Brentford complete second half comeback over Watford thanks to Bryan Mbeumo's stoppage-time penalty

A hop, skip and jump from Bryan Mbeumo broke Watford's hearts from the penalty spot. The ninety minutes was done and five minutes of stoppage time almost over. Daniel Bachmann was sent the wrong way, and suddenly a scoreline had been reversed.  

Only ten minutes previously it had looked like being the perfect smash and grab. For all Watford’s entertainment value under Claudio Ranieri, equilibrium is what they craved. And after Emmanuel Dennis had put them ahead midway through the opening half, it seemed a battling, soak-it-up style performance was going to yield a precious three points. Then it fell apart. Pontus Jansson equalized with five minutes on the clock – in doing so becoming the ninth different Brentford home scorer in the league – before Mbeumo’s killer touch.

This was the first top-flight meeting of these two clubs. For added bite, Brentford were sauntering towards automatic promotion in last year’s Championship only to stutter and allow Watford to leapfrog them at the last.    

Under the Friday night lights, both managers were forced to do without their brightest stars from the last 18 months. Ismaila Sarr remained sidelined for Watford, while Ivan Toney missed a home league game for Brentford for the first time, having also sat out Sunday’s draw at Elland Road with COVID-19. Ethan Pinnock was also absent having returned a positive test on the eve of the game, while Sergi Canos - Toney’s replacement at Leeds - was suspended.  

That meant Thomas Frank handed Yoane Wissa a first league start, and, despite their re-shuffle, it was Brentford who made much of the running in the first period.  

Watford built their promotion on pragmatism and clean sheets (23 in total), but it has been a different story this season. Their porous defence has conceded most in the division since Claudio Ranieri’s installation.  

But for Daniel Bachmann they would have been behind in the opening minutes, the Austrian reacting smartly to tip Shandon Baptiste’s dipping volley over. Bachmann was again forced into action when Bryan Mbuemo broke rapidly from a corner, cut inside and let fly. At full-stretch, the goalkeeper tipped wide.  

Watford’s goal came from their only meaningful attack of the first half. Josh King’s curled 20-yard effort crashed into the post and was put behind for a corner. From there, Brentford switched off, allowing Dennis to rise unmarked nod in his seventh of the campaign from six yards out. Would it have happened on Pinnock’s watch? Every chance not, although it was a superb leap from Dennis who is an early candidate for the bargain of the season.  

From there it was a familiar tale for Brentford. They controlled the tempo, the Mbuemo-Wissa combination was lively but the goal proved elusive. Charlie Goode came closest to restoring parity before the break, heading over from a corner.  

As the cold set in, the hosts’ intensity increased and the visitors sat back. It was a dangerous ploy for a side who have not stopped Premier League opposition from scoring in 25 attempts. But still Brentford, for all their possession, could not create clear-cut openings.  

The frustration grew more audible from the stands. It flowed onto the pitch too, Vitaly Janelt and Jannson booked in quick succession. Janelt got forward on the right but Bachmann was equal to his effort. Seconds later King wasted a golden opportunity to secure the points but his shot was saved comfortably by Alvaro Fernandez.  

It was a moment King would live to regret. Janelt this time crossed, Marcus Forss flicked it on and Jansson powered home. Deep in stoppage time came Troost-Ekong’s lunge at substitute Saman Ghoddos. In Toney’s absence, Mbeumo stepped forward. Never in doubt.