Brentford 3-0 Burnley: Thomas Frank’s men claim second win of the Premier League season with emphatic performance to move six points clear of the relegation zone 

• Brentford could have scored five or six as they dominated against Burnley
• The Bees rebounded from Man United’s stoppage-time comeback last time out
•  Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’

Moments before full time, dark clouds had gathered over the Gtech Community Stadium with rain teeming down. But as Brentford celebrated their first win since August, suddenly their season didn’t appear so gloomy.

Thomas Frank’s men were dominant here and could have scored five or six, but you can bet they would have bitten your hand off for the confident 3-0 win they ended up with. Yoane Wissa’s first half goal had put them in control before two beautiful long-range efforts from the excellent Bryan Mbeumo and substitute Saman Ghoddos wrapped up a much-needed confidence booster.

The Bees have looked nothing like the battling side that finished in the top half last season – and with just one win coming all season long, they more than delivered on the huge opportunity to find themselves again against a Burnley side who have also struggled.

After snatching defeat from the jaws of victory at Old Trafford last time out – having collapsed after two agonising stoppage time in the final minutes against Manchester United – Brentford had more than enough ammunition to bounce back here.

Frank described that result as ‘tough to take’ and ‘brutal’ in his pre-match programme notes and insisted the team have had plenty of time to reflect on the result over the international break. From the first whistle, his players looked right up for it.

Yoane Wissa put the Bees ahead after 25 minutes on an afternoon where they dominated 

Bryan Mbeumo scored Brentford’s second of the afternoon in an emphatic victory

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The Bees started brightly and had a magnificent early opening when Mathias Jensen surprised the visitors with a quickly-taken free kick that Neal Maupay ran on to before poking just wide of James Trafford’s left-hand post.

Maupay thought he had redeemed himself just minutes later when Mbeumo’s cross-field pass found its way to Nathan Collins – who hooked the ball back across the face of goal and there was the on-loan Everton man to power home a header, but Ajer was adjudged to be interfering with play. Collins and Maupay – the only ones involved in play – were both onside.

Moments later, Burnley went close at the other end when Mike Tresor’s fizzing effort brushed past the post. Brentford remained in control in the first half thanks to the imperious midfield duo Christian Norgaard and Jenson – and while Brentford continued their dominance shortly after, the away side were in uproar when Lyle Foster appeared to be clattered by Frank Onyeka in the box. Nothing was given.

The onus was on Burnley to focus on keeping things tight after shipping 20 goals this season. Manager Vincent Kompany claimed he ‘didn’t have a magic wand’ to fix their defensive issues having lost 4-1 to Chelsea in their last game and he is still searching for right spell after watching Brentford lay siege to his goal.

Roared on by a rapturous home crowd, Norgaard had an effort deflected behind by Charlie Taylor before the lively Mbeumo tested the gloves of Trafford and there was a growing feeling that the deadlock was about to be broken.

And with a quarter of the game gone, the home side finally grabbed the goal their promising play deserved. Jensen set Mbeumo racing away down the right hand side and he had the simple task of squaring across the area for Wissa to tap home at close range. The roof nearly came off the Gtech Community Stadium.

Brentford were certainly making hard work of this in the first half and should have been at least two after Maupay – who could have had a hat-trick in the first period alone – found himself clear on goal just moments later – his tame effort parried by Trafford but very nearly trickling past the goalline before Dara O’Shea hooked it clear at the last second. Massive let-off for Burnley.

Just before the break, Trafford made two exceptional saves in as many minutes – first to palm away Norgaard’s effort that was deflected straight at him by Wissa and then leaping up acrobatically to tip the Maupay’s curler over the bar.

Burnley then had a sniff of a chance as Tresor’s cut-back found Amdouni to give Flekken a rare chance to warm up his gloves.

While Brentford took a while to get going in the second, they finally had breathing room an the hour mark. A lovely piece of play saw the Bees work the ball well towards the final third before Maupay received the ball just outside the box and laid it off to Mbeumo. The Cameroonian hit an absolute peach that sailed into the top left-hand corner.

Saman Ghoddos scored Brentford’s third to confine the Clarets to even more misery

Thomas Frank’s team are now six points clear of the relegation zone after a shaky start 

Vincent Kompany’s men have won just one of nine games after returning to the top flight

It could have been three shortly after as Jenson pirouetted into the area before trickery from Maupay left Trafford in no-man’s land – with Jenson then smashing an effort just over from close range.

Burnley really struggled to find their flow here and their afternoon was summed up in the last 15 minutes when Foster put a ball on a plate for sub Luca Koleosho – but he somehow fluffed it wide with the goal gaping. Then, as Mbeumo was sent on yet another Brentford attack, Roberts hauled him down and received his second yellow.

Just minutes before the final whistle, Brentford put the cherry on the cake with another beautiful strike. Norgaard’s effort had been deflected back out to the edge of the area – and there was substitute Ghoddos to thump home with aplomb.

It’s taken until late October for Brentford to get going – and with games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal coming up – this win could prove to be pivotal. For Burnley, dark clouds still remain.

Match facts

Brentford: Flekken 6, Ajer 6 (Roerslev 76), Collins 7, Pinnock 7, Janelt 6, Norgaard 7, Onyeka 7 (Ghoddos 84), Jensen 8 (Yarmolyuk 76), Mbeumo 9, Wissa 7, Maupay 7 (Olakigbe 88)

Subs: Strakosha, Zanka, Mee, Ji-Soo, Brierly

Booked: Ayer, Onyeka, Jensen, Janelt

Goals: Wissa 24, Mbeumo 62, Ghoddos 87

Burnley: Trafford 7, Roberts 5, Al Dakhil 5, O’Shea 6, Taylor 6, Berge 5 (Brownhill 66), Cullen 5, Amdouni 4 (Redmond 76), Tresor 6 (Larsen 64) (Delcroix 80), Foster 6, Odobert 5 (Koleosho 45, 4)

Subs: Muric, Cork, Rodriguez, Zaroury.

Booked: Berge, Roberts, Cullen

Sent off: Roberts 78

Goals: None

Referee: Josh Smith 7

Attendance: 17,029

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