Brentford suffer defeat at Bournemouth

By

Bournemouth 1 Brentford 0

An adventurous Brentford suffered a harsh defeat at early Championship pacesetters Bournemouth in an end-to-end encounter at the Goldsands Stadium.

The Bees twice hit the crossbar, early on through Andre Gray and late in the game from Jonathan Douglas’s header.

But the point their performance warranted was snatched away from them on 72 minutes when Bournemouth substitute Junior Stanislas tapped in a cross the visitors’ defence failed to deal with.

Jake Bidwell, who had earlier nodded a Callum Wilson effort off the line, went close with a header of his own and Douglas clipped the woodwork as Brentford vainly hunted an equaliser that never materialised.

Bees boss Mark Warburton made one change from his side’s Championship opener last weekend, Marcos Tebar replacing Stuart Dallas.

And Brentford twice went close in the first eight minutes as Gray struck the bar with a fierce drive while fellow new signing Moses Odubajo was denied by a fine save from Bournemouth keeper Lee Camp.

Bournemouth were also giving it a good go in an action-packed opening, David Button palming behind a low shot from Yann Kermorgant.

But the Bees continued to have the pick of the chances in the first half, with Gray squandering the best opportunity as he fired wide after escaping the attentions of the Bournemouth defence.

The game settled down into a lower tempo as the half wore on but came to life again just before the break when Brentford keeper Button kept out Ritchie’s effort from distance.

In the second period, Alan Judge sent an early sighter just beyond Camp’s left-hand post but it was Bournemouth who largely had the upper hand.

Callum Wilson saw an effort cleared off the line by Bidwell while Yann Kermorgant’s later header was blocked by a scrambling Bees defence.

Brentford found their feet again midway through the second half and Alex Pritchard forced Camp into two saves, while Tony Craig blasted over from close range following a corner.

Bournemouth punished that miss five minutes later as Ryan Fraser delivered a ball into the box for Stanislas to tap home.

Brentford pinned the home side back in the closing stages, with Bidwell and Douglas going close, and Button ventured upfield for a late corner, but to no avail.

Brentford (4-1-4-1): Button; McCormack, Tarkowski, Craig, Bidwell; Douglas; Odubajo (Smith 80), Tebar (Dallas 60), Pritchard, Judge; Gray (Proschwitz 80).
Subs not used: Dean, Diagouraga, Moore, Lee.

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook