Brentford into top 10 after win over Wednesday
Brentford 2 Sheffield Wednesday 0
Goals in either half from Lasse Vibe and Florian Jozefzoon sealed another impressive home victory for Brentford, who ended the year in the Championship’s top 10.
Just four days after beating Aston Villa at Griffin Park, the Bees went ahead against managerless Sheffield Wednesday on 20 minutes, Vibe stepping inside Glenn Loovens before slotting home for his sixth goal in five games.
Jozefzoon missed several good chances to extend the lead, while Owls keeper Joe Wildsmith denied Ryan Woods and Sergi Canos fired narrowly over.
Wednesday’s only serious chance to level came when Lucas Joao nodded over seven minutes from time, and the Bees sealed the win soon after as Jozefzoon finished from a counter attack.
The Bees are now just four points shy of the play-off places at the turn of the year.
Although they were deserved winners, Vibe’s opener came against the run of play after the Owls had seen more of the ball without creating clear-cut chances.
But Brentford settled after going in front and should have doubled their advantage when Jozefzoon was sent clear by Romaine Sawyers, but the winger was denied by Wildsmith, who later pushed away Woods’ shot and got a touch to a Vibe effort.
The Wednesday keeper also denied Ryan Woods’ shot from the edge of the box and got a crucial touch to Vibe’s effort after the striker was released by Sergio Canos’ ball.
Jozefzoon then blazed over the bar when well placed and also skewed a shot wide in the second half, while Canos’ rocket from distance just cleared the crossbar.
The Bees showed good game management skills but still had hearts in mouths when Joao thumped a header narrowly over, but they could relax after sub Neal Maupay found Jozefzoon, who drilled in.
Brentford: Bentley; Yennaris, Mepham, Bjelland, Barbet; McEachran (Mokotjo 67), Woods; Jozefzoon, Sawyers, Canos (Watkins 67); Vibe (Maupay 80).
Subs not used: Daniels, Clarke, Macleod, Judge.
