Ollie goal sets up a late twist
OLLIE WATKINS was the Bees’ knees again as Brentford closed to within a point of an automatic promotion place.
If West Brom can bear to look in the rear view mirror, they will see Thomas Frank’s coveted BMW coming up fast behind them.
Brentford’s 57-goal front three – Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Watkins – look unstoppable as the Baggies stutter.
Eight consecutive wins and Watkins leading the Championship’s scoring charts with 25 goals speaks for itself.
But goalkeeper David Raya needed to make a flying save to keep out Darnell Fisher’s thunderous free-kick.
Defeat all but ended Preston’s hopes of making the play-offs. Brentford may yet christen their new stadium at Kew Bridge as a Premier League club.
Buoyant manager Frank dared to dream, saying: “We are already in the play-offs, so why not give it a shot for direct promotion? There are two games to go, we are one point behind West Brom, we are on a high.”
Watkins has now matched Neal Maupay’s 25 goals last season and Frank joked: “It’s a statement that I produce 25-goal strikers each year. Ollie is a joy to work with.”
The striker took just four minutes to score the winner, burying Emiliano Marcondes’ exquisite pass.
Preston boss Alex Neil said: “Now it is straightforward. We try and win the next game and if results go our way, then great.”
BRENTFORD (4-3-3): Raya 7; Dalsgaard 8, Pinnock 7, Jansson 8, Henry 7; Jensen 6 (Dasilva 67, 6), Norgaard 6, Marcondes 7 (Zamburek 87); Mbeumo 6 (Valencia 75), Watkins 7, Benrahma 7.
Goal: Watkins 4.
PRESTON (3-5-2): Rudd 6; Storey 7, Bauer 6, Hughes 7; Fisher 7 (Stockley 75), Browne 6 (Potts 75), Ledson 6 (Harrop 84), Johnson 7, Rafferty 7; Maguire 6 (Bodin 85), Barkhuizen 6 (Sinclair 75).