Bryan Mbeumo scored a stoppage-time winner as Brentford came from behind to defeat winless Ipswich 4-3 in a seven-goal thriller at the Gtech Community Stadium.
In an incredible finale, Ipswich appeared set for a point after a late Liam Delap leveller despite being reduced to 10 players.
But Mbeumo struck the winner in the 96th minute.
Kieran McKenna’s side were dreaming of their first Premier League win in over two decades when Sammie Szmodics and George Hirst put his side two goals up with just over half an hour played.
Chiedozie Ogbene was stretchered off at the 35-minute mark and Kieran McKenna later said during his press conference that it was a suspected Achilles tear.
Thomas Frank’s side were intent on maintaining their unbeaten home record and Yoane Wissa sparked a quickfire Bees double as he swept home in the 44th minute.
And two minutes later, a buoyant Wissa was involved again with Brentford’s second, as he poked an effort which crept under Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric, with Harry Clarke sliding the ball into his own net in his attempts to prevent it going in.
Yoane Wissa celebrates after reducing the deficit for Brentford
Clarke’s afternoon went from bad to worse as he was in the spotlight again after half-time when he dragged Keane Lewis-Potter down in the box to give away a penalty which Mbeumo converted to complete the Bees’ comeback in the 51st minute.
Lewis-Potter, troubling the full-back once again, then lured Clarke into another late challenge, this time on the edge of the area resulting in a second yellow card for the defender, and therefore a red.
The visitors thought they had rescued a point when Delap got on the end of a Leif Davis cross to put them on terms with four minutes remaining, but Mbeumo was the hero for the home side as his inswinging cross confused Muric and found the net.
There was more late drama, however, when Delap hit the post in the 98th minute as Ipswich suffered a third straight league defeat.
The result moves Brentford into ninth place in the Premier League while Ipswich remain 17th, but could move into the relegation zone should Crystal Palace beat Tottenham on Sunday.
Frank: We’re in the entertainment business!
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Brentford boss Thomas Frank admits he was mostly ‘irritated’ during their 4-3 win over Ipswich.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank: “It was remarkable, wasn’t it? I’ve been told we’re in the entertainment business, so I thought we had to give you a little bit for the money. It’s easier to be on the end of the win than being Kieran. I feel for him because we know he’s working as hard as me, maybe even harder.
“A first year in the Premier League, I think they did very well. I think he set the team up well in the first 40 minutes. I thought they were better than us and deservedly were up 2-0.
“On the flip side, and of course it’s always, you know, good performance, I thought that we were bad. I think it’s 40 of our worst minutes, actually, in the Premier League, if I’m honest, completely with a lot of things. But great mentality, great personality, fantastic comeback in many ways.
McKenna: Extreme disappointment and devastation at loss
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Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna insists his players will take away lots of positives from their 4-3 loss to Brentford.
Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna: “It was an incredible game, it’s obviously a mixture of great pride in the performance on an individual level, on a team level. The quality, the resilience that we’ve shown through a really challenging week led to so many good things in the performance.
“Three goals away from home and could have had a couple more, but of course it’s extreme disappointment, devastation about the late goal that means we don’t get any points for our efforts.
“We always try and take the positive in things and I think we showed so many things today that we’re on the right track. To be honest, we’re back on the right track for us. We showed our real identity as a team from a mental point of view and from a tactical point of view.
“Although we didn’t get any points to show for it, I think it was a real step in the right direction that if we show those things on a consistent basis, we’ll be competitive in the majority of the games and we’ll have a chance to pick up points.”
Lewis-Potter ‘sparks’ Brentford comeback
Wissa and Mbeumo’s performances will dominate the headlines as they starred in Brentford’s dramatic 4-3 victory against Ipswich, but Keane Lewis-Potter was the architect behind the win.
The forward was involved in everything positive his side mustered, including winning the penalty before then luring Harry Clarke into a second yellow card after troubling him all match long.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank said in his post-match press conference the 23-year-old enjoyed his best game for the Bees after his rampant display.
“He sparked the comeback,” Frank said. “He created the penalty, the red card, [he was] constantly going forward and driving forward, taking the players on. I’m very pleased with his performance.”
Lewis-Potter was making his seventh start of the season and his influence within the Brentford side is growing. It seems only a matter of time before his industry is rewarded with the numbers it merits.
