Brentford 3 Portsmouth 2
Clayton Donaldson netted the winner as Brentford came from behind to snatch a dramatic victory with two late goals.
Heading for a major setback in their bid for automatic promotion, the Bees levelled through Bradley Wright-Phillips’ 85th-minute strike – his second goal of the game – and Donaldson scored 90 seconds later to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Brentford were denied an early lead after Jake Bidwell was fouled as he crossed for Donaldson to set up Sam Saunders, who volleyed into the net after the referee had awarded a free-kick for the initial infringement.
Portsmouth goalkeeper Simon Eastwood tipped the free-kick from Saunders onto the crossbar before Wright-Phillips fired in the opener from inside the area following Eastwood’s botched punch.
Portsmouth hit back immediately, Harlee Dean’s poor headed clearance falling straight to David Connolly, who curled home inside keeper Simon Moore’s right-hand post.
Brentford’s biggest home attendance of the season – 9149 – saw Shaun Cooper score a fine individual goal just after the break.
But Uwe Rosler’s side refused to give up and were rewarded when Toumani Diagouraga caused panic in the Pompey box and Wright-Phillips pounced on the loose ball to equalise.
And the on-loan Charlton man was not finished there.
He then sent Donaldson through with a glorious pass and Brentford’s top scorer did the rest, delightfully lifting the ball over Eastwood.
Brentford (4-4-2): Moore; Logan, Craig, Dean, Bidwell; Forshaw (Trotta 74), Douglas (Hodson 64), Diagouraga (Reeves 63) , Saunders; Donaldson, Wright-Phillips.
Subs not used: Gounet, O’Connor, Dallas, El Alagui.
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This post was last modified on 13/04/2013