Bees sting ten-man Albion

Danny Welbeck and Kaoru Mitoma on target but Seagulls lose 4-2, Joao Pedro is sent off and Jan Paul van Hecke stretchered off.

Bruce Talbot

2025-04-19T17:15+01:00

Celebrations in first-half stoppage time after Danny Welbeck's leveller. 📷 James Boardman.

Ten-man Albion’s European hopes are fading after a third Premier League defeat in four against Brentford.

Danny Welbeck deservedly levelled in first-half stoppage time with his tenth goal of the season but Bryan Mbeumo, who had put Brentford in front, restored their lead three minutes after the break before setting up Yoane Wissa to make it 3-1.

It got worse when Joao Pedro was shown a red card for violent conduct, but Albion showed plenty of spirit in the closing stages, scoring a second through substitute Kaoru Mitoma before Christian Norgaard made it safe for the Bees in stoppage time - their first home win since 7 December.

A disappointing afternoon ended on a worrying note with Jan Paul van Hecke needing ten minutes of medical assistance before he was stretchered off after a sickening clash of heads with Yunus Konak.

Danny Welbeck's superbly judged header makes it 1-1. 📷 James Boardman.

Brentford were ahead after just nine minutes. Keane Lewis-Potter strode into midfield from left wing-back and played a lovely ball between van Hecke and Pervis Estupinan to Mbeumo who took a touch before firing powerfully past Bart Verbruggen with his right foot.

Albion responded positively. Welbeck’s appeal for a penalty, after he went down under a challenge from goalkeeper Mark Flekken, was ignored by referee Tim Robinson but Hurzeler’s men enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening quarter.

Mats Wieffer goes inside from right back. 📷 James Boardman.

Brentford were compact and difficult to break down without the ball though. Joao, operating mainly on the left, took aim in the 35th minute from the edge of the box but his shot was always rising over Flekken’s bar.

Then deep into stoppage time Welbeck produced a fine equaliser. Yankuba Minteh laid the ball back to Mats Wieffer for the cross from the right. There was still much for Welbeck to do but he adjusted his position, held off Norgaard and guided a header inside the left-hand post.

Albion’s delight lasted just three minutes of the second half. Bart Verbruggen’s pass was cut out, Brentford worked the ball to Mbuemo on the right and his angled shot flew into the bottom corner via Lewis Dunk’s chest. Mbeumo nearly turned provider in the 54th minute when Wissa met his corner at the far post but Verbruggen sprung to his left to keep the ball out.

Jan Paul van Hecke holds off Yoane Wissa. 📷 James Boardman.

Four minutes later though he was beaten by another Dunk deflection as Brentford stretched their lead. Mbuemo galloped into wide open space on the right and pulled the ball back for Wissa whose shot struck the skipper and wrongfooted Verbruggen for 3-1.

Albion’s afternoon got worse. Just past the hour Joao and Nathan Collins challenged for the ball, Collins went down and referee Tim Robinson showed the Brazilian a straight red for violent conduct.

Kaoru Mitoma stretches to score Albion's second goal. 📷 James Boardman.

The ten men rallied and with ten minutes left got one back. Mats Wieffer and Solly March began the move, Jack Hinshelwood slipped a great pass forward and Mitoma got between two defenders and lifted the ball over Flekken for his ninth of the campaign.

Albion pushed Brentford back and threatened an equaliser when they forced a succession of corners but they conceded a fourth from a set piece five minutes into stoppage time when Norgaard guided Sepp Van Den Berg’s free kick past Verbruggen with a brave header.

Pervis Estupinan shadows Bryan Mbeumo. 📷 James Boardman.

The line-up

Verbruggen, Wieffer (Adingra 89), Dunk, van Hecke (Cashin 90+15), Estupinan, Hinshelwood, Baleba (Gomez 76), Minteh (March 65), O’Riley (Mitoma 65), Joao Pedro, Welbeck (Ayari 76).