Swansea City vs Brentford. Sky Bet Championship.
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Report and highlights from the Sky Bet Championship clash at the Liberty Stadium
Tuesday 22 October 2019 23:01, UK
Brentford registered a rare success at Swansea with a convincing 3-0 Sky Bet Championship victory.
The Bees had not managed a league win in this part of south Wales since 1995, but Said Benrahma and an own goal from Jake Bidwell - a former Brentford player - put them in control before half-time.
Bryan Mbeumo sealed matters after 56 minutes, and the scoreline if anything flattered a Swansea side who had no answer to Brentford's incisive counter-attacks.
Swansea had started the evening in third place, but they finished it in seventh as their winless home run extended to four games.
Brentford started brightly after being buoyed by their dramatic 3-2 weekend win over Millwall when they scored three times in the final eight minutes.
Ollie Watkins saw his low effort tipped around a post by Freddie Woodman and Josh Dasilva's goalbound drive was blocked by Borja Baston in a crowded goalmouth.
Swansea had been slow out of the blocks but winger Kristoffer Peterson raced past Henrik Dalsgaard to set up Yan Dhanda for a shot which was deflected on to the roof of the net.
Peterson provided the most dangerous moments for Swansea on his first league start.
The Swede had only played 69 minutes from the bench since his £700,000 summer move from Dutch club Heracles, but he again embarrassed Dalsgard before the move petered out and Swansea tried to get the ball to him as much as possible.
But Brentford took the lead on the half-hour as Christian Norgaard and Kamohelo Mokotjo played passes through the Swansea midfield.
Watkins laid the ball back to Mokotjo and he sprayed it wide for Benrahma to collect and score with a brilliant curler from just inside the area.
There was worse to come for Swansea six minutes later as Peterson's wayward pass was picked off by Watkins, who shrugged off Dhanda to advance.
Watkins attempted to find Bryan Mbuemo with a through ball but Bidwell, who scored only three goals in over 200 Brentford appearances, intervened to toe-poke it into his own goal.
Swansea boss Steve Cooper responded to the chorus of boos at half-time by replacing Jay Fulton and Dhanda with George Byers and Bersant Celina, but Woodman was busy again to foil Julian Jeanvier and Watkins.
Peterson whistled inches wide from 20 yards but an error from Wales defender Joe Rodon, on his 22nd birthday, allowed Mbeumo to score for the second successive game with a clinical finish.
Benrahma and Watkins went close to adding to Swansea's discomfort before the hosts were denied a consolation when David Raya saved brilliantly from Byers at his near post.
Swansea boss Steve Cooper: "It's only a few days until the next game. This is done. It's disappointing and it will hurt for a little bit but we have to get on with it. It's a sell-out. It's a big game we know that. I am just pleased we are at home whoever we are playing so we can face up to things and get over some hurdles.
"I am not going to hide away from a poor scoreline at home. Three-nil is never a good thing in any way, shape or form. They were three really disappointing goals we conceded. We were way too passive, and if you are like that at this level you will get punished."
Brentford boss Thomas Frank: "We talked about this at the start of the season. New players coming in and finding their way, we knew it would take time to settle in. Benrahma was injured at the start of the season, and he is one of the best offensive players in this league.
"He's had to build that match tempo and match fitness, but we know at times he's unplayable. It means a lot to get goals from him and Bryan as well as Ollie (Watkins). Teams that meet us, they need to worry about three players."
