Brentford held on for a big away win, just their second of the season, by beating Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
MORE – Full match replay
Bryan Mbeumo’s twice-taken penalty kick put them ahead in the second half while Kevin Schade’s brave header made it 2-0 before debutant Romain Esse set up a dramatic finish but the Bees held on.
With the win Brentford move on to 31 points for the season, four ahead of Palace.
Brentford’s buzzy forwards edge tight clash
There wasn’t much in this game as the wind swirled around Selhurst but Brentford’s strikers turned up and Palace’s did not. Both Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta huffed and puffed throughout the game and they combined for a big chance in the first half which Mateta hit straight at Flekken. At the other end Wissa’s deflected shot was superbly saved and Mbeumo and Schade were a constant threat. The former got lucky his penalty kick which hit the post was ordered to be retaken due to encroachment from Palace, but he calmly tucked home the retake. Schade’s towering header was brave and gave Brentford the win as their forwards just looked a bit sharper than Palace’s in a game between two very evenly-matched teams.
Crystal Palace vs Brentford player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Crystal Palace head to Manchester United on Sunday, February 2. Brentford host Tottenham on the same day.
Crystal Palace vs Brentford score: 1-2
Esse 85'; Mbeumo 66', Schade 80'
Crystal Palace vs Brentford live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Eze whips a free kick over the bar
Great chance for Palace in the 98th minute as they have a free kick on the edge of the box. Eze steps up but curls it over the bar.
Romain Esse scores on his debut! — Crystal Palace 1-2 Brentford
Hang on a minute! This is not over. Romain Esse comes on as a sub and scores with his first touch as a Premier League player. Munoz keeps Eze’s cross alive and plays it to the back post where Esse is there to finish off the post. Plenty of stoppage time to come too...
Schade heads home! — Crystal Palace 0-2 Brentford
Damsgaard does so well on the right flank and clips in a perfect cross for Kevin Schade to attack. He heads home superbly but goes down as his head collided with Chris Richards. Schade is getting treatment.
Mbeumo scores at the second attempt! — Crystal Palace 0-1 Brentford
This time Mbeumo steps up calmly again and puts the ball the other way, as Henderson went the same way as the first attempt. He celebrates wildly in front of the away fans. Brentford lead with just over 20 minutes to go.
Penalty to Brentford... Mbuemo misses but it will be retaken!
First Brentford want a handball on Will Hughes, then the ball breaks to Collins and he gets there before Lacroix who catches him as a penalty kick is given. Bryan Mbeumo steps up but his effort hits the post and Palace clear. There’s a VAR check for encroachment and the penalty kick is being retaken...
Eze’s deflected free kick hits the post
Palace have started the second half well and Eze’s low free kick hits the wall and spins towards the far bottom corner but hits the post. Palace so close to an opener. It would have been lucky, but they’re pressing.
Sarr whips in a lovely cross
Brilliant ball to the back post from Sarr but Guehi, up for a previous long throw, can’t make contact as he slides in at the back post.
Henderson pushes Wissa’s shot wide
Yoane Wissa gets a low shot on goal which is going in but Dean Henderson makes a smart save down low to tip it wide.
Flekken denies Mateta
That is what Palace are all about. Eze with a lovely flick and Mateta is in centrally. He drives his shot towards the top corner but Flekken pushes it away. That’s got the home crowd going.
Crystal Palace lineup
Hendrson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Lerma, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta
Brentford lineup
Flekken; Roerslev, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter; Norgaard, Janelt, Damsgaard; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade
Crystal Palace team news, focus
OUT: Adam Wharton (groin), Rob Holding (undisclosed), Matheus Franca (groin), Jefferson Lerma (illness)
Brentford team news, focus
OUT: Ethan Pinnock (hamstring), Igor Thiago (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh), Josh Dasilva (knee), Gustavo Nunes (back) | QUESTIONABLE: Kristoffer Ajer (ankle), Ryan Trevitt (achilles)
Crystal Palace vs Brentford prediction
After weeks of playing a (slightly) more reserved style against the PL’s big boys, Thomas Frank’s side will relish the opportunity to throw caution to the wind and take the game to their opponents again. Crystal Palace 2-2 Brentford.
Crystal Palace vs Brentford preview
The Eagles (12th - 27 points) are unbeaten in their last five PL games (3W-2D-0L) and are riding back-to-back wins for the first time all season. Jean-Philippe Mateta is in red-hot for with 4 goals in his last 3 games, including both in Crystal Palace’s 2-0 victory over West Ham last weekend. Oliver Glasner’s side initially struggled to replace the sensational creativity of Michael Olise after he left for Bayern Munich in the summer, but Mateta, Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr have formed a lethal counter-attacking trio of their own (14 goals, 9 assists this season between them), and they are the biggest reason why more draws have turned into wins of late.
The Bees (11th - 28 points) have just one win in their last seven PL games (1W-2D-4L), falling away from the European race and now five points off the top half of the table. A caveat: The draws and defeats came against sides that currently occupy 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 9th. This was an absurdly difficult gauntlet stretch of the scheduled (one they will have to traverse again in April and May); combine that with a lengthy injury list for the last couple months (particularly defenders and forwards), and it’s hardly a surprise that Brentford looked out on their feet in recent games. A positive note: The Bees picked up their first away win of the season last time away from home (Southampton).
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Brentford live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday (January 26)
Venue: Selhurst Park — London
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
