Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BEE MINUS!
Brentford flop as they try to go top, but boss Frank gives his men a free pass
THOMAS FRANK refused to get too down in the dumps – despite seeing Brentford’s 21-match unbeaten league run go up in smoke.
The Bees were beaten for the first time in the Championship since October as Conor Chaplin and Carlton Morris earned Barnsley a shock victory.
It also meant Brentford have now not won a Sunday fixture in their last six attempts as they failed to regain top spot from Norwich.
But boss Frank (right) said: “It was inevitable it would happen. We’ve been so consistent and so good. There was no lack of effort.
“We hoped we would go one more game, one more game, one more game. But we know that, in this league, you can lose to every team if you are not at the highest level.
“They won fair and square. It’s now about how we react.
“We are in an unbelievable position, we’ve never been in a position like this before. And we need to move on.”
Brentford players decided not to take the knee before the game as they “no longer believe it has an impact”.
But Barnsley’s squad and the match officials went ahead with the pre-match anti-racism gesture.
The Tykes tasted victory on the last day of last season to cost the Bees promotion – and put a spanner in the works again this time.
After giving Chelsea a huge scare on Thursday in the FA Cup, Valerien Ismael’s men continued where they had left off.
They deservedly led on 13 minutes after a dominant opening, as Chaplin converted from the impressive Callum Brittain’s cross.
Barnsley could have gone further ahead as Morris’ header was kept out by keeper David Raya.
Brentford lacked their usual attacking zest although Saman Ghoddos was denied by Brad Collins just before the break.
The Bees shot themselves in the foot two minutes into the second half, as desperate defending by Ethan Pinnock failed to cut out Daryl Dike’s cross.
And Morris gratefully accepted his invitation to score his first Barnsley goal with a shot in off the post.
Brentford are usually the masters of comebacks but they never looked like getting back into the game with topscorer Ivan Toney frustrated up front.
And Tykes sub Victor Adeboyejo came within a whisker of a third as the Yorkshire side tasted a league win for the first time in 2021. Manager
Ismael said: “I’m overjoyed for the guys.
“The Chelsea game gave them a lot of confidence. If you can do that against Chelsea, you are ready for all the other teams in the league.
“It was a breakthrough for the guys, a game changer.”
On Brentford’s decision not to take the knee, Ismael added: “I respect the decision. For me, it is important – it is not only for me, it’s for my children.” BRENTFORD: Raya 6, Dalsgaard 6 (Roerslev 74, 6), Pinnock 5, Sorensen 5, Henry 6, Janelt 6, Ghoddos 5 (Forss 74, 5), Dasilva 6 (Jensen 74, 5), Mbeumo 5 (Fosu 64, 6), Toney 6, Canos 6 BARNSLEY: Collins 6, Sollbauer 6 (Sibbick 67, 6), Helik 7, Andersen 7, Brittain 8, Palmer 6 (J Williams 77, 7), Mowatt 7, Styles 7, Dike 6 (Woodrow 56, 6), Morris 7 (Adeboyejo 56, 6), Chaplin 7 (Frieser 56, 6)
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UNDER-PRESSURE Aitor Karanka admits Birmingham’s woes are giving him sleepless nights.
Dan Potts grabbed the Luton winner to pile on the misery for second-bottom Blues, who are without a home win since October.
And boss Karanka, who received a vote of confidence from chief executive Xuandong Ren on Friday, revealed the fight for Championship survival is taking its toll.
“I don’t remember the last time that I had more than three hours of sleep since I came here,” said the Spaniard. “Before I came here I had more than three hours. My head never stops. When something is not going in the right direction I need to think. When you are a coach it is 24/7.”
The former Boro boss denied that he has any fears for his job. “I will always be really grateful to Dong because he has supported me 150 per cent since I arrived,” he said. “I don’t need to listen to any interview, I know how much we trust each other. He knows I am trying to do my best.”
Potts netted his first goal since October 2019 - only Luton’s seventh on their travels this term - to leave Hatters nine points clear of the drop zone.
Harry Cornick’s long throw in the 31st minute caused chaos and Potts nodded home after Neil Etheridge kept out a James Collins effort.
Etheridge later turned away Jordan Clark’s shot, while a tame Gary Gardner header was the only time the hosts threatened.
“It has been a long time,” admitted Potts. “I should have scored last week against Huddersfield and that was annoying but I’ve made up for it and hopefully there are a few more to come.
“I had it all to do – from one yard out! We work on set-pieces in training and are strong in that aspect of the game and we’ve found recently that Harry has got a long throw, so why not utilise it?
“We did our homework and expected Birmingham to be strong from set-pieces. But we were better when it came to that side of the game and could have got a couple more.”
ADAM MASINA has revealed that Watford have set an ambitious 90-point target for a return to the Premier League.
The Hornets’ six-goal show against Bristol City has provided belief they can yet make it back to the top flight at the first time of asking.
This brilliant performance included two goals and three assists for Ismaila Sarr.
And now left-back Masina has urged his team-mates to follow it up at Preston tomorrow night, as they look to achieve 39 points from their final 17 matches.
He said: “I think this gives great confidence in our ambition to reach the Premier League.
“But, on the other hand, we need to keep our feet on the floor.
“I know it was a good result but it is just three points – to be sure to be in the Prem, we need 90 points. So it is a long way.
“We now have another opportunity on Tuesday and a chance to make another step forward.”
Watford were 4-0 up at half-time after running the sorry Robins ragged.
Ken Sema put the hosts ahead, just two minutes in, and scored his second after Sarr and Will Hughes (top) had also helped themselves to goals.
Super Sarr added a fifth in the second half before a first goal from Philip Zinckernagel (above).
The freescoring Hornets claimed such a convincing win even without skipper Troy Deeney, who was left on the bench after suffering a knee injury. But Masina said: “Troy spoke in the dressing room about how important it was, not just to win, but to show our improvement after three bad results.
“We followed his direction and we are happy about this.
“I think that was a good reply to our own performances. We need to improve again but we know we’re in a good way. All of us needed a good match like this.”
While it was delight for Watford (manager Xisco Munoz, right), it was misery for City.
Suddenly, their young boss Dean Holden is under pressure after five straight losses.
He said: “I have to find some answers. That’s the job of a head coach. It is easy when you are winning 3-0 or 4-0.
“This is a test for me as a young head coach. Every manager in history has gone through moments like this.
“I won’t feel sorry for myself. But I need to reflect. I’m sure there will be a couple of sleepless nights.”