Wissa steals the spotlight for Brentford as Bournemouth fall apart
After two winless outings in succession, Thomas Frank’s search for his 99th victory as Brentford manager began brightly, as the visitors looked keen on avoiding a third consecutive top-flight game without finding the net for the very first time.
However, Bournemouth had plans of their own following a first defeat in three games last time out against title contenders Arsenal.
And not before long, the Cherries thought they broke the deadlock from Dominic Solanke’s effort, but he was ultimately denied for a handball in the build-up play after a VAR review by referee Matthew Donohue in his first ever Premier League match in-charge.
The disappointments continued for Bournemouth, as Donohue issued his first-ever top-flight yellow card shortly after to a frustrated Andoni Iraola, before denying Solanke another goal for a soft infraction, keeping the scores surprisingly level going into the break.
The story was no different following the restart, although the Bees increased their intensity in a bid to extend their 100% record of scoring post the hour mark in each of their away trips so far this calendar year.
However, it was Cherries left-back Lloyd Kelly who came the closest instead, sending his header from a corner delivery inches wide of the right post.
Home defender Ilya Zabarnyi was then penalised for a foul on Ivan Toney inside the box, only for the referee to overturn yet another decision and come to Bournemouth’s rescue, as both sides continued to scour for an opening with the final quarter-hour minutes remaining.
Brentford ultimately emerged with the goods with three minutes left on the clock via Bryan Mbeumo, who picked a pinpoint pass and latched home the potential winner to mark his 199th club appearance in style.
The Cherries bounced back shortly after though, with Solanke levelling the scores at the death with his 21st goal of the campaign from a masterful header following a beautiful cross.
However, all was not lost for the Bees despite conceding, as Yoane Wissa claimed the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time with an exquisite finish buried into the roof of the net after receiving the pass from Mbeumo.
Iraola’s men now remain winless in seven H2Hs, with the Bees last losing against the Cherries in the Championship dating back to August 2014.
Bournemouth will rue missing their chances of making it into the top-half of the league table, while Frank’s men extend their winning streak with a victory in their final away game in each of their last four seasons.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford FC)
