Brentford continue charge with a regal show to beat Royals
IN-FORM Brentford moved to within two points of the Championship’s automatic promotion places with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Reading.
Bryan Mbeumo gave Brentford the lead midway through the first half, stooping to nod home his 15th goal of the season.
Josh Dasilva increased their advantage just past the hour mark and Joel Valencia added a third goal in the 90th minute to secure a fourth successive league victory for the West London side.
Brentford made a sluggish start and were unable to make any significant headway in the final third of the pitch.
When they did manage to, Christian Norgaard’s tame header - from an Emiliano Marcondes corner was easily gathered by home goalkeeper Rafael.
Sam Baldock had earlier created Reading’s first opportunity but drove wastefully wide from 20 yards out.
Brentford gradually eased themselves into the game and were rewarded when going ahead in the 23rd minute.
Another Marcondes corner from the left was headed back at the far post by the unmarked Ethan Pinnock.
Mbeumo nipped in to nod home from close range - on his first start since having to self-isolate after testing positive for coronavirus.
Brentford assumed control until half time, with 23-goal top scorer Ollie Watkins twice shooting wide from decent positions.
Watkins had a third opportunity in the early stages of the second period but again failed to trouble Rafael from distance.
Reading then probed earnestly for the equaliser, mainly through the hard-working
Yakou Meite.
But the Brentford defence held firm and keeper David Raya - as per most of the first half - had little to do.
Reading playmaker John Swift could have tested Raya but he dragged a poor shot off target.
Brentford effectively sealed the win in the 64th minute, when Rafael made a fine save but could only parry Dasilva’s powerful 25-yard drive.
Dasilva was allowed to follow up on the loose ball to slot in his ninth goal of the campaign.
Substitute Valencia then made it 3-0 near the end with another wellstruck Brentford effort from long range that, this time, Rafael was unable to stop.
■ CONOR Chaplin answered Barnsley’s prayers as he came off the bench to score in a 2-0 win over Blackburn that does wonders for his side’s survival hopes.
Chaplin needed less than three minutes to make an impact as he opened the scoring in the 58th minute, with Jacob Brown sealing the three points for the Reds in the final 15 minutes.
It is their second win in three games of the restart, all without conceding a goal, and puts them a point from safety, though all the teams around them have yet to play in this round of matches.
Blackburn, who had Ben Brereton sent off in the second half, will rue some missed first-half chances and the defeat does nothing for their shrinking play-off hopes.
■ FULHAM’S Cyrus Christie scored a spectacular second-half winner as Fulham beat QPR 2-1. Jordan Hugill gave Rangers a firstminute lead before former Cardiff loanee Harry Arter equalised. efforts of winger