NEAL PUTS RIGHT STAMP ON VICTORY

BRENTFORD’S Neal Maupay admits a stamping ban taught him a lesson – and the striker was delighted to repay the faith of boss Dean Smith.

The 22-year-old missed three matches for clashing with Aston Villa’s John Mcginn – but was the two-goal matchwinner against 10-man Wigan.

The French striker (above) hails from Versailles – historical heart of the French revolution – and is grateful that Smith’s attitude was to ‘give him a chance’ and not ‘off with his head’ as the manager put him straight back in.

After firing the buzzing Bees into second place Maupay said: “It was a great way to return – I was very pleased both with my performance and the whole team.

“It isn’t easy to come back after a couple of games out and then the whole team had the international break as well – but we coped very well.

“It was very frustrating for me to be on the sidelines and not to be able to help my team-mates, but I made a mistake and that was the punishment. I just had to be ready for the Wigan match.

“And that is what I did, I worked very hard on the training ground and I was ready. I scored two goals, and I am very happy.”

Maupay scored twice from close range and Wigan, for whom goalkeeper Christian Walton was outstanding, had no chance when Sam Morsy was shown red for a wild challenge on Yoann Barbet.

Walton, 22, and on loan from Premier League Brighton, said: “It is nice to show what I can do, but obviously for the team it is better if I don’t have too much to do. I am loving it here.”