STING IN TAIL AS BEES EYE TOP 2
Brentford rattled the cages of their promotion rivals as the battle to reach the Premier League hots up. they could certainly make life uncomfortable for leaders West Bromwich, who they face at home on friday night. Victory would cut the gap between them and the top two to just five points.
Brentford stole a march on Saturday when they beat third-placed fulham courtesy of two late goals. With West Brom only drawing at home to Birmingham and Leeds slipping to second place yesterday after losing 2-0 at Cardiff, the Bees are right in the running for an automatic promotion spot.
Brentford manager thomas frank had substsitute emiliano Marcondes to thank for changing the game at Craven Cottage.
After replacing Mathias Jensen in the 70th minute, Marcondes set up Said Benrahma to put Brentford ahead in the 88th minute before the pair reversed roles with
Benrahma picking out Marcondes to seal the win in stoppage time.
frank told those who weren’t going to start the game that they would all need to be ready to play their part as Brentford face a hectic schedule of eight games in just over four weeks.
frank said: ‘the same was said to emiliano. I told him, “emi, we’re going to need you. You’re going to be a big, big part of this and maybe you’ll not start as many games as you want”. It’s just a good example that everybody needs to act if you want to achieve something. We can only do this together.’
Marcondes added: ‘You look at the best teams in the world and it’s never about just the 11 who start. When you get on the pitch you just do everything you can to help.’
Stuttering pre-lockdown form continued for WEST BROM with a 0-0 draw against BIRMINGHAM — their third straight game without a goal, despite 21 shots and a dozen corners.
defender darnell furlong insists there is no reason to panic yet, ahead of the trip to fourth-place Brentford. ‘I was proud of our performance, but sometimes luck goes like that,’ he said. ‘We will be looking to stop the trend as soon as possible.’
one piece of good news for Albion was a 30th appearance for winger Matheus Pereira, which automatically turns his loan from Sporting Lisbon into a permanent transfer.
the top six chances of MILLWALL were dented by a 3-2 home defeat against DERBY, with 18-year- old Louie Sibley scoring a hat-trick to boost the rams’ prospects of a late run into the play- off places. But HULL are facing a second relegation in four seasons after
CHARLTON gave themselves a lifeline in what looks set to be a thrilling battle to avoid the drop.
Addicks captain Jason Pearce stooped to head home the only goal at the KCoM Stadium, pushing Hull into the relegation zone following a return of just two points from 36 this year.
‘from now, it’s in our hands. I’ve got belief in the players and I know they’re good enough,’ said Charlton manager Lee Bowyer, as his team climbed three places to 19th in the table.
MIDDLESBROUGH are also deep in trouble — above the relegation places on goal difference alone —
after a 3-0 battering at home by
SWANSEA.
they came down from the Premier League with Hull in 2017 and are facing the prospect of third-tier football for the first time since 1986-87.
Liverpool loanee rhian Brewster scored twice before Andre Ayew converted a penalty to leave the play- off hopefuls in complete command inside 34 minutes.
‘It’s not nice to see that kind of performance and it wasn’t good enough,’ said Boro manager Jonathan Woodgate.
HUDDERSFIELD must be fearful of back-to-back relegations after a 2-0 home defeat by WIGAN saw them slide to 20th, just a point above the drop zone.