MATCH FACT ALL SAID & DONE! Benrahma buries Rams
SAID BENRAHMA hit a goal-of-the-season contender as Brentford gave rivals Leeds and West Brom a reminder that their promotion to the Premier League is not sealed just yet.
The brilliant Algerian netted twice after the interval, his second goal a wonderful curling effort to nail
Derby.
That made it a magnificent seven straight wins and clinched at least a play-off spot.
But Bees boss Thomas Frank (above) said: “I think I’ve seen one more from Benrahma, one from Ollie Watkins, one from Bryan Mbeumo and one from Josh Dasilva better than that!
“I’m spoiled with good players that are a privilege to be around. Said is a top player, we knew he could be one of the best offensive players in the league – and he has proved that.”
Brentford have looked so good since the restart that any mini slip-up by Leeds or West Brom could now prove extremely costly.
Frank added: “I don’t think we can hide that we’re on a decent run.
“We are in promotion form – definitely.
“At the restart we did not have an aim for top two.
“But now can we catch them? If we can then fantastic, if not we can take the momentum into the play-offs.”
Brentford looked in the mood from the off and needed just three minutes to open the scoring with a goal that oozed class.
Dasilva’s pass found Mbeumo, whose clever shot hit the post but Watkins was on hand to make it 24 for the season.
But the Rams responded well with Chris Martin’s powerful drive well saved by David
Raya.
And Derby were level after 29 minutes as Wayne Rooney’s pass found the alert Jason Knight to drive home low and hard.
Suddenly, Frank’s team were rattled – something that you can rarely say about them these days – and Louie Sibley missed a decent chance following a break started by Tom Lawrence.
The momentum was cruelly whipped away from Derby, still competing for a play-off spot, four minutes into the second half.
And it was a real howler from keeper Ben Hamer.
Clever build-up play by Dasilva and Emiliano Marcondes set up Benrahma, whose powerful shot was fumbled into his own net by Hamer.
The Derby No.1 then dropped a Dasilva longranger as home confidence evaporated.
Benrahma’s moment of magic arrived on 64 minutes. He cut in from the left, beat two men before curling in delightfully. It was his 17th of the season and the
Bees’ 78th league goal.
Pride
Park boss
Phillip Cocu said: “It was frustrating. We played a decent game against a strong team but made heavy mistakes.
“It’s a shame this keeps happening.
“Ben Hamer took full responsibility for his mistake... but it was just poor defending overall.”
■ Emiliano Marcondes has been involved in seven goals in his last seven Championship appearances for Bentford (2 goals, 5 assists) – compared with just four in his first 40 outings.
DERBY
BRENTFORD