Half-time: Brentford 2 Brighton 1

Goals from Moses Odubajo and Andre Gray put Brentford ahead at the break after a scintillating first half at Griffin Park.

In a game being played at breakneck speed at times, Brighton began brightly with some sharp football in and around the box and an Andrew Crofts shot which thumped against the upright.

On 12 minutes came a potential flashpoint. Gray was clipped by Lewis Dunk on the edge of the box as he tried to get goalside, but the defender escaped with only a yellow, to the frustration of Bees’ players and fans.

Five minutes later, James Tarkowski saved his side from going behind as he blocked at the near post after Sam Baldock had rounded David Button – and it proved a crucial intervention as the Bees went straight up the other end and scored.

After a swift break, Odubajo found space inside the box and drilled it low across former Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale and into the far corner.

The goal came against the run of play but it settled the Bees down and they started to play some lovely football, with Stockdale saving from Gray and Alan Judge curling a shot over.

Brentford doubled the lead on 32 minutes when Jake Bidwell found space down the left and put a cross on a plate for Gray to stab home.

Seven minutes later, Brighton reduced the deficit as the Bees failed to deal with a corner and Scotland centre-back Gordon Greer lashed home a loose ball from eight yards.

The same player thought he’d equalised when he netted in first-half stoppage time but the goal was disallowed because of a foul by Dunk on Jonathan Douglas.

Brentford (4-1-4-1): Button; McCormack, Tarkowski, Dean, Bidwell; Douglas; Odubajo, Pritchard, Judge, Jota; Gray.
Subs: Bonham, Craig, Tebar, Diagouraga, Dallas, Toral, Proschwitz.

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