Bryan Mbeumo’s last-gasp penalty gives Brentford fightback win over Watford

For Brentford – who had confirmed earlier in the day that the club’s co-director of football Rasmus Ankersen is set to leave – the absence of top scorer Ivan Toney for the second match in a row due to Covid meant Frank turned to Mbeumo to lead the line. The forward has the dubious record of having struck the woodwork seven times already this season – more than any other player – but has now found the net three times in the league since Brentford’s promotion.

The instinctive shot from Shandon Baptiste in the third minute that Daniel Bachmann did well to tip over the bar gave an early indication that the hosts meant business on a chilly night in west London. The Austria international produced an even better save to deny Mbeumo’s curler from just outside the box before Watford took the lead against the run of play.

Joshua King’s shot took a deflection before striking the post and being cleared. The subsequent corner was taken by Tom Cleverley and headed home by an unmarked Dennis.

Brentford attempted to respond but – also missing defender Ethan Pinnock due to Covid and the suspended wing-back Sergi Canós – lacked the creativity to pierce a stubborn Watford defence and only looked truly dangerous on the break. Their victory here last season as both sides ended up securing promotion was their first over these opponents since they did the double against them in the 1976/77 Division Four campaign.

At the start of the second half the hosts struggled to raise their intensity to the required level and it wasn’t until the introduction of both Ghoddos and Marcus Forss off the bench that Brentford finally seemed to click into gear. Bachmann’s save to deny Vitaly Janelt turned out to be a warning of what was to come but only after a breakaway then saw King presented with a golden chance to seal the victory after being set up by Dennis. His shot was disappointing, albeit from a tight angle.

That was to prove crucial as Jansson’s late header from Janelt’s cross, after Watford had failed to clear a corner, gave Brentford their equaliser before Mbeumo did the rest from the spot. The win takes Frank’s side to the 20-point mark already, having played less than half of the season.

“We had a very good chance to score the second goal but ended up conceding twice,” Ranieri said. “But that is football – you have to concentrate until the end. We will learn our lesson.”