Bees pegged back by Sunderland but extend unbeaten start

Picture: Capital Football

Premier League

Brentford (0) 1 Janelt 57

Sunderland (0) 1 Le Fee pen 82

A late Enzo Le Fee penalty denied Brentford victory as Sunderland secured a 1-1 draw at the Gtech.

The visitors were the better team in the first period and were frustrated to see an early Dan Ballard goal chalked out because Kevin Danso was ruled offside. Instead it was Vitaly Janelt who struck first as he volleyed the Bees ahead on 57 minutes.

But the Mackems sealed a point in the 82nd minute after Keane Lewis-Potter fouled Wilson Isidor and Le Fee made no mistake from the spot.

Sunderland began brightly and only a vital block prevented Noah Sadiki from testing Caoimhin Kelleher in the third minute.

Lewis-Potter saw his goal-bound effort blocked at the other end as the Bees forced a couple of early corners.

The Black Cats thought they had got their noses in front on seven minutes when a long free-kick was launched into the box which Nathan Collins failed to deal with, allowing Ballard to fire past Kelleher.

However, VAR sent Thomas Bramall to the monitor after spotting Danso was in an offside position and impairing the Brentford keeper’s view, a view confirmed by the referee after seeing the replay for himself.

Sadiki went into the book after fouling Mikkel Damsgaard in the centre circle as he threatened to break clear.

The Bees suffered a blow when injury forced skipper Collins to make way for Jannick Schuster after just 17 minutes.

Sunderland had their tails up and only the woodwork prevented Enzo Le Fee’s powerful strike from putting them ahead.

Schuster made a vital clearance on the line from Thomas Meunier’s shot, Sadiki saw a volley come back off Brian Brobbey and then Brobbey had a very soft penalty claim ignored after easily going to ground in the box.

A similar shout for a spot-kick by Sadiki following a challenge by Michael Kayode also fell on deaf ears, much to the fury of the travelling contingent in the far corner.

Lewis-Potter saw a first half stoppage time attempt put behind but there was still time in the eight added minutes for the Mackems to force a couple of corners of their own as they finished the opening period strongly.

Keith Andrews was suitably unimpressed by what he had seen so made a triple change at the break with Kayode, Mamadou Sangare and Dango Ouattara all hooked in favour of Aaron Hickey, Yehor Yarmoliuk and Jaidon Athony.

Thiago Silva produced a downward header after getting on the end of Keane-Potter’s delivery which was easily saved by Robin Roefs.

It was a sign things were improving for the hosts after those interval changes and it was they who took the lead on 57 minutes.

Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross was only half cleared by Nordi Mukiele as far as Janelt, who smashed home with a volley from 12 yards that flew past Roefs.

Kelleher had to be alert to thwart Sadiki and then Grant Xhaka blazed a 25-yard free-kick over the bar as Sunderland looked to make a quick response.

Lewis-Potter saw a downward volley go agonisingly off target and Brentford had an Anthony strike chalked out by VAR in the 70th minute after the substitute was adjudged to have fouled Roefs while scoring.

Regis Le Bris handed deadline day capture Malick Fofana a debut from the bench four minutes later in place of Sadiki.

Kelleher made a good save from Isidor’s free-kick but moments later Sunderland were gifted a penalty lifeline after Lewis-Potter needlessly manhandled Isidor in the area.

Up stepped Le Fee to send Kelleher the wrong way from 12 yards as the Mackems drew level, something they arguably deserved after a committed display.

Schuster glanced a header just wide from a corner just as six minutes of added time were signalled.

Brobbey almost won it with a shot that went just off target, but in the end a share of the spoils was a fair outcome as Brentford maintained their unbeaten start to the new campaign.

Bees: (4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Kayode (Hickey 46), Ajer, Collins (Schuster 17), Lewis-Potter; Sangare (Yarmoliuk 46), Janelt; Ouattara (Anthony 46), Damsgaard (Wilson 86), Schade; Thiago. Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Henry, Carvalho, Diouf.

Black Cats (5-4-1) Roefs; Meunier (Hume 64), Mukiele, Ballard, Danso, Reinildo; Angulo (Isidor 64), Sadiki (Fofana 74), Xhaka, Le Fee; Brobbey. Subs not used: Ellborg, Mrthalie, Rigg, O’Nien, Alderete, Ahoka.

Attendance: 17,131).