Late goals give Bees victory over Leeds
Brentford 3 Leeds 1
Late goals from Yoann Barbet and Ryan Woods secured victory for Brentford at Griffin Park and lifted them into the top half of the Championship table.
Neal Maupay’s opener was cancelled out by Leeds’ Ezgjan Alioski – both headers resulting from goalkeeping clangers and sandwiching a penalty miss from the Bees’ Ollie Watkins.
But Barbet, who put in an impressive performance as the Bees’ stand-in left-back, sent a free-kick thudding beyond Andy Lonergan before Woods sealed victory in injury time.
Brentford took the game to their opponents from the first whistle and Barbet slammed a free-kick just wide before Watkins forced a diving save from Lonergan.
But the opening goal came out of nothing on 22 minutes as Barbet whipped a cross to the back post and the Leeds goalkeeper spilled the ball into the path of Maupay, who grabbed his third in four games.
The visitors created few opportunities, although Pierre-Michel Lasogga might have done better when he ran onto a long clearance and lobbed Dan Bentley, only to see the ball sail over the bar.
And the Bees should have doubled their lead just before half-time when Maupay was clattered by Pontus Jansson – but Watkins blazed the resulting spot-kick into the stand.
However, that miss did not appear to dent the forward’s confidence and he was unlucky not to make amends early in the second half, cracking a shot that grazed the left-hand upright.
At the other end, Bentley tipped Ronaldo Vieira’s drive over, but minutes later he allowed Gaetano Berardi’s cross to bounce and Alioski nodded into the unguarded net.
Samuel Saiz and Liam Cooper went close as Leeds threatened a turnaround, but it was the home side who finished on the front foot, hitting the woodwork again through Nico Yennaris.
Brentford eventually regained the lead with six minutes remaining when Florian Jozefzoon was brought down on the edge of the box and Barbet rifled the free-kick into the far corner.
And the win was assured when substitute Kamohelo Mokotjo broke down the left and teed up Woods to drill home Brentford’s third.
