Brentford hit back to beat Birmingham
Birmingham City 1 Brentford 3
Scott Hogan scored again and also missed a penalty as Brentford came from behind to win comfortably at St. Andrew’s.
The Bees trailed at the break to a goal midway through the first half from Lukas Jutkiewicz.
But Hogan equalised and shortly afterwards was given the chance to put his side in front, only to see his spot-kick saved by Tomasz Kuszczak.
However, they got their reward for some enterprising play when Ryan Woods’ free-kick was flicked on by Andreas Bjelland, with Blues midfielder David Davis diverting it in, and Nico Yennaris wrapped it up by firing home from 25 yards.
Brentford had started well, with Hogan denied by Kuszczak, but Blues also had good opportunities, wasted by David Cotterill and Che Adams.
The home side, still awaiting their first win under former Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola, went ahead on 23 minutes, Jutkiewicz latching on to Che Adams’ through ball, shrugging off Harlee Dean and clipping the ball over the advancing Bees keeper Daniel Bentley.
At the other end, Yoann Barbet’s first-time effort from distance just cleared the crossbar and Lasse Vibe stabbed over.
Barbet was involved in the equaliser nine minutes after the restart. His shot was blocked but Hogan made no mistake for his 14th goal of the season.
After Bentley had saved Cotterill’s free-kick, Brentford were awarded a penalty when Ryan Shotton cleaned out Hogan just inside the box – but the Bees striker was denied by Kuszczak.
Dean Smith’s side played some nice football at times and they went in front 16 minutes from time, a sliding Davis touching it into his own net, before Yennaris’ screamer left Kuszczak grasping at thin air.
Brentford: Bentley; Egan, Dean, Bjelland; Colin, Woods, McEachran (Yennaris 67), Sawyers, Barbet; Vibe (Kerschbaumer 83), Hogan (Hofmann 90).
Subs not used: Bonham, McCormack, Clarke, Saunders.
