Middlesbrough will take a slender advantage into the second leg of their Championship playoff semi-final meeting against Brentford, courtesy of Fernando Amorebieta's late goal in a 2-1 win at Griffin Park.
The Venezuelan was brought off the bench in the latter stages of the game as the visitors looked to sit back on a draw, but he struck in the fourth minute of added-on time to ensure that it is advantage Boro in the enthralling tie.
Andre Gray had earlier cancelled out Jelle Vossen's headed opener for the Smoggies, with both sides seeing chances come and go prior to Amorebieta's decisive moment at the death.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the dramatic 90 minutes of action below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship playoff semi-final first-leg meeting between Brentford and Middlesbrough.
Boro travel to Griffin Park having seen their hopes of automatic promotion slip away in the closing weeks of the regular season, and they will need to improve on their recent performances if they are to capitalise on a back door route into the Premier League.
The home side, meanwhile, are seeking back-to-back promotions under outgoing manager Mark Warburton following their League One success last year, knowing that a 68-year wait for top-flight football is now just three games away.
Well kickoff in West London is now less than an hour away, so let's get straight into things by taking a look at some team news...
TEAM NEWS!
BRENTFORD STARTING XI: Button; Odubajo, Tarkoswki, Dean, Bidwell; Diagouraga, Douglas; Jota, Pritchard, Judge; Gray
MIDDLESBROUGH STARTING XI: Konstantopoulos; Whitehead, Ayala, Gibson, Friend; Clayton, Leadbitter; Adomah, Vossen, Tomlin; Bamford
The big news as far as Boro are concerned is that Patrick Bamford starts this evening despite being a big fitness concern. The Chelsea loanee has been one of the shining lights at the Riverside this season, but an ankle problem has seen his minutes restricted of late. He has been deemed fit enough to feature from the off, however, while Jelle Vossen looks set to play in the hole.
That means Lee Tomlin potentially shifting out to the left-hand side of midfield, and with no Ryan Fredericks in the squad, Dean Whitehead looks likely to fill in at right-back. Elsewhere, George Friend returns following his recent suspension, although Jonathan Woodgate misses out altogether due to a hamstring injury.
As far as Brentford are concerned, they remain unchanged from last time out as manager Mark Warburton opts to stick with a winning formula. The Bees have had no fresh injury concerns to contend with; Scott Hogan and on-loan striker Chris Long their only long-term absentees heading into this crucial game.
So four changes in all for Boro, then, while Brentford remain as they were for the 3-0 victory over Wigan Athletic six days ago. The starting lineup has a nice feel to it, too, with Andre Gray the man tasked with leading the line, while Jota, Alex Pritchard and Alan Judge will provide attacking support.
BENCH WATCH!
BRENTFORD SUBS: Macleod, Craig, McCormack, Dallas, Toral, Smith, Bonham
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Ripley, Amorebieta, Nsue, Omeruo, Forshaw, Reach, Kike
Brentford remain unchanged in terms of their starting lineup, and they have made just the one change to their squad as a whole. Lewis Macleod is the man who comes the bench, alongside the experienced Tommy Smith who is seeking a second promotion from the Championship in the space of three years.
Boro a little less settled than their opponents with those four aforementioned changes, but they certainly have further options to choose from among their back-up players should they wish. Adam Forshaw, Adam Reach and Kike provide decent alternatives for Aitor Karanka should he need to change things around.
Jelle Vossen and Patrick Bamford both start for Middlesbrough at Griffin Park this evening:
This is a huge night for both sides, then, but you feel that the pressure is weighing down that little bit more on the shoulders of Karanka and Co. Cast your minds back just a few weeks ago when Boro beat Norwich City at Carrow Road, and the celebrations from the players said it all. They thought they had done enough to earn promotion in what appeared to be a straight shootout for second place, but a slip-up at Fulham has forced the Smoggies into settling for the playoffs.
A goalless draw against Brighton & Hove Albion in their final regular league outing of the season did little to help allay the fears of supporters, but in fairness there was little riding on that clash. Either way, it is just one defeat in five for Boro now heading into this make-or-break double header. However, they have tasted victory just once on the road since March 17, in a run stretching across four games.
