Brentford up to second in the table after extending unbeaten league run to 19
Brentford (1) 3 (Canos 27, Toney 50, Ghoddos 65)
Bristol City (1) 2 (Vyner 3, Wells 90)
It’s 19 unbeaten and counting for the unstoppable Bees in the Championship, as they came from behind to claim yet another victory.
They are now up to second in the table, four points behind Norwich City, after leapfrogging Swansea City.
On a night when Fulham lost again, they are very much on course to replace the team that beat them in the play-off final last summer to go up to the top-flight at their expense.
They fell behind to an early goal and had to cope with energetic opponents, but goals from Sergi Canos – his sixth of the campaign – and Ivan Toney’s 20th of an increasingly prolific season, along with a third goal from Saman Ghoddos, made the game safe.
The Bees were shocked on three minutes after Henrik Dalsgaard had given away a soft free-kick on the left edge of the penalty area.
Defender Jack Hunt floated a cross towards the far post and midfielder Zak Vyner stole in ahead of Ethan Pinnock to steer home from close range.
Thomas Frank’s side were almost level when Toney’s lay off allowed Ghoddos a clear target. Former Bee Dan Bentley did well to turn the fierce shot aside.
Pinnock then headed the corner just over and Canos cut in from the left before driving just wide as the Bees began to repel the early assault, and it was all square on 27 minutes.
A chip down the line found Tarique Fosu, after Alfie Mawson had over-committed in trying to win the ball. Fosu’s scamper to the dead-ball line and drive towards Toney was palmed away by Bentley, but Canos was on hand to tuck it home.
David Raya was not overly-tested, in spite of the visitors’ industry, but he was called into action early in the second half when Antoine Semenyo’s pull-back found Vyner just outside the area and a low shot arrowing towards the bottom corner was expertly turned aside.
But the tide turned irrevocably soon after, as Toney buried a low cross from Fosu from six yards after getting ahead of former-Chelsea defender Tomas Kalas.
Tails up, there was only going to be one outcome now and just past the hour, Ghoddos made it 3-1 – lashing in a left-footer after his initial right-foot drive had come back off the cross bar and a City defender.
The visitors did pull a goal back through sub Nahki Wells but it came just too late to cause any serious palpitations in the home dug out.
New Zealand international Winston Reid came off the bench for this debut. The West Ham loan signing is an interesting addition and his experience could prove invaluable in the weeks ahead.
It’s Middlesbrough and Reading away next for Frank’s relentless troops before a return to the BCS to take on Barnsley on Valentine’s Day. The love-affair with their team continues for joyous Bees fans, watching from afar.
Bees: Raya – Dalsgaard, Pinnock, Bech Sorensen, Henry (Reid 86) – Jensen, Janelt, Ghoddos (Zamburek 79) – Fosu (Forss 79), Toney (Roerslev 88), Canos. Subs not used: Daniels, Pressley, Stevens, Gilbert, Haygarth
City: Bentley – Hunt (Bakinson 80), Kalas, Mawson, Mariappa – Massengo (Wells 72), Nagy (Palmer 72), Vyner – Semenyo, Diedhiou, Edwards (Paterson 72). Subs not used: O’Leary, Moore, Pearson, Bell
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