Rife of Bryan fires up Frank
PORT VALE
Harratt 70
4 Forss 26, Mbeumo 66, 76, 87 pen
BRENTFORD
DAVID LYNCH
THOMAS FRANK says Brentford can juggle the demands of a punishing Premier League schedule and an FA Cup run after securing a place in the fourth round.
A hat-trick from substitute Bryan Mbeumo helped a much-changed Bees see off Port Vale.
And boss Frank is hopeful that can mark the start of another lengthy cup run, even if Premier League safety is considered the priority.
He said: “I played a strong team out there and had a strong bench because we like to do well.
“We also wanted to have a real go in the Carabao
Cup this year and got to the quarter-final and went toe-to-toe with Chelsea.
“I want to go far in the FA Cup, too. I want to nail the balance, but it’s maximum focus on the next game.”
Vale counterpart Darrell Clarke said: “We were a bit rusty and looked like we hadn’t played for 28 days. But in the second-half we had a good go.”
Marcus Forss broke
Vale’s resistance after 26 minutes, finishing off a sweeping move by curling into the top corner.
However, while the Bees hit the bar just before the end of the first-half, they were in for a more stern test after the break.
The hosts showed more endeavour down the flanks, with David Worrall’s crossing giving Vale’s forwards the service they lacked in the opening half.
Frank would have been relieved to see Mbeumo score on the break four minutes after his introduction, but Vale were quickly back in the contest.
The lifeline came from teenage striker Kian
Harratt – signed on loan from Huddersfield 24 hours earlier – who headed in a left-wing cross.
Worrall was denied at close range by Jonas Lossl and the debutant keeper almost offered Dennis Politic an open goal by missing a ball he came to collect.
However, Mbeumo settled the visitors’ nerves by powering in a left-foot strike after breaking away.
And he had a hat-trick soon after, coolly passing home a penalty after a foul on Ivan Toney.
Frank added: “It’s brilliant for Bryan. He’s been superb for us this year in the Premier League, I think he’s done really well.
“He came back from an injury and we knew we wanted to play him to have him ready for Tuesday and he’s just come in with three quality finishes.”
PORT VALE: Stone 6; Cass 6, Martin 6, Smith 6, Gibbons 6 (Benning 59, 5); Worrall 7, Garrity 7, Pett 6 (Walker 81), Conlon 7; Amoo 5 (Politic 59, 7), Wilson 5 (Harratt 54, 7).
Subs not used: Covolan, Bailey, Jones, Mcdermott, Burgess.
BRENTFORD: Lossl 7; Ayer 7 (Roerslev 62, 6), Sorenson 6, Pinnock 7; Stevens 7, Janelt 6 (Baptiste 71, 7), Bidstrup 8, Thompson 6 (Toney81); Wissa 6 (Mbeumo 62, 9), Forss 7, Ghoddos 6 (Peart-harris 81). Fernandez, Norgaard, Jansson, Young-coombes.
Bryan Mbuemo. His hat-trick off the bench settled a tie that was