At the start of the season, I'm sure many Middlesbrough supporters would have taken a fourth-placed finish and a shot at the playoffs, having had to settle for little more that mediocrity in large since their relegation from the Premier League back in 2009. A huge part of their turnaround in fortunes is the work carried out by Aitor Karanka since his replaced Tony Mowbray in November 2013, taking the club from a side looking over the shoulders to one very much looking up.
Karanka, a close friend of Jose Mourinho following their time working alongside each other at Real Madrid, has described this evening's game as "the biggest" of his managerial career to date. The Spaniard took his group of players over to Spain earlier this week for some warm weather training in the sun, in an attempt to keep them fit and firing during this crucial period.
If Boro are to overcome Brentford then they will need to up their game if their last two performances are anything to go by, though, with Karanka himself admitting that he has not been fully happy with what he has seen of late. History tells us that the playoffs really are a lottery, however, so form can pretty much be discounted prior to that first ball being kicked.
The pressure may be off Brentford this evening. but that is not to say that their supporters are just here for a jolly. Buoyed by their promotion to the Championship last year, the Bees will be looking to end a wait which has stretched back all the way to 1947 since they last competed in the top tier of English football. It should be remembered that this is their first season back at this level in some 21 years, however, so maybe it will be a case of learning to walk before they can run.
Brentford ended the regular season with successive victories to earn a place in a congested top six, although they finished seven points behind their semi-final opponents in the league standings. That suggestions that, while there is not exactly a huge gulf between them, Boro must certainly be considered favourites over two legs when going on quality alone.
Like Karanka at Boro, a large part of the Bees' success has to go down to the work of Warburton since he took to the helm. The former city banker will not be at Griffin Park next season regardless of what happens tonight due to a "conflict of differences" with those above him, so he could go out on the ultimate high by leading his side to the Premier League for the first time ever.
Kickoff in West London is now a little under 15 minutes away:
Brentford have lost just one of their last nine games, meanwhile, including those successive victories over Reading and Wigan to see out the season, although they have won just one of their last five games at Griffin Park. Warburton has told his players to "relish" the chance of competing in the playoffs - after sneaking into the top six you would not bet against them going all the way as the underdogs so often do.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: Boro won both regular league meetings earlier this season which stands them in good stead, claiming a combined 5-0 scoreline. In fact, the Smoggies have won their last five meetings between the pair in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one in that time. Brentford last tasted victory in this fixture back in 1964 - a poor run of form which they must rectify this evening to keep their hopes alive heading into the second-leg.
DID YOU KNOW? Brentford have lost seven playoff campaigns at various levels in their history, reaching three finals in that time but failing to prevail once. Boro, on the other hand, have reached the end-of-season lottery on two occasions, winning one (1987-88) and losing one (1990-91).
Before offering a prediction, there is still enough time to check out the views of both managers heading into this game:
Mark Warburton: "There's no point saying it's like any other game. We'll relish it. These are very significant games for the club and we need to look back with no regrets. I'd hate any player or staff member to look back and say 'I could have done something better'."
Aitor Karanka: "I arrived here 17 months ago and my objective was to get in the play-offs and here we are - we've achieved it. The players have been amazing, I'm learning every day and I have to keep learning the same way."
PREDICTION: Seven points separated these two teams at the end of the regular league season, but I'm going to back the home side to claim a vital first-leg victory here tonight. We can expect a fast start from the Bees, and their vocal home support could prove all the difference. 2-1.
Here. We. Go.
KICKOFF! Jonathan Moss gets proceedings underway at Griffin Park, with one of these sides just 180 minutes away from a big day out at Wembley.
Both sides have started well enough, with Pritchard getting away the first shot on goal with his 35-yard free kick. Boro earned themselves a corner up the other end, yet they were unable to take advantage of the set piece opening.
Ayala has impressed me each time I've seen him this season, and it is his pressing in defence which helps his side win the ball back in midfield. Brentford are looking to get Pritchard on the ball in the early stages, while Tomlin is proving a threat up the other end.
