Bryan Mbeumo scored a 96th-minute winner as Brentford beat Ipswich Town in a seven-goal thriller in the Premier League.
Mbeumo’s left-footed cross into the box evaded everyone and nestled into the bottom corner as the Bees remain unbeaten at home.
Substitute Liam Delap scored to make it 3-3 with four minutes remaining as he met Leif Davis’ cross and produced a delicate flicked finish past Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Brentford came from two goals down and looked set for victory as Harry Clarke was sent off for the away side having picked up two yellow cards.
Two goals in three minutes from Sam Szmodics and George Hirst had given the Tractor Boys hope of their first victory since returning to the division.
Kalvin Phillips’ threaded pass found Hirst who passed to Szmodics and the Ireland forward finished from 15 yards out.
Hirst then fired across Flekken as Kieran McKenna’s side took control.
However, their lead was wiped out before the break thanks to Yoane Wissa’s 44th minute goal and an unfortunate Clarke own goal in the space of two minutes.
Wissa found the back of the net from Vitaly Janelt’s cross and then got a shot away from a tight angle with Clarke getting the final touch and sending the ball into his own net.
Clarke brought down Keane Lewis-Potter in the box six minutes after the restart, earning his first booking, and Bryan Mbeumo scored the resulting penalty to make it 3-2 to the home side.
Clarke then fouled Lewis-Potter in the 69th minute as Ipswich were reduced to 10 men.
Delap scored to level matters, but Mbeumo’s late strike means Ipswich are still winless in the Premier League after nine games.
Incredibly, the away side almost rescued a point when Delap crashed an effort off the post with seconds left to play.
Brentford come through chaotic home encounter
There is something about the Gtech Community Stadium.
Earlier this month, Brentford were 5-3 winners against Wolves and this turned out to be another high-scoring encounter in West London.
After going two goals down in three minutes, Brentford seemed to be heading for their first home defeat of the season.
But Thomas Frank’s side rallied and got themselves back into the game with two goals before half-time.
“Being completely honest, I am still irritated. In many ways we did not do well enough, so big respect and praise to Ipswich. They were by far the better team for the first 40 minutes,” Frank told BBC Match of the Day.
“There was only one team on the pitch [in that period], it was one of our worst ever [periods] in the Premier League. Last year, we had a long spell of games that we couldn’t win, but this season we finally managed to win these sorts of games.
“It is not often that I’m that irritated, but we were so poor. In the football, and the Premier League, we take nothing for granted, so we need to enjoy the win.”
Mbeumo continued his superb scoring streak this season with seven of his eight goals coming at home. Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (11) has scored more in the league this campaign.
Wissa made his first start since he was injured against Manchester City in September and marked it with a crucial goal which got his side back into the game.
Brentford (W4-D1-L0) remain unbeaten in their opening five home matches of a top flight campaign for only the second time, after 1936/37 (first 15).
An afternoon to forget for Clarke
Both of Clarke’s bookings came after Lewis-Potter got the better of him in dangerous areas, something that happened throughout the game.
Clarke became just the second player in Premier League history to score an own goal, concede a penalty and be sent off in the same match after Jan Bednarek with Southampton against Manchester United in February 2021.
Ipswich will feel hard done by not to come away with a point after a spirited away performance.
Despite taking the lead and then conceding three goals before going down to 10 men, Ipswich were resilient and kept themselves in the match.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day afterwards, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna said: “The players delivered an outstanding performance in so many areas of the game, with eleven and ten men.
“It was a big step forward in terms of the resilience shown, it is disappointing we did not get any points today, but if we can show that character and belief and are competitive every week then things can turn and we can pick up points.”
Delap’s late equaliser meant he has scored four goals in his last four Premier League appearances and a goalscorer of his quality will stand Ipswich in good stead as the wait for their first league win continues.
The Tractor Boys have lost 10 points from winning positions in the league this season. Ironically, only today’s opponents Brentford (11) have lost more.
