Frank hails 5-star Bees
THOMAS FRANK saluted Brentford’s stunning fightback as they came from behind to dent Blackburn’s play-off hopes.
Rovers were 2-0 up inside seven minutes but the five-star Bees hit back to claim a deserved victory thanks to Ollie Watkins’ double and strikes from Said Benrahma, Neal Maupay and substitute Sergi Canos.
Manager Frank (right) said: “At 2-0 down I looked at the players’ body language and they didn’t panic.
“I had a feeling we could turn it around.
“What an opportunity to show how we’ve improved as a team.
“I am very proud of the players. It was a top performance.”
Brentford came into the game on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run.
But the visitors flew out of the blocks and were ahead inside 90 seconds.
Adam Armstrong broke free down the right wing and crossed for Bradley Dack, who fired the opener past Daniel Bentley with a smart finish.
Brentford looked for an immediate response and David Raya got down well to turn Benrahma’s effort around the post.
Rovers doubled their lead shortly after. Harrison Reed floated in a free-kick and Danny Graham beat Bentley with a bullet header into the top corner.
The Bees pulled one back on 12 minutes.
Kam Mokotjo set up Benrahma, who bent the ball beyond Raya with a low effort from the edge of the box.
Graham squandered the chance to restore Rovers’ two-goal cushion when he dragged a shot wide, while Rico Henry blocked Armstrong’s effort.
Raya turned a Benrahma free kick against the bar then Maupay blazed over as the hosts looked for a leveller.
The Bees started the second half as they finished the first, with Raya doing well to deny Watkins and Maupay.
However, Watkins equalised just before the hour-mark when Benrahma played a short free-kick and the former Exeter forward fired past Raya with the aid of a deflection.
Brentford completed the turnaround on 73 minutes.
Raya tried to claim the ball in the box after Maupay’s shot was blocked.
But Watkins nipped in to head home into an empty net.
Bees’ top scorer Maupay sealed victory with a neat finish before birthday boy Canos climbed off the bench to add icing on the cake late on.
Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray moaned: “We gave away bad goals.
“They are a good team but we matched them for most of the game and could’ve scored five ourselves.
“We need to put it behind us and move on.”