping from Brentford's promotion bubble once more.
The first of the month brought the club the challenge of Colchester away from home. With the U's also struggling to hit the form which had seen them almost cause a shock against Chelsea the game was set to be a cagey affair. Having been near the top of the League all season, it was hardly supprising that both sides were made to settle for a point, not the result that either would have been hoping for.
Having been beaten by Colchester earlier in the year Bees fans dared to dream they may gain some revenge as Tabb grabbed his side an early goal. It wasnt to be however and Brentford were pulled back midway through the first half after a goal from Iwelumo.
Moving onto their next game, Brentford were equally disapointed when they were only able to draw with a poor Bradford city side 1-1 at Griffin Park. As with so many of their home ties during the campaign the bees were on top but failed to capitalise on their advantage. Going behind to a goal from Symes, Owusu brought Brentford back into the game before missing a host of chances to win the game in the second half.
With Brentford stumbling badly, Martin Allen rejigged his team for the next game of the month against struggling Rotherham. With the Millers threatened by relegation, it was never going to be an easy game and that proved to be the case as the bees yet again drew to throw two more points away. Prehaps more disturbing to the boss than the result, the performances the side were producing were not up to the clubs usual standards.
After going a goal behind twice Brentord were lucky to get back into the game and it took a great goal from Rankin to rescue a point for the bees. In the grand scheme it was prehaps a pleasing result considering their situation but with Southend winning yet again, Colchester and Swansea also escaped the bees clutches yet further.
Blackpool provided the opposition during the following Monday's clash and Brentford once again were denied three points by a late goal. This time it was Peter Clarke who found the target in the final minutes of the game and condemmed Brentford to their fourth draw in a row.
Never mind the automatic promotion places, the bees seemed in danger of missing out on the playoff party completely as with four points in four games the club had gone from promotion certainties to playoff maybes. It was clearly time for Martin Allen to make some changes and with only three games left in the season, Brentford faced two teams faced with relegation and a Bournmouth side with nothing left to play for.
Allen announced the club as usual should take each game at a time, but supporters of the clubs minds were already predicting six points with their next two opponents struggling to keep their league status. In the meantime the bees fans also had to hope that Colchester and Southend who were above them would struggle to beat one of their final three league opponents, if this happened then Brentford's dream of automatic promotion could be realised. But if neither side slipped up then it would once again be the playoffs again.
The first task was to finish off an almost relegated Swindon side, the bees came away from the County ground with a 3-1 win and the first part of their challenge was completed. Sadly for the bees both sides above them won and it appeared that goals from Brooker, Gayle and Willock were all in vain.
Their next game was the final home league tie of the season, with Hartlepool the opponents. The pressure appeard to be getting to Brentford once more as they went 1-0 up, but played nervously throughout. A late goal from Kevin O'Connor gave Brentford seeming late hope of keeping the defecit of one point between the bees and Colchester. Another late blow however made the Brentford task almost impossible heading into the final game of the season as Nelson struck for Hartlepool on the final minute to almost certainly inflict a playoff campaign on the club.
On the final whistle the players paraded as usual to say thanks to the fans for their support. Heads were bowed however as Brentford waited to find out who their opponents may be heading into the lottery of a playoff campaign.