Brentford 3 West Ham 2
Thomas Frank’s side had found some form recently after going on a bit of winless-streak as they welcomed West Ham to the Gtech Community Stadium. The visitors were without Paqueta and Alvarez due to suspensions.
The Bees are impressively unbeaten in their last thirteen London derbies. Goalkeeper Flekken almost had egg on his face as he slipped in possession of the ball but he was able to hack it clear from on the floor, fortunately for Brentford.
It was one of those ‘where were you when’ moments as Frank’s side mounted the pressure and Wissa had a shot blocked before the ball was finally turned home by Maupay for his first goal in 45 games.
Such was the wait for a Neal Maupay goal, bookies often had the club mascots Buzz and Buzzette at lower odds to get the first goal for Brentford than the hapless striker but he proved them all wrong against The Hammers.
Credit: @premierleague
West Ham made a quick reply as Antonio crossed the ball and Kudus struck a stunning scissor-kick volley which nestled in the top corner. You will be seeing that one again when the goal of the month award comes around.
Benrahma swung a great cross in which Kudus got a thigh to, only to see it come back off the post but Jarrod Bowen controlled it and knocked it home to become the first West Ham player ever to score in their first six away games of the season.
David Moyes’ side had managed to turn the game on its head in the space of seven minutes. Bowen continued to cause problems and as he played it to the back post, Antonio turned it wide, taking it off the foot of Benrahma who would have had an easy tap in.
The game was end to end stuff now and as Janelt fizzed a ball in, Mbuemo met it with a stunning connection, only to see his effort go inches wide of the far post. So close to levelling things up before the interval.
In the second half, Brentford played a short corner to Mbuemo who whipped in a brilliant inswinging cross which Mavropanos could only head into his own goal as he tried to flick it over the crossbar. The Greek defender looked like he wanted the ground to eat him up.
The Bees were in rampant mood after their equaliser and Jensen stood up a great cross to the back post where Collins met it with a towering header that left Areola rooted to the spot as the hosts themselves turned the game around.
Credit: @premierleague
West Ham went in search of a goal to square the game up and as Kudus laid it off to Fornals on the edge of the box, his sweetly struck effort was always on the rise and narrowly shaved the crossbar as it headed over.
Thomas Frank’s side made it three wins on the bounce and the Gtech Community Stadium was bouncing as they got all three points in yet another London derby. West Ham meanwhile had a vampire performance as they failed to deal with crosses all afternoon.
Sitting in the top half of the table, The Bees will see this as a positive considering they are still missing their talisman, Ivan Toney. Any side would miss his goals and January cannot come quick enough for the West London outfit.
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