Bees beaten as Cardiff battle back

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Brentford 1 Cardiff City 2

Cardiff City came from behind to strike a blow to Brentford’s promotion hopes.

The Bees opened the scoring 15 minutes before the break, Andre Gray poking the ball home from close range, before Federico Macheda and Alex Revell replied for the visitors in the second half.

Substitute Kadeem Harris was sent off 10 minutes before the final whistle for a two-footed lunge on Alex Pritchard and Macheda then saw red for a high foot on James Tarkowski.

Brentford were unable to find an equaliser against nine men in the closing stages but remain in the final Championship play-off place following Ipswich’s 4-1 defeat against Middlesbrough.

The hosts started the brighter of the two sides and came close through Pritchard, while Jonathan Douglas had a goal disallowed.

They eventually found a way past ex-Brentford goalkeeper Simon Moore when he could only palm Pritchard’s free-kick to Gray, who netted his 13th goal of the season.

Cardiff were level 10 minutes after the break when communication broke down between goalkeeper David Button and Harlee Dean, allowing Macheda to roll the ball into an empty net.

The Bluebirds continued to push forward and were rewarded when Revell beat the offside trap and chipped the ball over Button from 25 yards.

Former Brentford loanee Harris was then sent off for his wild challenge on Pritchard, but Tarkowski could only head over from the resulting free-kick.

Macheda was then shown his second yellow card after his high challenge on Tarkowsi and Kenwyne Jones squandered an excellent opportunity to put the game out of sight when he fired over.

The Bees felt they should have been awarded a penalty after Sean Morrison handled in the area, but Cardiff held on despite late home pressure.

Brentford: Button; Odubajo, Tarkowski, Dean, Biwell, Diagouraga (Judge 65), Douglas; Jota, Pritchard, Dallas (Toral 78), Gray.
Subs not used: Bonham, Craig, McCormack, Smith, Long.

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