 After beating Bristol City 4–2 on aggregate in the semi-finals, McGhee's season ended in heartbreak after the Bees suffered a 1–0 defeat to Crewe Alexandra at Wembley Stadium in the final.McGhee was again a regular pick during the 1997–98 season, making 33 appearances and scoring one goal in which Brentford's playoff hangover consigned them to relegation to the Third Division after a final-day defeat to Bristol Rovers.A succession of injuries saw McGhee miss the entire 1998–99 season and he retired in January 1999.