Boro win themselves another corner which they opt to take short, which allows Tomlin to swing a decent-looking cross into a central position. Bamford was waiting, but it was just too high for him to reach and Brentford were able to head clear.
The Bees are beginning to step things up a little now, yet they are still not at their free-flowing best as we have seen so often this campaign. Middlesbrough will be happy with their start, as Jose Mourinho watches on from the stands. The Portuguese is a close friend of Karanka's of course, and I'm sure he has offered his former assistant boss plenty of advice this week in terms of dealing with pressure situations.
Still no clear-cut chances thus far in West London, but there is certainly a nice, open feel to things. Bamford may not be at the peak of his fitness, although he has the ability to sneak in behind defenders. A heavy first touch a few moments ago saw the Chelsea loanee lose the ball, which perhaps highlights that he is still trying to find his feet.
YELLOW CARD! Lee Tomlin earns an early caution following a challenge on Jota. Walking a tightrope springs to mind at this stage.
PENALTY SHOUT! A Brentford players believe their side should have been awarded a penalty when the ball appeared to strike Whitehead's hand, but replays show that referee Jon Moss got his decision to wave play on correct. Up the other end, Gray flicked a hopeful punt goalwards, yet it did not have enough on it to ever trouble Konstantopolous.
OFF THE POST! A superb strike from Judge almost provides to the opening goal at Griffin Park, but his effort from more than 20 yards out came crashing back off the upright. Konstantopolous appeared to get a fingertip to the ball, so that has to go down as a top-class stop from the Greek keeper.
Incidentally, George Friend joined teammate Tomlin in the referee's notebook just prior to that Judge strike, so that is now two Boro players treading a fine disciplinary line for the remainder.
The intensity levels reached a peak five minutes or so ago with those two bookings in fairly quick succession and, while Boro made a bright enough start, it is Brentford who have found their feet the quicker. The width of the post has denied the hosts a goal to show for their efforts.
GOAL! BRENTFORD 0-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (VOSSEN)
First blood Boro in this Championship playoff semi-final! It is a clinical header from Vossen which has given the visiting side the lead somewhat against the run of play, with the on-loan forward guiding home Clayton's superb cross from the right to leave Button with little chance.
The cross from Clayton may have been perfectly weighted, but there was still plenty for Vossen to do from 12 yards out to give Boro that breakthrough goal. Brentford had a good chance to level up almost instantly at the opposite end following that setback, although Judge's free kick sailed well over the bar.
OFF THE LINE! Huge drama already in this playoff clash! Button initially produced a fine save to keep out Tomlin's shot which was heading right for the bottom corner. Boro continued to attack, and in the next wave of play Vossen appeared to fire the ball over the line from a few yards out, but the officials decided it did not cross the line.
Like that penalty shout a little earlier, the officials appear to have called this latest contentious decision spot on. Vossen really should have been picking out the back of the net after finding himself in a promising position, but replays show that not all of the ball crossed all of the line.
Boro are really knocking on the door for a second goal at this stage, having survived a scare when Judge struck the post on 18 minutes:
Boro looking far more settled now compared to the stages prior to their breakthrough goal. Brentford may simply have hold off their opponents until the break before reorganising themselves, because we have already see this evening that they have the ability to take the game to Boro.
We've endured a quiet spell over the past few minutes, with the midfield zone looking a little congested. Bamford had a chance to break forward for his side at one stage but he lost his footing - it's not been his night so far.
YELLOW CARD! The third yellow card of the evening has been shown already and we are only 40 minutes in. Adomah is the latest to be shown a caution.
YELLOW CARD! Make that five bookings. Whitehead goes the way of Tomlin, Friend, Judge and Adomah before him by entering the referee's bad books.
CLOSE! A wicked delivery into the box is met by Tarkowski, but he could not quite direct his header on target. It was a fantastic - albeit unorthodox - attempt, which very nearly came off for the defender.
Brentford looked to be ending the half strongly, although Boro have turned the tide to see more of the ball in these closing moments of the opening 45 minutes. The Smoggies defended well before breaking up the other end, in a move which culminated in Friend's cross being cut out.
