CLOUGH FUMES AT STING IN THE TAIL
BURTON boss Nigel Clough slammed his side’s uncharacteristic defending after the Brewers chucked away three vital points.
Albion led Brentford 3-1 going into the break thanks to a superb firsthalf display which saw a Marvin Sordell double and a Cauley Woodrow goal cancel out Sergi Canos’ early opener.
But the Londoners smashed in four goals in a dominant second half to end Burton’s six-game unbeaten run and leave them just a point above the drop zone.
Clough said: “It was not like us at all to defend like that and it has cost us two important points.
“We needed to be stronger and to be ready for them coming out strong like they did after the break.
“We have to manage the game better than that and learn from it. We have been on a good run lately and we will continue to fight very hard for every point until we are safe.
“We had chances to make the game safe but it wasn’t to be. It is very disappointing.
“We are a team that always fights hard and we have many cup finals ahead now. We will continue to believe in what we are doing and fighting to stay up.”
Meanwhile, Bees boss Dean Smith praised his side’s fightback and their belief.
“We did not give up and we got our rewards,” Smith said.
“We were very poor in the first half and we spoke about it and said it was not good enough and not something that I will accept from these players.
“I demanded a response and that is what I got. I am really pleased for the lads and the fans.
“We had some real quality in the second half and to come back in the way we did is fantastic.
“We showed what we can do in the second half and I hope we can build on that in the next game.”
The Bees stung Albion when Canos volleyed home following a swift counter-attack on ten minutes.
The goal left the Burton followers fuming at referee Andy Madley after he waved play on during the build-up with Kyle McFadzean injured on the floor.
But the Brewers showed they are made of strong stuff and levelled when Sordell headed home from a corner on 21 minutes. And Sordell got his second of the game just two minutes later with a carbon copy of his first as the Londoners again failed to deal with a corner.
Woodrow slotted home beautifully from a 25-yard free-kick on 43 minutes as Burton took a firm grip on the match.
But Brentford mounted a stunning second-half comeback with Lasse Vibe firing home on 51 minutes to get the party started.
And the Bees were level when Canos took advantage of a defensive blunder to round Jon McLaughlin and score for a tight angle.
Brentford came agonisingly close to hitting the front when Florian Jozefzoon had a goal-bound shot cleared by John Brayford moments after coming on.
Woodrow missed a great chance to restore Burton’s lead on 75 minutes as he could only fire wide with the goal gaping.
And Burton were made to pay when Vibe turned home Jozefzoon’s cross to put Brentford ahead on 85 minutes.
It was game over a minute later when Jota slotted home from close range to net a fifth and leave the Brewers flat.