Brentford scraped through to the FA Cup fifth round on Monday evening, avoiding what would have been a humiliating exit at the hands of non-league Macclesfield.
The Premier League outfit triumphed 1-0 at Moss Rose, though the scoreline flattered them considerably.
Sam Heathcote, the unfortunate Macclesfield defender, headed into his own net in the 70th minute to settle a contest that had threatened to produce another giant-killing.
Despite sitting 116 places above their National League North opponents in the football pyramid, Keith Andrews’ side were outplayed for long stretches of a spirited encounter.
Brentford edged past Macclesfield in a low-quality affair
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The Silkmen had famously dispatched Crystal Palace in the previous round.
John Rooney’s part-time squad showed no intimidation against their top-flight visitors, seizing control during an impressive opening 45 minutes.
Captain Paul Dawson, who had already cemented his place in Silkmen folklore with his heroics against Palace, came desperately close to breaking the deadlock inside 20 minutes.
After dispossessing Vitaly Janelt, the skipper charged forward but could only fire his shot narrowly wide of Hakon Valdimarsson’s right-hand post.
Luke Duffy proved a constant menace on the right flank, sending one fierce effort sailing over the crossbar.
Macclesfield captain Paul Dawson came close to putting the Silkmen ahead
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The hosts’ energy and determination exposed the visitors’ sluggish start, with misplaced passes from full-back Michael Kayode typifying Brentford’s early struggles.
Brentford’s team selection raised eyebrows, with manager Keith Andrews making seven alterations to his starting lineup.
Top scorers Igor Thiago and Kevin Schade were omitted from the squad entirely, while club-record signing Dango Ouattara began on the substitutes’ bench.
As the match wore on, the part-timers’ legs inevitably began to tire, allowing the visitors to establish a foothold in the final third.
Aaron Hickey found space down the left flank and delivered the cross that proved decisive, with Heathcote glancing the ball agonisingly past his own goalkeeper.
Romelle Donovan squandered a chance to double the lead ten minutes later, blazing over after skilfully evading his marker.
Macclesfield had completed arguably the biggest shock in FA Cup history, after they knocked out holder Crystal Palace last month
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REUTERSThe Bees now progress to face West Ham in the fifth round, marking only their third appearance at this stage in the club’s history and their first since 1989.
For Macclesfield, the cup adventure ends, though the run is expected to generate approximately £400,000 for the club.
The Silkmen will now refocus on their National League North campaign as they pursue a fourth promotion since reforming following their winding-up in the High Court.
Their meeting with Brentford came eleven years and seven months after the clubs last faced each other in League Two, before their fortunes diverged so dramatically.
