Tarkowski’s equaliser rescues point as Bees fightback stuns Ipswich

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Brentford 2 Ipswich Town 2

Andre Gray and James Tarkowski both struck in injury time to rescue a point for Brentford in a remarkable start to Marinus Dijkhuizen’s reign at Griffin Park.

Ipswich had looked well set for three points when Kevin Bru and Ryan Fraser scored either side of half-time.

But Gray, left out of the starting XI amid a bid from Hull City, was introduced soon after the second goal and pulled one back in the first of five injury-time minutes.

Then, in a manic penalty-area scramble, Tarkowski applied the finishing touch from virtually on the goalline to earn a draw and spark relieved celebrations.

Brentford had shaded a high-tempo first half and could have gone ahead had Bart Bialkowski not brilliantly clawed away Jota’s first-half header, or through Alan Judge’s curling free-kick.

Instead, Ipswich weathered the Brentford threat and took the lead on the stroke of half-time. Fraser’s effort came back off the inside of the post and the loose ball was worked into the path of Bru, who drove home.

Within a few minutes of the restart, Mick McCarthy’s side grabbed a second as a sleeping Brentford defence was caught out by Bru’s clipped pass, Freddie Sears went wandering clear and he set up Fraser for the simplest of finishes.

The impressive Bru continued to run the game, forcing Button to beat away a shot from the edge of the box, while at the other end Bialkowski smothered at the feet of Bees sub Lasse Vibe.

Brentford pressed in the closing minutes and were given hope as Gray raced clear and slotted in.

And with keeper David Button sent up for one last corner, the ensuing chaos saw the ball drop for centre-back Tarkowski to equalise.

Brentford: Button; McCormack (Vibe 71), Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell; Diagouraga, Kerschbaumer (Gray 55); Jota, Judge, Gogia; Hofmann.
Subs not used: Bonham, Bjelland, O’Connell, Yennaris, Barbet.

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