We have one more minute of added time to play at the end of this first half at Griffin Park in what has been an entertaining opening 45 minutes to the semi-final affair. Boro could have bagged a second before the break, but Vossen fired well over the bar from 25 yards out when picked out by Bamford.
HALF TIME: BRENTFORD 0-1 MIDDLESBROUGH
So it is advantage Boro at the break, then, courtesy of Jelle Vossen's goal after 26 minutes in West London. The visitors made a somewhat sluggish start to proceedings, and they could very well have been a goal behind when Judge's shot came back off the post via a touch from Konstantopolous on its way through.
Brentford also had a penalty attempt (correctly) ruled out, but the tide soon turned in Boro's favour. A fine cross from Clayton to pick out Vossen in the middle has provided the game's one moment of standout quality thus far, but the Smoggies may feel disappointed not to have doubled their advantage soon after.
That is because Vossen saw his shot from close range kept out by Button, with the officials once again correctly ruling that the ball had not crossed the line first. Other than that Judge effort, chances have proved to be slim for the hosts, although Tarkowski did come close to levelling things up with a well-taken header which ended a few inches over the bar.
BENCH WATCH!
BRENTFORD SUBS: Macleod, Craig, McCormack, Dallas, Toral, Smith, Bonham
MIDDLESBROUGH SUBS: Ripley, Amorebieta, Nsue, Omeruo, Forshaw, Reach, Kike
A quick reminder of the options available to both managers from the bench should they choose to change things around slightly at the break. That is unlikely to be the case, though, with Karanka and Warburton no doubt both keen to take positives from the first-half display.
There is talk that Brentford may look to temporarily relocate to Queens Park Rangers's Loftus Park home next season should they gain promotion, as a result of their ground failing to meet Prem regulations. There is a long way to go before they can even begin thinking about that, of course:
RESTART! We are back underway at Griffin Park, with this tie still remaining firmly in the balance. A truly massive half of football coming up!
YELLOW CARD! The second half begins where the first half ended, as Tarkowski earns a yellow card for clattering into Bamford. The Chelsea loanee looks to be in some discomfort down on the turf.
Some hopeful penalty shouts from the home supporters as Gibson leans into the ball, but it caught him clean in the chest rather than on the arm. Incidentally, Bamford is now back out on the field following that collision with Tarkowski, which appeared to leave him a little winded.
CHANCE! Gray has just squandered a glorious chance to level this contest up, firing over the bar from 12 yards out. A cross came into the box from the right, and with Boro failing to deal with it the Bees striker was granted the perfect opportunity to breach this strong Middlesbrough defence, but he did not get the desired connection on his half-volley.
Karanka's charges are continuing to hit their opponents on the counter on a regular basis, which is likely to remain the pattern for the duration of this first leg. The onus is now on the hosts to find a way through; away goals do not count in the playoffs remember.
GOAL! BRENTFORD 1-1 MIDDLESBROUGH (GRAY)
Just as I was praising Boro for their impressive gameplan, they go and throw away all their hard work through an individual error. Konstantopolous refuses the boot the ball high into the stands, instead looking for a delicate touch when right on the edge of his area, and he is punished by Gray who did not give up the cause. Having won the ball from the Greek stopper, he was left with the task of rolling it home from a fairly tight angle to ensure that it is very much game on.
SHOT! This ground has now burst into life once again following that Gray goal which, like Boro's breakthrough in the first half, has come a little against the run of play. Gray almost doubled his personal tally by cutting inside soon after opening his account, only to fire over the bar when in a promising position.
A great challenge from Dean denies Bamford from working a shooting position inside the box. He had to time that one to perfection, and he did exactly that.
SAVE! This one really is impossible to call right now, as momentum swings back Boro's way all of a sudden. Adomah is the latest to try his luck, getting in a shot on goal after cutting on to his left, but Button was equal to it by palming the ball clear.
SAVE! The game has well and truly opened up over the past 10 minutes, with both sides realising the importance of a second goal to take into the return tie. Konstantopolous was at fault for Brentford's goal a little earlier, although he has just pulled off a fantastic stop at full reach to push aside Douglas's looping header which was heading for the back of the net before the keeper's intervention.
