Ten-man Brentford sunk by late Owls winner

Brentford 1 Sheffield Wednesday 2

A last-minute goal by Lucas Joao condemned 10-man Brentford to defeat at Griffin Park.

Joao netted in a frenetic end to the game after Alan Judge’s 77th-minute equaliser had cancelled out Atdhe Nuhiu’s opener.

Nuhiu fired Sheffield Wednesday ahead from the penalty spot on 36 minutes after James Tarkowski had been sent off for fouling him in the box.

Brentford battled on and scored just before the Owls were also reduced to 10 men when Jeremy Helan was sent off for a second booking after a foul on Sergi Canos.

Judge found the far corner with a glorious strike from near the left-hand edge of the penalty area, but Brentford’s good work was undone when Jack O’Connell slipped and Joao showed great composure to steer the ball past keeper David Button.

Brentford struggled in the first half and Tarkowski, back in the side after a calf injury, bundled Nuhiu over as the Austrian striker shaped to shoot. Referee Geoff Eltringham red-carded him after consulting his assistant.

Wednesday had been the better team, with Nuhiu heading Ross Wallace’s right-wing corner against the bar, having seen an earlier header saved by Button and another drift narrowly wide.

Wallace tormented Fulham at Hillsborough last weekend and his left-footed deliveries from the right flank were a problem for Brentford as well.

And Barry Bannan created a chance for Wednesday from the opposite side, sending in a superb cross towards the far post, where Marco Matias was just unable to apply the finish with a diving header.

The hosts eventually enjoyed a spell of pressure, with Marco Djuricin slicing wide from a corner by Judge, who then crossed from the right for Jake Bidwell to volley over.

However, just as Brentford appeared to be growing in confidence, they found themselves a goal behind and a man short.

They responded with a gritty second-half display and went close when Judge’s left-wing free-kick was not cleared and ended up clipping the post.

Keeper Keiren Westwood then did well to deny Bidwell but was powerless to stop Judge’s leveller.

Lasse Vibe squandered a wonderful chance to put Brentford ahead late on when he blazed over. It proved to be a costly miss.