Central defenders don’t often get the credit they’re due.
It’s the tricky wingers, the prolific finishers, the authoritative midfielders who win most fans’ hearts and the players who try to deny that group of players their goal chances are, for some reason, seen in less glowing light.
But defending is an art.
And it would appear that John Egan is well on his way to mastering it.
The Corkman, son of the Kerry GAA legend of the same name, moved from Gillingham to Brentford in the summer and he’s certainly settled right in in the Bees back four.
Son of Kerry GAA legend has earned himself a move to Championship side Brentford https://t.co/AayJLnpTZs
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 2, 2016
Egan played a starring role on Friday night, when Brentford came out on top in a Championship clash at QPR, and he truly didn’t put a foot or head wrong for the 98 minutes played.
Eight days after turning 24, the former Sunderland player starved QPR of any clear-cut chances and alongside centre-half partner Harlee Dean, he ensured that his side would leave Loftus Road with a clean sheet, their seventh of the Championship season.
He’s actually second on the list of Brentford’s top scorers this season too, with three goals to his name, but it was his instincts at the back that earned the praise of the commentary team on Friday night.
Whether it was this block in the opening minutes….
Or this goal-saving header in the dying moments…
…Those were the two stand-out moments but Egan’s dominance in every battle was significant throughout.
He claimed every aerial duel, came out on top in every challenge and proved that old-fashioned defending is alive and well in London.
And it did not go unnoticed by a combination of Brentford fans who were delighted with their summer signing and Irish supporters anticipating his first cap.
https://twitter.com/LHurlz/status/792078284993466368
https://twitter.com/jjhammersno2/status/792086040861343744
Sensational John Egan
— Dom 🏴 (@DomGFCBallard) October 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/ClinicalCamps/status/792098317975097344
https://twitter.com/QPRFC_Ash/status/792098373344124928
https://twitter.com/Liam_Taylorgfc/status/792098479845900288
John Egan off Brentford should be in the Ireland squad
— Ciaran (@ciarancreagh) October 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/shaz966/status/792098651049000960
https://twitter.com/mikeegan97/status/792103561610100737
John Egan has been very good tonight. Hope MON puts him in the squad for Vienna #QPRBRE
— Alan Hartnett (@alan_hartnett) October 28, 2016
John Egan has been immense for Brentford here
— Steven Doody (@ste_doody) October 28, 2016
https://twitter.com/franciso22/status/792103851193200640
https://twitter.com/MPotts1993/status/792103944243773440
https://twitter.com/thomasAJ89/status/792104452589314048
John Egan a rock at the back once again, what a player this fella is.
— Darren (@dazza1889) October 28, 2016
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