Bees’ high five keeps bid alive

BRENTFORD added the Championship’s biggest away win of the season to their scoring exploits to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive.

Thomas Frank’s side profited from a tactical revamp after four straight draws saw them cede ground in the race for the top two.

Their new 3-5-2 system was at the forefront here as they clawed back the gap to Watford to nine points — with a game in hand — in style.

‘There are no mind games. It’s clear that Watford have done well and look on top, so it’s up to them to lose it, but we will do what we can,’ said Frank.

Bryan Mbeumo, operating in an unfamiliar wing-back role, put the visitors 1-0 up when he slammed in Mads Roerslev’s fizzed, eighthminute cross.

Roerslev got away down the right again as Brentford doubled their lead, Marcus Forss — recalled to partner Championship top scorer Ivan Toney up front — steering in from 12 yards.

Toney headed in his 29th goal of the season at the back post from a Tariqe Fosu dink with 15 minutes left before the division’s most prolific team completed the rout through substitutes Sergi Canos and Emiliano Marcondes late on.

Preston interim manager Frankie McAvoy said: ‘The difference in the first half was that they showed the quality in the final third.’