By Harry Pratt

ENGLAND took a battering – and it wasn’t the cricket flops.

In the firing line on this occasion was Darren England, the VAR official whose awful error denied Liverpool that goal against Tottenham. On his return to action he was installed as fourth official for this clash between strugglers Brentford and Burnley. But if that was supposed to give him a quiet afternoon, forget it. England got in the neck during a controversial first half as both managers lost their rag over decisions. The first came when the hosts found the net through Neal Maupay in the seventh minute, only for it to be disallowed for offside against creator Nathan Collins. Thomas Frank (left) erupted. Finger wagging and shouting at

England, the Bees chief appeared to claim it was a case of mistaken identity by VAR Stuart Attwell.

It was actually Kristoffer Ajer who was offside as he was interfering with play. Had they not named Collins as the guilty party, all confusion would have been avoided.

Not long after Burnley counterpart Vincent Kompany flipped out in England’s face after a Clarets penalty appeal was rightly rejected.

Frank’s mood improved when a sweeping move led to a breakthrough in the 25th minute.

Maupay won possession to feed Bryan Mbeumo whose cross was inch-perfect for Yoane Wissa to tap in.

It only remained 1-0 at half-time due to Burnley keeper James Trafford

producing a string of stunning stops, and his side were considerably better at the start of the second period.

But it was never enough to prevent their seventh defeat in nine games – equalling their previous worst topflight start to a season set in 1888-89.

Instead, it was Frank celebrating five years at the helm in style.

Mbeumo curled in a 62nd-minute cracker before sub Saman Ghoddos eclipsed that with a 25-yard piledriver.

Burnley’s Connor Roberts was sent off in the 80th minute for picking up a second yellow card.

BRENTFORD: Flekken 7; Ajer 7 (Roerslev (76) 7), Pinnock 7, Collins 7, Onyeka 7 (Ghoddos (84) 8); Jensen 8 (Yarmolyuk (76) 6), Norgaard 7, Janelt 7; Mbeumu 9, Wissa 8, Maupay 8 (Olakigbe (88) 6) BURNLEY: Trafford 8; Roberts 5, Al Dakhil 5, O’shea 6, Taylor 5; Berge 6 (Brownhill (66) 6), Cullen 5, Amdouni 6, Tresor (Bruun Larsen (66) 6), (Delcroix (80) 6), Foster 6, Odobert 6 (Koleosho (46) 6) STAR MAN: Bryan Mbeumo – Bees hitman was on fire, creating the opener and scoring magical second. REF: Josh Smith 6