Brentford 2-0 Bournemouth: Player ratings as Bees climb to 8th in Premier League table
By Sean Walsh
Brentford's remarkable second Premier League season continued with a routine 2-0 win at home to Bournemouth on Saturday evening.
The Bees have moved above Liverpool into eighth place in the standings following a comfortable victory at the Gtech Community Stadium, while the Cherries remain mired in a fascinating relegation battle after a chaotic day of results at the bottom.
After an incredibly dull opening 37 minutes, Brentford were awarded a penalty when Ivan Toney was hauled to the ground by Marcos Senesi. The striker stepped up and picked out the top corner, taking his tally to 13 Premier League goals this season - already more than his total from last term.
At the back-end of the first half, Philip Billing forced David Raya into action with a fierce strike from 25 yards. The Spain goalkeeper palmed the Dane's effort away.
Just after the break, Josh Dasilva's audacious lob landed on top of a grateful Neto's net as the Bees went in search of a second goal.
A kind deflection allowed Christian Norgaard to have a sight of goal from the left channel after Bournemouth failed to clear several Brentford corners, but Neto was equal to his curling strike.
Substitute Siriki Dembele looked to make an immediate impact with a weaving run through the Brentford backline, only for Raya to palm his shot away.
But Brentford pretty much sealed the three points on the counter attack after 75 minutes. Dasilva led the break and made a dart to the left wing, crossing for the free Mathias Jensen to take a touch and then find the back of the net.
Late on, Mikkel Damsgaard came off the bench and came close to grabbing his first Brentford goal, curling a shot from 20 yards just beyond the post.
Bournemouth's misery was confirmed after four minutes of stoppage time, falling to a sixth straight loss - their worst run since 1983.
Brentford player ratings
GK: David Raya (6); RB: Kristoffer Ajer (6), CB: Ethan Pinnock (6), CB: Ben Mee (6), LB: Vitaly Janelt (6); CM: Christian Norgaard (7), CM: Mathias Jensen (8), CM: Josh Dasilva (8); RW: Bryan Mbeumo (6), CF: Ivan Toney (7), LW: Yoane Wissa (5)
Subs: Mads Roerslev (6), Kevin Schade (N/A), Zanka (N/A), Mikkel Damsgaard (N/A), Keane Lewis-Potter (N/A)
Bournemouth player ratings
GK: Neto (6); RB: Jack Stacey (5), CB: Chris Mepham (6), CB: Marcos Senesi (3), LB: Lloyd Kelly (5); RM: Ryan Christie (5), CM: Jefferson Lerma (5), CM: Lewis Cook (5), LM: Jaidon Anthony (5); AM: Philip Billing (5); CF: Kieffer Moore (4)
Subs: Ben Pearson (5), Siriki Dembele (6), Joe Rothwell (5)