This really has been an incredible half of football, with both teams seemingly taking it in turns to attack. Fresh from that huge save at one end, Bamford works away some room for a shot up the other, only for his effort to be blocked behind.
I'm wondering when we are going to see a change of personnel in this game. The thing is, both managers will be happy enough with the performance of their sides, which goes some way to explaining the lack of movement on either bench. There is a little over 20 minutes remaining of the first leg of this delicately poised semi-final contest - plenty of time for another few goals at this rate!
The game has quietened down over the past five minutes or so, which is largely down to Boro showing signs that they are happy to sit back on the 1-1 draw. The away-goals rule does not apply to Football League playoffs, so there is no added incentive to push on and find a second.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB! A change of personnel at last, as Amorebieta replaces Tomlin with a little under 20 minutes left to play.
YELLOW CARD! Brentford win a free kick in a brilliant shooting position, but Pritchard fluffs his lines with a knuckleball shot which is fired straight into the wall. The midfielder redeems himself by earning a set piece in a similar position, however, which also sees Amorebieta receive a yellow.
Once more, the free kick fails to beat the wall as the chance goes begging for the Bees. This quiet spell, which has now stretched into the last 15 minutes or so, looks set to continue. Brentford the team asking the questions in the final quarter of the contest.
BRENTFORD SUB! Stuart Dallas has been brought on in place of Jota for the final throes of this first-leg affair.
Half a chance for Harlee Dean to become a Brentford hero, but the centre-half strikes high over the bar on the turn after Boro failed to deal with a corner.
Boro are really having to defend now, as Brentford throw everything they have at their opponents. The Smoggies were looking to counter for the first hour of the game, but they appear happy to just sit back now.
Vossen's opening goal could still prove crucial in how this two-legged affair pans out, but it looks likely that a 1-1 draw is on the cards after the first 90 minutes thanks to Gray's second-half leveller.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Adam Forshaw replaces Vossen, and within a minute or so of coming on he could have been dismissed. His crunching challenge on Diagouraga could easily have seen him shown a red card by referee Jon Moss.
The Bees are continuing to throw all they have at their Championship opponents, perhaps fearing that a 1-1 draw will not be enough to take into next week's return leg. They have three minutes of normal time left to rectify that.
BRENTFORD SUB: Mark Warburton turns to experience in the form of Tommy Smith. The 34-year-old replaces Alan Judge late on at Griffin Park, with time fast against his side.
YELLOW CARD! Jake Bidwell becomes the ninth player to be shown a yellow card this evening. It has been a fiery contest at times, which offers plenty of promise heading into the second leg.
MIDDLESBROUGH SUB: Bamford makes way for Kike in Boro's final change of the contest. We will play six minutes of added time at the end of the game, so still plenty of time remaining for either side to nick another goal.
It's Boro who are looking the more likely to find a way through at the moment, having earned themselves a corner deep into added time. Can they make the most of this set piece?
GOAL! BRENTFORD 1-2 MIDDLESBROUGH (AMOREBIETA)
They certainly did make the most of it! So, so harsh on Brentford, who have not deserved to lose this first leg. Boro have seemingly been happy to sit back and settle for a 1-1 draw, but having won a corner late on they opted to be brave and it paid off. The corner was headed back into the direction of substitute Amorebieta, who let fly on the half volley with a superb strike to win it for his side.
Brentford are desperate to level things up once again, and they very nearly did so when a deflected cross flew right across the face of goal. Tommy Smith was closest to it, but he could not quite get a touch on the ball.
FULL TIME: BRENTFORD 1-2 MIDDLESBROUGH
We expected drama and it is fair to say that we certainly had plenty of it in West London this evening. What a pulsating clash that was between two sides desperate to claim their place in the Premier League. It is Boro who are firmly in the driving season now prior to next week's return tie, thanks to Amorebieta's late first-leg winner.
Prior to that strike at the death, Andre Gray had cancelled out Jelle Vossen's earlier opener, with both sides seeing chances come and go in-between. Still all to play for in next Friday's return meeting, then, which you can follow live with us once again. We will also provide coverage of the second Championship playoff semi-final between Ipswich Town and Norwich City tomorrow lunchtime, so be sure to join us for that one.
