Brentford advanced in the FA Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Macclesfield, securing a quarter-final clash against West Ham United next month. Silkmen defender Sam Heathcote scored an own goal in the final moments, booking the Bees’ progression.

Macclesfield’s Resilient Display

Macclesfield put up a stout defense against the Premier League side, 116 places above them in the football pyramid. The lower-league team made life difficult at Moss Rose, with Luke Duffy and Paul Dawson testing Brentford goalkeeper Hákon Valdimarsson.

Brentford manager Keith Andrews acknowledged the challenge. “A tricky game for us, for obvious reasons,” he said. “A lot of respect for the way they play, the spirit they have. I think it was very impressive, seeing a lot of their performances over the last few days.”

Andrews credited Macclesfield manager John and the coaching staff. “It’s a testament to John, testament to the coaching staff and the spirit and the character of the football club,” he added. “It was never going to be easy. I didn’t think we made it easy for ourselves in the first half, but in the second half, I thought we did it very well, controlled large parts of it and eventually got the goal.”

Rich History Between the Clubs

The teams last met in 2009 during League Two campaigns, where Macclesfield won 2-0. The Silkmen faced turmoil in September 2020 when the High Court wound up the club, but owner Rob Smethurst revived it soon after. Meanwhile, Brentford earned promotion to the Premier League six months later, returning to the top flight for the first time since 1947.

Andrews expressed admiration for their journey. “A lot of respect for what they’ve achieved and the journey that they’ve been on,” he stated. “It’s only been 17 years since this was a league fixture. I love the English football pyramid, I love what it stands for and the structure of it.”

He continued: “There’s always journeys that clubs are on and this club are on a really good journey. I like stories like that; it actually fills my heart. I thought they were immense tonight, absolutely immense right to the end. They gave us a proper cup tie that most people would have really enjoyed. I can’t say I did, but again, a lot of respect for what they are and what they stand for.”

Financial Boost for Macclesfield

Despite the loss, Macclesfield earned a significant financial windfall from their FA Cup run, starting in August against Atherton Laburnum Rovers. Wayne Rooney’s team sits in the top seven, one point clear of challengers with up to five games in hand. They host King’s Lynn Town on Saturday to continue their promotion push under Smethurst, aiming for a fourth ascent since his takeover.