Brentford vs Luton Town. Premier League.
Gtech Community StadiumAttendance17,075.
Report and highlights as Brentford come to life after drab first half to fire three goals past Luton and move into the top half of the Premier League above rivals Chelsea; Luton's Jacob Brown scored late but Brentford prevailed with goals from Neal Maupay, Ben Mee and Shandon Baptiste
Saturday 2 December 2023 21:02, UK
Thomas Frank says he was surprised Brentford were so dominant in Saturday's 3-1 over Luton at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford scored three second-half goals to lift themselves up above rivals Chelsea into 10th after bouncing back from defeat to Arsenal last Saturday. Neal Maupay and Ben Mee put the hosts 2-0 up 11 minutes after the restart as Luton struggled to cope following an injury to captain Tom Lockyer.
Luton looked as if they may have had a chance of snatching a point when Jacob Brown made it 2-1 after 76 minutes, but their hopes did not last long as substitute Shandon Baptiste wrapped up the points five minutes later.
"We were on top in this game. Definitely. No doubt about that," said Frank, whose side attempted their most passes and shots in a Premier League game this season. "It actually surprised me that we were that dominant throughout the game."
Luton are just two points above the relegation zone after Burnley thrashed Sheffield United 5-0. Worryingly for the Hatters, they appear to have lost centre-backs Lockyer and Teden Mengi to injury, ahead of games against Arsenal and Man City next week.
Brentford boss Frank called this, the first top-flight meeting between the two sides, a fairytale story for the Premier League. Saturday's one-sided game highlighted just how much further ahead Brentford are in their journey, while laying bare the problems face when it comes to survival.
Luton's mission to stymie Brentford's rather sluggish attack was not initially hindered by the injury to Lockyer early on as the defender fought on - topping stats for tackles, interceptions and clearances.
Brentford had five of their nine shots blocked by a resolute Luton back-line in the first period. The Bees had nearly 75 per cent possession, although Luton goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski's spill from a Yoane Wissa shot was perhaps their best chance.
It was a completely different story after the break as a transformed Brentford took full advantage of Lockyer's removal at half-time. They bossed the game and finally put their possession to good use, striking twice in quick succession.
Maupay scored the first fortuitously as Mee's scuffed shot was deflected to the striker, who made no mistake from six yards. Mee then got another chance at goal from a corner. He needed a Carlton Morris deflection, but it was enough for Brentford's second.
Luton appeared to be down and out but they have form for late goals and lived up to that reputation. Brown was slipped through by Ross Barkley to give the Hatters hope after a fine bit of skill allowed him to slot home.
Their optimism lasted all of four minutes, though, as Keane Lewis-Potter, a bright spark off the bench for Brentford, forced the third goal. Baptiste pounced on a rebound to finish from close range and put the game to bed.
Luton were left with one recognised centre-back on the pitch after Mengi was brought off with a knee injury. Rob Edwards, the head coach, could be without his key defensive duo for games against Arsenal and Man City, first and second in the league, over the next week.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank said: "We were on top in this game. Definitely. No doubt about that. It actually surprised me that we were that dominant throughout the game.
"I still think it is a fairytale and I still think these two clubs have the same dreams and ambitions. I know the way Luton and Rob Edwards work behind the scenes, I am sure they will be in a good place."
"For me I'm not surprised (about the goal)," Frank added of Maupay, who has three goal involvements in four league appearances since his loan move from Everton. "We were sure that he'll do well for us because we know him well and he can score goals.
"He's had to get back into it and in the last weeks he's played really good. I'm pleased it's paying off for him.
"He scores goals. That's a big thing. He's a good pressing player and link-up player when he drops down and finds a solution. As a mentality character he's good for the group and drives the group."
He added: "I'm very happy with [the players stepping up amid injury problems]. Vitaly Janelt is one of our flexible players but Saman stepped in and looked like he'd played at right-back for years.
"It's incredible that we can turn around with the amount of injuries we have. We have four full-backs out. Big credit to the players."
Luton boss Edwards said: "I felt we gave some early Christmas presents away in the second half and I feel they didn't have to work too hard for their goals. They had control and they deserved the win.
"We had gone away from giving gifts away - and we had done that in the first couple games of the season."
He added: "We were unlucky to lose two key players, we lost two centre-backs and there was some readjustment to do - one of them being our captain, a really important player, at half-time.
"Saying that, the goals were poor. Credit the lads - they kept going. It wasn't our day. We found a way to almost get back into it and again conceded a third goal. By that time we were very makeshift."
On Lockyer's injury, he said: "He hurt his back very early on and was hanging on until half-time. He did really well to get through to half-time.
"He was in some pain and hopefully he won't be too long. We've lost a few centre-backs already, we've got some that are close to returning which is really important. To lose two made it very difficult."
Brentford have back-to-back away matches to undertake over the next week, firstly at Brighton on Wednesday, kick-off 7.30pm, and then at Sheffield United on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
It does not get any easier for Luton as they welcome Arsenal on Tuesday night, kick-off 8.15pm, before hosting Manchester City next Sunday, kick-off 2pm - a game live on Sky Sports.
