Brilliant Brentford roared back to winning ways with a commanding and stylish display at Griffin Park.
A brace by Josh Dasilva, in addition to goals by Emiliano Marcondes, Bryan Mbuemo and substitute Tariqe Fosu easily saw off slovenly Sheffield Wednesday.
With the Bees having inexplicably stuttered of late, harnessing four draws and a defeat it was vital to make a positive start against the 13th placed Owls, particularly with immediate results for promotion rivals Nottingham Forest and Fulham working in their favour.
And they answered the questions in emphatic fashion – scoring twice early on to ease any nerves of a sold out Griffin Park.
In the 10th minute, just after Ollie Watkins had cleverly flicked the ball against the crossbar, Dasilva started and finished a move, driving forward, before setting up Said Benrahma on the left. The subsequent cross was only cleared rather limply by Dominic Iorfa into the path of the buoyant Bees’ midfielder who drilled the ball home.
Just eight minutes later Marcondes struck. With Brentford holding possession deep inside the Wednesday half, the Dane took aim from 22 yards and blasted a fantastic shot which had sufficient power to shock Wednesday keeper Cameron Dawson.
The Owls managed to settle slightly and had a couple of aerial chances by Steven Fletcher and Alessio Da Cruz, but they were to, ultimately, pay a heavy price for a lack of incision.
The Yorkshire side were punished when the Bees made it three in the 40th minute. Mbuemo managed to break free of Owls’ attentions before keeping his cool to slide the ball under Dawson to put clear daylight between the teams.
The second half had a fairly tepid air about it for large spells although a fourth goal was always a possibility for Thomas Frank’s men. Eventually, it arrived in 72 minutes. Dasilva was on hand again to calmly tuck the ball under the legs of Dawson from around ten yards, having latched on to a through ball from Benrahma.
It was all so straightforward by then for the hosts – and substitute Tariqe Fosu obliged with number five. The midfielder had time to rifle low from twelve yards into the corner. A simple, fitting moment to crown a sublime afternoon for Brentford.
Brentford: Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Jeanvier, Dasilva (Valencia 84), Dalsgaard, Norgaard (Baptiste 78), Marcondes, Mbuemo (Fosu 78), Benrahma, Watkins.
This post was last modified on 07/03/2020