MAUPAY STINGER SEALS BEES’ WIN
RELIEVED head coach Thomas Frank said his Brentford side’s bravery under pressure was the reason for their basement battle win over Bolton.
Bees edged to a nail-biting first win in seven games thanks to top scorer Neal Maupay’s 13th goal of the season.
The little Frenchman struck in the 63rd minute, chesting down a cross into the box before rifling home an unstoppable drive.
But Bolton made the Bees work for their win and will rue a string of missed chances to take something back to the north-west.
“The players, staff and fans stuck together and worked hard and got what they deserved,” said Frank.
“We knew this was a final because we could see there weren’t many points between us and the relegation area. No one said it, but we knew and we stayed focused to get the win we deserved.”
Frank insists there is much more to come from his young squad: “It was a solid performance. We know we have more, but sometimes you need that win to push you on to get there.”
Proud Bolton boss Phil Parkinson said “a moment of quality” was the only difference between the sides.
“it was a very tight game with very little in it,” he said. “Brentford started better, but we grew into the first half and got some good crosses in, but in the second half one moment of quality separates the teams.”
The first half was a tale of missed chances and sloppy passing from the hosts, who created a string of opportunities but lacked a clinical edge.
Ollie Watkins was the first to go close, but his volley at the far post after being picked out by Said Benrahma three minutes in, was well high and wide.
Benrahma was at the centre of the Bees’ most positive moves and ran at the visitors’ defence before the move ended with Kamohelo Mokotjo seeing his sizzling low drive deflected just wide.
Gary O’Neil had the first effort on goal for Wanderers just after the half hour, but his goal-bound piledriver was deflected agonisingly over the bar.
Maupay was well marshalled by big Trotters defenders David Wheater and Jason Lowe, and had to make do with a weak low shot easily saved by Ben Alnwick for his only effort, until his second half decider.
As Brentford struggled to find a way through Bolton’s dogged defence their frustration grew and they were forced into trying their luck from range.
Benrahma’s was the pick of the bunch, a dipping 25-yard effort forcing Alnwick into a good low save by the foot of his post.
Bolton went longer and Sammy Ameobi’s height was a constant threat to Brentford’s inexperienced defence and he thought he’d teed up Christian Doidge, but the ball rolled under his foot with the goal gaping.
As Bolton chased the game deep into injury time, keeper Alnwick came up for a corner and headed agonisingly wide with the Brentford defence all at sea.