Wissa gives lift to boss after death of father
YOANE WISSA proved why Brentford fans who fear Ivan Toney’s departure could be terrible news may need a re-think.
The French striker scored a stunning 95th-minute winner to complete a perfect smash-and-grab partnership with Bryan Mbeumo.
Both strikers have lived in the shadow of Toney, but they stepped into the sunlight on the south coast to damage Bournemouth’s hopes of a top-10 finish.
After both sides had suffered at the hands of VAR, Wissa cushioned a long-kick from goalkeeper Mark Flekken into the path of Mbeumo who made it 1-0 in the 86th minute.
Dominic Solanke (right) underlined his own superb goalscoring instincts when he headed an equaliser five minutes later – his 21st goal of the season. But Wissa – who now has six goals in his last 12 matches – was then the beneficiary as Mbeumo returned the favour.
Mbeumo’s neat pass opened the space for Wissa to lash home a winner deep into stoppage time.
After they went 1-0 ahead, the Brentford players ran to embrace their manager, Thomas Frank, whose father, Preben, died on Friday.
“That was quite special,” said Frank. “My dad passed away yesterday.
These players are very special, with a
B’mouth 1 Brentford 2
fantastic character in many ways.
“They have shown their character throughout the season in the tough moments.”
Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said a “big, big, big mistake” from rookie referee Matt Donohue cost his team.
Donohue made his debut in the Premier League but left Iraola irate after firstly ruling out a Solanke strike for handball, with the help of VAR, before deciding Solanke had committed a foul in the build-up to another disallowed goal.
Iraola said: “At the end you have lost the game and it is always ugly when you complain after you have lost the game. But the truth is, we should have been 2-0 up after the first half.
“The second goal is obviously a big, big, big mistake. You whistle the foul, in two seconds there is a goal, and then you can see it in the replay there is no foul.”
Frank admitted calls could have gone either way, but said: “The boys have put in the effort and foundation in the last three matches.”
B’MOUTH: Travers 7; Smith 6 (Adams 80), Zabarnyi 7, Senesi 7, Kelly 6; Cook 6, Christie 6 (Scott 80); Semenyo 7, Kluivert 6 (Unal 66, 6), Ouattara 5 (Tavernier 66, 6); Solanke 6. BRENTFORD: Flekken 7; Ajer 6 (Roerslev 62, 6), Collins 6, Pinnock 7, Reguilon 6; Damsgaard 6 (Schade 74), Norgaard 6 (Jensen 62, 6), Janelt 6 (Yarmoliuk 84); Mbeumo 7, Toney 6, Lewis-potter 6 (Wissa 62, 8).
MAN OF THE MATCH: Yoane Wissa - An impact player in every sense.
REF: M Donohue