Buzzing Bees in position to sting top two
THE last thing Said Benrahma needed was a helping hand.
With his bright pink boots and bleach- white hair, the Brentford winger glides in a dash of colour and, here again, proved he is blessed with more than just flashes of brilliance, too.
A pity for Derby, then, that goalkeeper Ben Hamer was feeling so hospitable.
With t hi s game f i nel y poised at one apiece, Benrahma wrestled Brentford’s automatic promotion push back on course. His second goal, No 16 for the season, was majestic — a curling effort from outside the box. His first, 15 minutes earlier, required extra gift- wrapping.
Shortly after half- time, Benrahma s hot t owards Hamer’s near post. The keeper dived and the fewdozen eyes inside Pride Park turned upfield. Then came cries of celebration: Hamer had al l owed t he ball to squeeze in. At such moments, seasons can turn and that’s now seven straight wins for Thomas Frank’s side, who remain on the heels of the top two.
‘I’m spoiled with good players, which is a privilege,’ said Frank. ‘ Said is a top player, we knew going into t his season he could be maybe the best offensive player in the league, I think he’s shown that.’
Derby’s play- off hopes, meanwhile, are fading. They had lost only one Championship game here since August and were deservedly level at half-time after Jason Knight had cancelled out Ollie Watkins’ 24th of the season.
‘ Due to mistakes or bad defending, we put ourselves out of the game — it’s just a shame this keeps happening,’ said Derby boss Phillip Cocu.
His side were undone early in both halves. Three minutes in, Josh Dasilva combined with Benrahma before finding Bryan Mbeumo. His shot hit the post, only for Watkins to turn home.
Derby rallied — Chris Martin tested David Raya from d i s t a n c e b e f o r e Wayne Rooney slid in Knight to equalise. Before the break, though, there were more warning signs.
After more Brentford possession, Emiliano Marcondes fed Benrahma inside the box. His shot was well struck but Hamer should have done better.
Worse came shortly after the hour — this time, though, there was no saving Benrahma’s strike.
The game grew stretched, Brentford had chances for more. They di dn’t need them.
LEE BOWYER hit out at the match officials after defeat to Reading dented their survival hopes.
Athletic boss Bowyer criticised referee Darren Bond and his assistants for chalking off Chuks Aneke’s goal for offside and denying Jake Forster-Caskey a late penalty, after George Puscas’ third-minute spot-kick proved enough for Reading.
Bowyer raged: ‘The officials have cost us the game, plain and simple.
‘These are big moments, there are careers on the line.’
BARNSLEY boss Gerhard Struber said he was concerned with his side’s lack of goals following their stalemate against 10-man Wigan.
A win could have lifted them off bottom spot, but the dour draw, which saw Wigan’s Danny Fox sent off after 71 minutes, kept them rooted to the foot of the table.
‘My strikers are not sharp enough to score goals,’ moaned Struber.
Wigan assistant manager Leam Richardson added that he thought it was a ‘point gained’ for the visitors.