Dallas strikes late as Bees stun Derby

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Brentford 2 Derby County 1

A stunning injury-time strike from substitute Stuart Dallas earned Brentford a thoroughly deserved win after an enthralling second half.

Championship pacesetters Derby had dominated the first period and Chris Martin gave them the lead when he turned home Craig Forsyth’s cross.

But the Bees were a different proposition after the break and Andre Gray had them on terms on 49 minutes, curling home after being set up by Moses Odubajo’s dynamic run.

Gray also hit the post with a header and deep into stoppage time Dallas drilled in a first-time shot from just inside the box to snatch the points.

Steve McClaren’s Derby came into the match having won their last five away games, including a 5-2 hammering of Fulham in the League Cup in midweek.

But although they began with purpose, Simon Dawkins firing into the side netting, a hard-working Brentford defence largely kept them at arm’s length.

That was until Forsyth found space to cross and Martin slid in to guide the ball into the far corner.

Brentford were limited to counter-attacks in the first half, with Jota looking lively, but they were much the better side after words of encouragement from boss Mark Warburton.

Just four minutes after the restart, they were level. Odubajo, in at right-back for the injured Alan McCormack, ate up the yards with a superb run and teed up Gray, who curled a fine shot beyond Jack Butland.

Midway through the second half, Gray saw a header come back off the post while Derby substitute Jordan Ibe had a shot blocked by Bees keeper David Button, who also gathered a Martin header.

Both sides pressed for the winner but the defences looked likely to emerge on top until home pressure told on Derby.

Alan Judge’s cross from the right-hand side flashed through several bodies in the box and found Dallas, who made no mistake to stun Derby and send Griffin Park wild.

Brentford (4-1-4-1): Button, Odubajo, Dean, Craig, Bidwell; Douglas; Jota (Pritchard 65), Diagouraga, Toral (Dallas 65), Judge, Jota; Gray (Proschwitz 75).
Subs not used: Bonham, Saunders, Smith, Tarkowski.

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