Bees held by Wolves as former Chelsea man Diego Costa sees red
Brentford 1 (0) Mee 50
Wolves 1 (0) Neves 52
Brentford were held to a 1-1 draw by Wolves at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, in a game that saw Diego Costa receive his first red card in English football.
An insipid contest was brought to life early in the second period when Bees defender Ben Mee acrobatically opened the scoring before Ruben Neves equalised within two minutes.
Despite being frustrated not to collect all three points following Costa’s dismissal for a headbutt on Mee, the draw continues the impressive home record of Thomas Frank’s side, with only Arsenal winning at the Gtech so far this term.
An underwhelming first half saw both Brentford and their visitors struggle for any sort of fluidity in the final third of the field.
With both off the back of heavy defeats last weekend, Frank and Wolves caretaker boss Steve Davis appeared to prioritise defensive solidity over attacking intent.
A reminder of home comforts did seem to strike as the half progressed though, with Josh DaSilva leading a series of intricate passing moves that almost dislodged a sturdy opposition backline.
Midfielder DaSilva came closest to opening the scoring in the opening 45, curling a delightful effort inches wide of Jose Sa’s post from distance with the Portuguese ‘keeper beaten all ends up.
Despite having an attacking unit that included the trickery of Daniel Podence, the power of Adama Traore, and the brutality of Costa, Wolves appeared largely content to retain possession between their holding midfielders and back four.
A series of injury stoppages for both sides halted any momentum the hosts were building, and by the time referee Bobby Madley blew for half-time most inside the ground were grateful to hear the whistle.
Anyone who spent an extra few minutes in the concourse in fear of a second-half repeat was instantly forced to regret it after an electric start post-interval though.
Brentford went ahead when Mee volleyed home a Bryan Mbuemo cross on 50 minutes. It was the big centre-back’s second goal for the West Londoners after signing from Burnley in the summer, and it is unlikely he will have scored many better throughout his 15-year professional career.
Wolves hit back less than two minutes later courtesy of the sort of strike that Neves has made his trademark since arriving in English football in 2017.
After Traore had held the ball up on the right, the Portuguese international strode perfectly onto the winger’s cutback to curl an effort beyond David Raya from the edge of the box.
Former Chelsea striker Costa had his first meaningful involvement 15 minutes from time when he drove inside and forced a save from countryman Raya, but it was Brentford who pushed hardest in the closing stages.
Deflected shots from DaSilva and Rico Henry caused havoc in the Wolves penalty area, and, despite having a quiet afternoon on the whole, Bees talisman Ivan Toney very nearly snatched a winner when he nodded a flick-on from Keane Lewis-Potter just wide of the target.
However, Costa, as so often was the case during his time at Stamford Bridge, made himself the story of the afternoon in the final moments of the game.
Following an innocuous-looking collision with Mee, a VAR review by Madley determined that he had thrown his head at the defender, leading to a straight red card.
Brentford: (4-3-3) Raya – Ajer (Roerslev), Mee, Pinnock, Henry – Jensen (Damsgaard 37),
Janelt, DaSilva (Onyeka 81) – Mbuemo (Canos 81), Toney, Wissa (Lewis-Potter 75). Subs not
used: Cox, Zanka, Ghoddos, Yarmoliuk
Wolves: (4-2-3-1) Sa – Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno – Neves, B.Traore – A.Traore (Guedes
82), Nunes (Moutinho 40), Podence – Costa. Subs not used: Sarkic, Ait-Nouri, Hwang,
Mosquera, Jonny, Hodge, Campbell
