Dean gets a kick out of hotshot Maupay

BRENTFORD boss Dean Smith admitted he thought about leaving matchwinner Neal Maupay out of the side following a stamping ban.

Maupay scored in each half to take his season’s tally to seven, on his return from a three-match suspension for clashing with Aston Villa’s John McGinn.

His double fired the Bees up to second in the Championship table.

But it was a grim day for Wigan – who saw Sam Morsy sent off for a wild challenge on Yoann Barbet after 58 minutes – with only keeper Christian Walton preventing a rout.

Brentford, though, are looking serious promotion candidates and Smith said: “It was a tough decision to bring Neal back in, as we had played well in the win against Nottingham Forest with Olly Watkins as centre-forward.

“But I just felt Neal was in a rich vein of form, he had his misdemeanour against Villa and has been disciplined.

“I would have been wrong to leave him out, they were two great poacher’s goals.

“He will be disappointed he didn’t get more. Their keeper made some good saves.

“With the red card it was the follow through for me, it seemed to be with the forearm. Our players were certainly very angry about it.”

Wigan boss Paul Cook said: “I have got no complaints, Brentford are the best we have faced this season.

“For the sending-off I haven’t seen it back yet but my feeling was he went in to head the ball. I’ll apologise if I’m wrong.

“But I was disappointed with the reaction of the Brentford bench.

“There are no positives to take from today – only that we won’t have to come back here this season.”

French striker Maupay was denied twice by Walton before he broke the deadlock in the 24th minute.

Said Benrahma cut the ball back and Maupay was on the spot to turn it home.

With Walton standing between Wigan and a cricket score Morsy was shown a straight red card and Maupay added his second from close range.