Hot Jot is just two good for boss Ollie
BRENTFORD .. 3 QPR .................. 1
BRENTFORD claimed their first double over west London derby rivals QPR in more than half a century.
Spanish winger Jota with two second-half goals in four minutes added to Yoann Barbet’s first-half strike as the Bees outclassed the Hoops, whose goal came from Joel Lynch.
QPR boss Ian Holloway predicted Brentford would be relegated at the start of the season and said the Bees had regressed since the departure of Mark Warburton.
But current boss Dean Smith said: “We know what we are about and we get our heads down and get on with our job. People will always have opinions but all we can do is keep working hard. Results like this mean we can go about our jobs with smiles on our faces.”
Holloway hit back, insisting he had been misquoted and said: “Let’s get this straight. I said if you keep selling your best players you will struggle if a manager keeps having the rug pulled from under his feet. Brentford have a brilliant way of playing so well done.”
The hosts broke the deadlock after 31 minutes when centre-back Barbet smashed Jota’s corner into the roof of the net on the half volley. And Jota made it two after 60 minutes when he sent Rangers keeper Alex Smithies the wrong way from the spot after Maxime Colin was scythed down in the box by Nedum Onuoha.
Lynch gave the visitors hope two minutes later when he glanced home Luke Freeman’s corner.
Jota made it safe seconds later with a goal of the season contender as he took Barbet’s drilled diagonal ball in his stride, left former Bees defender Jake Bidwell for dead with his first touch and slotted home.
Holloway, targeted by Rangers fans who hurled rubbish at him at full-time, urged his players to secure the club’s Championship future against Nottingham Forest next week.
He said: “For me it’s simple. We have to draw or win. We still have work to do.
“Anyone who is a real QPR fan has to take this one on the chin with dignity because we have to come together to beat Forest.”
BRENTFORD: Bentley; Colin (Clarke 71st), Dean, Barbet, Henry; Woods, Yennaris; Jota, Sawyers, Canos (Jozefzoon 71st); Vibe (Shaibu 87th) QPR: Smithies; Perch, Onuoha, Lynch, Bidwell; Luongo, Goss (LuaLua 46th), Freeman; Mackie (Sylla 67th), Smith, Washington (N’Gbakoto 68th) STAR MAN: Jota Ref: J Adcock