After a 1999–2000 season of consolidation back in the Second Division,[2] Brentford chairman-manager Ron Noades spent conservatively in the off-season, acquiring only forward Mark McCammon, midfielder Eddie Hutchinson and defender Jay Lovett for monetary fees.

[1] Long-term injuries to full backs Ijah Anderson and Danny Boxall led Noades to sign Paul Gibbs (on a free transfer from Plymouth Argyle) and a number of loanees to defensive cover.

[7] An FA Cup first round home defeat to Conference club Kingstonian in mid-November led Noades to relinquish his position as manager (while remaining as chairman) and hand the reins to his assistant, Ray Lewington, on a caretaker basis.

[11] Despite the beginnings of a run in the Football League Trophy under Lewington,[7] chairman Noades angered supporters in January 2001 by selling top-scorer Andy Scott and utility man Rob Quinn to divisional rivals Oxford United for a combined £150,000 fee, in a bid to balance the club's books.

[7] With the Bees seemingly safe from relegation from the Second Division,[13] the attention turned to the Football League Trophy and four wins in a row led to a matchup with Port Vale in the final at the Millennium Stadium on 22 April.