Watkins doubles up in Brentford derby win
QUITE a few experts fancied Brentford as dark horses for promotion and here was more evidence Thomas Frank’s side could challenge almost by stealth. After a shaky start to the season, the Bees have three consecutive wins after an Ollie Watkins double and Said Benrahma’s penalty settled an entertaining London derby with Queens Park Rangers. Watkins has been instrumental in Brentford’s resurgence and his two goals took him to 10 for the season, just one behind Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic in the Championship top scorers’ list. While this deserved win lifted Brentford only just into the top half, it is so tight above them they are only three points off the play-off spots and six behind leaders West Bromwich. Their fans certainly believe, singing ‘We are going up’ after the final whistle, but Frank was more measured. ‘Everybody in this league has big dreams but we all know it is so extremely important to keep humble,’ said the Dane. ‘This was another strong away performance and the front three worked so hard together.’ Frank has Brentford playing a bold 4-3-3 and their adroitness on the counter was evident in their first-half opener, a back-to-front move that went from goalkeeper David Raya to the net in seven passes and one header. Watkins was left free to nod home Bryan Mbeumo’s perfect cross. QPR responded straight after the break when Grant Hall headed home an Ebere Eze corner. It was quite the statement by the club captain, left out of the last six squads after injury. But the game swung on a penalty call when
Josh Scowen brought down Mbeumo. That decision left QPR boss Mark Warburton furious. ‘I’m frustrated beyond belief to see a game change with that call,’ he said. ‘One hundred per cent the VAR overturns it but we haven’t got that.’ Benrahma hammered home the penalty and Brentford sealed it in added time when Watkins tapped home a Mathias Jensen cross.