Superb Bees win to clinch play-off place

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Brentford 3 Wigan 0

Goals from Alex Pritchard, Jota and Andre Gray sent Brentford into the play-offs after Ipswich and Derby both lost.

Tottenham loanee Pritchard punctured the nervy atmosphere at Griffin Park midway through the first half with a deflected free-kick from 25 yards.

Jota gave the Bees a useful cushion immediately after half-time and the Spaniard played in Gray for the third with 10 minutes to play.

Brentford even had the luxury of missing a penalty, James Tarkowski’s kick saved by Lee Nicholls, as defeats for the two sides above the hosts ensured a two-legged clash with Middlesbrough.

Knowing they needed to win to even be in contention for the top six, Mark Warburton’s side initially looked timid while already-relegated Wigan moved the ball with confidence.

Marc-Antoine Fortune blasted an early shot at Bees keeper David Button, while the best Brentford could muster was a tame Pritchard shot.

But they gradually improved as the half wore on and Pritchard gave them a huge lift in the 26th minute when his free-kick spun off the wall and into the top corner.

Results were going Brentford’s way at half-time and any pessimistic Bees fans fearing a Wigan equaliser might spoil the party had a weight lifted within seconds of the restart.

Toumani Diagouraga slipped Jota in and he finished past Nicholls to double the lead.

Brentford dominated the second half as Tarkowski hit the bar and Alan Judge was denied by Nicholls but the third finally arrived when Gray was sent clear and he fired into the bottom corner.

A foul on Judge gave Tarkowski the chance to add a fourth but Nicholls was equal to his spot-kick, however it mattered little thanks to Reading’s 3-0 victory at Derby.

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Button; Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell; Diagouraga (McCormack 83), Douglas; Jota, Pritchard (Dallas 71), Judge; Gray (Smith 83).
Subs not used: Bonham, Craig, Toral, Udumaga.

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