Premier League match report: Brentford 4-3 Ipswich Town

The Blues, who were without a number of key players through injury and illness, took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Sammie Szmodics and George Hirst, but they were pegged back before the break as Yoane Wissa got one back before Harry Clarke scored an own-goal.

Bryan Mbeumo gave his side the lead from the spot before Harry Clarke was sent off, but substitute Liam Delap looked to have rescued a late point with a slick finish. In the end, it wasn't to be, as Mbeumo's overhit cross flew straight into the net to make it three consecutive defeats for Kieran McKenna's side.

For all the talk of Brentford’s fast starts, Ipswich looked the brighter in the opening stages of the game. Chiedozie Ogbene’s cross deflected out for a corner in the opening few minutes, which the hosts were able to clear. Soon after, however, they were forced to make a late block to deny Szmodics from scoring after some quick play down the left.

Sammie Szmodics fired Town ahead just before the half-hour mark (Image: PA)

What seemed to be a clear foul on Hirst was allowed by referee Lewis Smith in the seventh minute, allowing Brentford to have their first real foray forward. Town were quick to close down Bryan Mbeumo, however, before Christian Nordgaard’s long-range effort was blocked by Jens Cajuste.

Brentford grew into the game over time, although Keane Lewis-Potter’s quick feet allowed him to win a corner off Harry Clarke. The delivery was met by the head of Norgaard, who flicked it onto the right-back, forcing Arijanet Muric to make a close-range save in the 18th minute.

Counterattacks were always going to be key for Ipswich, and that’s where the opener came from. They patiently passed around the back before Kalvin Phillips picked out the run of George Hirst. The striker turned into space, playing the onrushing Szmodics through the middle to fire into the back of the net in the 28th minute.

George Hirst doubled the lead with his first Premier League goal (Image: Ross Halls)

They weren’t done there. Just three minutes later, captain Conor Chaplin picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and picked out Hirst on the right. On his full Premier League debut, he rushed through and chipped the ball over Mark Flekken, doubling Town’s lead. The only downside was Chiedozie Ogbene’s innocuous injury, which saw him stretchered off 10 minutes before the break.

Ipswich pushed to kill off the game before the break. So often this season, we’ve seen them punished for sloppy mistakes at the back, but they almost capitalised from a Brentford error as Szmodics won the ball back from Brentford’s goal kick. His shot was saved by Flekken in the 40th minute, with substitute Wes Burns unable to turn the rebound in.

Seconds later, a throw-in was flicked on to Leif Davis on the edge of the box, but he fired wide of the post.

Chiedozie Ogbene was stretchered off before Brentford scored two goals in quick succession to equalise (Image: PA)

If you don’t take your chances against Premier League teams, they’ll make you pay. In the 44th minute, quick play up the line from Brentford saw Lewis-Potter skip past a challenge from Phillips before playing Vitaly Janelt up the line. The midfielder squared it into the box for Wissa, who clinically converted from inside the box.

Then, just as six minutes of added time was announced over the tannoy, they struck again. Bryan Mbeumo’s flick allowed Mikkel Damsgaard to slip Wissa through on goal again, where he fired home off Harry Clarke to make it 2-2, which was confirmed after a VAR check.

Ipswich started the second half well, but were undone just six minutes after the restart as Brentford caught them out with a quick free-kick. It allowed Lewis-Potter to race through down the left, where Harry Clarke dragged him down.

Bryan Mbeumo's penalty saw the Bees complete their comeback (Image: PA)

Referee Lewis Smith initially awarded a free-kick and booked the right-back, but it was upgraded to a penalty after a VAR check, which Mbeumo stepped up and comfortably dispatched with a stuttered penalty, completing the comeback in the 51st minute.

The momentum had turned by the hour-mark, even if the Ipswich fans in the away end were making all of the noise. Lewis-Potter came close to grabbing a goal for himself, but his shot was blocked by Harry Clarke.

Unfortunately, the right-back ended up having a nightmare full Premier League debut, as he was judged to have fouled Lewis-Potter on the edge of the box. As a result, he was handed his second yellow card and sent off, although the replays showed he got the ball.

Liam Delap came off the bench to equalise late on, but Town avoid defeat in West London (Image: PA)

Mikkel Damsgaard stepped up to take the resulting free-kick, curling it onto the roof of the net. The midfielder came close once again in the 76th minute, but Muric made the save before Dara O'Shea could clear.

With all the odds stacked against them, you would've been forgiven for thinking that Ipswich would fold, but they were able to create something from nothing in the 86th minute after good work in midfield from Phillips. A pinpoint cross from Davis picked out substitute Delap, who stayed onside and managed to fire the ball past Flekken with an expert first-time finish.

Seven minutes of added time made for a nervy finale. Nathan Collins' late miss was a warning sign, but Brentford won it in the 96th minute as Mbeumo's overhit cross bobbled past Muric and into the net, breaking the hearts of those in the away end.

Even then, Ipswich had one last chance as Delap turned and smashed a shot off the post. It wasn't to be, however, with the hosts coming out as 4-3 winners.

Brentford XI: 4-3-3: Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, Pinnock, van den Berg; Janelt, Norgaard (Jensen 78'), Damsgaard (Schade 78'); Mbeumo, Wissa, Lewis-Potter (Carvalho 80')

Town XI: 4-2-3-1: Muric; H. Clarke, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis; Cajuste, (Townsend 90') Phillips; Ogbene (Burns 35’), Chaplin (Woolfenden 73'), Szmodics (J.Clarke 73'); Hirst (L. Delap 73')

Attendance: 17,109