Blow for Brentford as Brighton claim unexpected win at the Gtech

Match day at the Gtech

Premier League

Brentford (0) 0

Brighton (2) 2 Gomez 30, Welbeck 45+1

Brentford’s European hopes have been dented by a home defeat against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Two first half goals gave the Seagulls their second win in sixteen games. The visitors were led by the 40-year-old James Milner, who played his 654th Premier League game, a record. After the game, the Brighton midfielder was embraced by former Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson,

Trying to stop their freefall down the Premier League table, Fabian Hürzeler’s side started well with Kaoru Mitoma, Jack Hinshelwood and Lewis Dunk all testing Brentford goalie Caoimhin Kelleher.

The former Liverpool keeper, however, stood no chance against a beautiful shot, in the 30th minute, by the Dutch-Turkish full-back Ferdi Kadioglu. His effort hit the bar, after which Diego Gomez slotted the rebound.

Six minutes earlier, Brentford could have taken the lead against the run of play. A lovely pass by Henderson found Igor Thiago, who had quietly escaped the attention of the Brighton backline.

He took one touch to steady himself in the box but then, face-to-face with Dutch goalie Bart Vergruggen, uncharacteristically blazed his volley over. Shortly after this miss captain Matthias Jensen fired powerfully over the bar.

Brentford suffered a set-back when defender Aaron Hickley had to come off with an injury just before the break. Fresh on the pitch, his substitute Nathan Collins made a mess of a cross, giving veteran striker Danny Welbeck the chance to score his ninth goal of the season.

Brentford boss Keith Andrew would blame a lack of intensity for the flat display of his side, coming after a lacklustre cup win against Macclesfield.

Chasing the game, Andrews made a double change at the break, bringing on Kevin Schade and Yehar Yarmoliuk for Keane Lewis Potter and Vitaly Janelt. Thiago set the tone when he headed wide an inswinging cross.

More opportunities for the Brentford air force were to follow. The 1718 travelling support must have feared that their side would give away another winning position, but they needn’t worry.

Skipper Lewis Dunk and the Dutch defenders held firm against the aerial threat of the Bees. The best chance arrived fifteen minutes before the end when Dango Ouattara's overhead hooked effort nearly beat the outstanding Verbruggen.

Time quickly ran out for Brentford to prevent their third home defeat of the season. This was never going to be Brentford’s day. It was James Milner’s.

Brentford (4-3-3): Kelleher; Hickey (Collins 44), Ajer (Donovan 80), Van den Berg, Henry; Janelt (Yarmoliuk 46), Henderson (Damsgaard 66), Jensen; Ouattara, Lewis-Potter (Schade 46), Thiago

Brighton (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Hinshelwood, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Milner (Baleba 89), Wieffer (Veltman 64), Gross; Gomez (De Cuyper 76), Mitoma, Welbeck

Attendance: 17.163