Thiago sent off as Brentford lose at Brighton

Igor Thiago was sent off as 10-man Brentford were beaten by Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

Brentford were already a goal down when Thiago was shown a straight red card after 23 minutes.

He was initially booked for catching Chema in the face with his arm, but referee Michael Oliver upgraded it to a red after being sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR.

Diego Gómez had given Brighton a 15th-minute lead with a stunning long-range strike after a weak defensive header by Michael Kayode, and Pascal Gross doubled the lead with a penalty two minutes before half-time after Keane Lewis-Potter pulled Luka Vuskovic down at a corner.

Thiago will now be suspended for Brentford’s next three matches, against Everton, Manchester United and Arsenal. It was the Bees’ third red card in the Premier League this season.

Boss Keith Andrews made one change from the side that beat Nottingham Forest 2-0 last weekend, with Aaron Hickey recalled in place of Mathias Jensen.

Brentford had their moments early on, with Kristoffer Ajer heading over from a Lewis-Potter corner and Thiago trying an ambitious lob, but Brighton were in control after Gómez’s opener.

Caoimhin Kelleher saved from Charalampos Kostoulas and Yasin Ayari before the break, and Brentford made a double change at half-time as Hickey and Dango Ouattara were replaced by Nathan Collins and Yehor Yarmoliuk.

Brighton dominated the second half, with more than 80% of possession. Maxim De Cuyper headed wide from close range and Ayari had three attempts in as many minutes, one of which flashed just wide of the far post.

Brentford’s best chance after going down to 10 men came six minutes from time, when substitute Callum Wilson crossed from the left and Kevin Schade was unable to direct an acrobatic effort on target.

Jack Hinshelwood dragged a shot wide for Brighton, who also had a late penalty appeal turned down after Georginio Rutter and Kayode collided in the box.