Bryan Mbeumo’s penalty and Kevin Schade’s header saw Brentford win 2-1 at Crystal Palace in a mid-table Premier League clash.
Mbeumo initially saw a 63rd minute penalty hit the left post and rebound effort put wide – following Maxence Lacroix’s foul on Nathan Collins – before Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened due to Marc Guehi’s encroachment, which saw the forward put his re-taken penalty into the right corner.
Brentford wrapped up victory with a 80th minute header from Kevin Schade who met Mikkel Damsgaard’s cross in a week which saw Damsgaard sign a new contract at the Bees.
New signing, Romain Esse made an instant impact on debut for Palace as he tapped in a 85th minute consolatory goal from Daniel Munoz’s low cross.
Brentford’s victory saw them stay 11th in the table but crucially four points clear of Palace who remain 12th.
Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Esse was delighted to make an instant impact on his debut despite the defeat but is keen to kick on and show his potential.
“It couldn’t have. First touch, first goal. It’s the start I would love to get off to. Gutted about the result and hopefully we can fix it next week.
“Push on, express myself as soon as I get onto the pitch. If the game had gone for another 10 minutes, we would have got another couple of goals.
“I went over to the left side for a bit to try and get to the ball. I ended up at the back post. It’s instincts. It’s what I’m about and the more games I’ll play, the more to come.
“I’m hungry for a spot in the team so I’ll keep going and work hard in training.”
Just one point separated both teams prior to kick-off at a chilly wet and windy Selhurst Park but Palace nearly got in front just 15 seconds after kick-off, as Eberechi Eze pounced on Will Hughes’ pass but scruffed his shot wide of the left corner.
Palace continued to control much of the opening phase in which Jean-Philippe Mateta was unleashed by Eze in the seventh minute, only for the Frenchman’s shot to be punched behind by Mark Flekken as Brentford dug in defensively.
Thomas Frank’s Bees however steadily grew into the game attacking wise but Yoane Wissa put their first decent chance wide in the 22nd minute, before Kevin Schade’s header minutes later was saved.
Neither team though were able to produce many further clear-cut chances before half-time as Eze and Jefferson Lerma saw shots saved, whilst Sepp van den Berg put a 40th minute header from a corner-kick wide for the Bees amidst tricky conditions.
Conditions continued to pose a tough challenge in the second half as Brentford produced a stronger restart but Wissa’s 49th minute shot could only find Dean Henderson’s palms.
Palace came closest to breaking the deadlock as Eze’s free-kick took a brutal deflection which diverted it away from the far-bottom right corner and off the right post instead.
Brentford soon came closest to the opening goal as Lacroix brought down Collins just past the hour mark, yet Mbeumo hit the left post and flicked his rebound shot wide of the opposite corner.
VAR however ruled that Palace’s Marc Guehi had encroached on the penalty area when Mbeumo struck his initial penalty and ordered a retake, which the Cameroon international duly dispatched into the right corner to put the Bees ahead.
Brentford subsequently weathered Palace’s increased pressure until a quick 80th minute attack up the right saw Damsgaard’s cross nodded into the far right corner by Schade, which saw the Bees clinch a first away win over Palace in the Premier League.
Palace however managed to set up a grandstand finish in a futile fightback as debutant, Esse tapped in Munoz’s 85th minute low cross, after Munoz had initially met Eze’s deep cross at the right post but Brentford resiliently clung on to move four points clear of Oliver Glasner’s Eagles.
What’s Next?
Palace head to Manchester United at Old Trafford next Sunday 2 February at 2pm GMT in another mid-table league clash.
Brentford will also be in action at the same time on 2 February as they host Tottenham at Gtech Community Stadium in another London derby.
Teams
Crystal Palace: Dean Henderson, Chris Richards (Kamada 84′), Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi, Daniel Munoz, Will Hughes (Esse 83′), Jefferson Lerma, Tyrick Mitchell, Ismaila Sarr (Nketiah 72′), Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta
Substitutes: Nathaniel Clyne, Justin Devenny, Daichi Kamada, Romain Esse, Caleb Kporha, Eddie Nketiah, Jeffrey Schlupp, Matt Turner, Franco Umeh
Brentford: Mark Flekken, Mads Roerslev, Nathan Collins, Sepp van den Berg, Keane Lewis-Potter, Christian Norgaard (Jensen 54′), Vitaly Janelt, Bryan Mbeumo, Mikkel Damsgaard (Mee 93′), Kevin Schade (Yarmoliuk 84′), Yoane Wissa
Substitutes: Fabia Carvalho, Mathias Jensen, Kim Ji-Soo, Yunus Konak, Paris Maghoma, Ben Mee, Hakon Valdimarsson, Kristoffer Ajer, Yehor Yarmoliuk
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