Brentford secured all three points at the King Power Stadium with a 4-0 victory over Leicester City, as The Bees keep pushing for a spot in European football.
The visitors took the lead in the 16th minute when Yoane Wissa’s bouncing shot beat Mads Hermansen, giving the London side an early advantage. Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard added to the score as they went into the break with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Substitute Fabio Carvalho netted the fourth and final goal for Brentford, as they secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season and their 11th victory in the Premier League.
As it happened
The home team started full of energy, as new signing Woyo Coulibaly and Jamie Vardy both tested Mark Flekken early on, forcing him into two sharp saves to keep Leicester from going ahead.
After withstanding The Foxes’ early pressure, Brentford began to settle into the game, and in-form winger Kevin Schade had a golden opportunity in the 12th minute. Nathan Collins drove forward from his own box and picked out Kristoffer Ajer on the edge of Leicester’s area and he delivered a well-placed cross to Schade, but his shot was expertly blocked by Coulibaly.
Four minutes later, the visitors broke the deadlock with a superb finish from Wissa. Schade picked out Mikkel Damsgaard on the edge of the box, before he threaded a brilliant through ball to Wissa, whose bouncing effort looped over Mads Hermansen, securing his 12th goal of the season.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Bees extended their lead in the 27th minute with a brilliant curled strike from Mbeumo. After Wilfred Ndidi was dispossessed, the visitors sprang into a swift counterattack, with Damsgaard picking out Mbeumo on the edge of the box. The winger then expertly bent his shot past Hermansen and into the bottom corner.
Thomas Frank’s side widened their advantage five minutes later when Mbeumo’s free-kick picked out Norgaard, who rose above his marker and headed past the outstretched Hermansen. It was a straightforward finish, securing the visitors’ third goal of the night.
Embed from Getty ImagesBrentford continued to pose a threat, with Schade coming close as his effort rattled off the post, but the away side still held a comfortable lead going into the break.
Ruud van Nistelrooy’s side came out for the second half with more energy, looking for a way back into the game. However, a lack of quality in their play hindered their efforts to create any clear chances.
The away side regained control after weathering the Foxes’ pressure, much like in the first half. In the 69th minute, substitute Yegor Yarmolyuk had a golden opportunity to extend The Bees’ lead. Mbeumo delivered a fantastic cross, and Yarmolyuk got a flick on it, but only a brilliant save from Hermansen kept it from becoming a fourth goal.
Leicester pushed for a consolation goal, but the home side couldn’t break through, failing to test Flekken or the solid Brentford defence.
The home side grabbed their fourth and final goal of the night just before full-time. Mbeumo charged down the right, beating his man and getting his shot away, which was pushed aside by Hermansen. However, the on-rushing substitute Carvalho was quick to react, pouncing on the loose ball and slotting it home.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis was the final chance of the match, as the away side secured a crucial three points on the road.
Both sides now turn their focus to midweek action, with Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team travelling to London to face West Ham United on Thursday night. Meanwhile, the Bees return home to take on Everton on Wednesday night.
The lineups
LEI: Hermansen; Coulibaly, Faes, Okoli, Kristiansen; Soumare, Ndidi; De Cordova-Reid, El Khannouss, Ayew; Vardy
BRE: Flekken; Lewis-Potter, Pinnock, Collins, Ajer; Janelt, Norgaard; Schade, Damsgaard, Mbeumo; Wissa