A Ray of hope for Mahon

13 April 2012

Brentford manager Ray Lewington today backed sweeper Gavin Mahon to get over the mistake which cost his team the LDV Vans Trophy and become a Premiership player.

They lost 2-1 to Port Vale in yesterday's final at the Millennium Stadium and the winning goal came after the 24-year-old was caught in possession just outside his own penalty area six minutes from the end.

Brentford were withstanding considerable pressure at 1-1 and looked as if they might hold on to force extra-time before Tony Naylor took the ball from Mahon and set up Stephen Brooker to score.

But Lewington said he was proud of his sweeper's all-round performance and believes he will bounce back.

He added: "I did not say anything to him about his mistake. He did not need me to tell him about it. I thought Gavin was actually one of the few players who came out of the game with any credit.

"I was pleased with the way he played generally because I thought he looked a class player. I think he has most of the attributes needed to become a top player.

"He can use both feet, is fairly quick and is good in the air. He just needs a little bit more experience and I can see plenty of people wanting to sign him." Lewington will take a lot of credit if that happens after switching Mahon from midfield to defence when he was made caretaker-manager in November.

The Birmingham-born player has been outstanding since making the change and the £50,000 he cost from Hereford in November 1998 is beginning to look like good value.

Lewington's only problem now will be holding on to him and he is hoping the extra £200,000 income Brentford earned from their LDV Vans Trophy run this season will help persuade chairman Ron Noades he has no need to sell. As for Mahon, the only thing on his mind for the next few days will be the mistake he made in Cardiff.

He said: "I looked over to my left and saw Naylor running towards me and then the ball got stuck under my foot. When I got a decent touch he took it. One mistake in defence and it costs you a goal. That is how cruel football can be and it was hard to take.

"We were defending quite deep but had done well at the back all game and it will take a few days to get that moment out of my head."

Mahon, however, was not the only Brentford defender to make a mistake in the final as Darren Powell gave away a penalty when he tripped Naylor on 75 minutes.

Television replays showed the foul was committed just outside the area and the Vale striker fell into the box, but Marc Bridge-Wilkinson converted the spot-kick confidently and Lewington had no complaints.

Michael Dobson had given Brentford a flying start with a headed goal from a Paul Evans corner after three minutes. That gave the Bees confidence in front of the 25,654 crowd and they looked bright for the first 25 minutes before Vale's simple pass-and-move style put Lewington's side on the back foot.

A string of good saves from Brentford goalkeeper Olafur Gottskalksson in the second half kept them from going behind until Mahon's mistake.

But they could have won the game in injury time with both substitute Mark McCammon and Lloyd Owusu failing to finish excellent goalscoring opportunities from less than six yards out.

Brentford have now been runners up in this competition twice after losing 3-1 to Wigan at Wembley in 1985.

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A Ray of hope for Mahon

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