Brentford 3-0 Southampton: Player ratings as Bees strengthen top half hopes
By Sean Walsh
From Brentford Community Stadium - Brentford climbed to 12th in the Premier League table after a resounding 3-0 win at home to Southampton.
A quick-fire first half double helped the Bees on their way to victory, while the Saints risk being dragged back into a relegation scrap if results go against them later this weekend.
The game's first half-chance went Southampton's way after four minutes when left-back Romain Perraud cut back onside onto his right foot, but his shot trickled wide of David Raya's post.
Brentford should have taken an eighth-minute lead when Rico Henry flashed a cross through the Saints' six-yard box, but Yoane Wissa couldn't get a touch and Mathias Jensen's bouncing effort went wide.
Wissa spurned another great chance moments later, cutting in off the left flank and firing at Fraser Forster's near post, but the England stopper was equal to his tame attempt.
And Brentford took a deserved lead just after the ten-minute mark. Christian Eriksen's deep corner was well controlled by Ivan Toney, whose ball back across the face of goal was turned in by skipper Pontus Jansson.
Almost immediately from Southampton's resulting kick-off, the Bees doubled their lead. Mohammed Salisu cynically hacked down Eriksen, but Wissa took the loose ball and curled it past Forster from the edge of the box 61 seconds after the opening goal.
Thomas Frank's side could have added a third through Wissa, but a goal-line clearance from Stuart Armstrong saved the Saints on this occasion.
Kyle Walker-Peters' header through the corridor of uncertainty had Raya and co scrambling, but Jansson managed to clear before Armando Broja could reach the ball.
After a James Ward-Prowse free-kick hit the wall, Eriksen set Toney racing away on the counter, with Forster pushing his effort into the path of Bryan Mbeumo, only for the Frenchman to volley over.
Adam Armstrong had the ball in the Brentford net after Eriksen's punt forward rebounded off of Ibrahima Diallo and kindly into his path, but he was standing in an offside position and the goal was chalked off.
Southampton maintained a decent spell of pressure until the break but were unable to get on the scoresheet before the half-time whistle.
The Saints were incensed that they didn't receive a penalty when Raya appeared to clatter Broja at the start of the second half, but replays showed he didn't actually make substantial (if any) contact with the Albanian when slicing his failed clearance.
A last ditch hoof away from Perraud prevented Jensen from poking in Wissa's low cross, while Salisu blocked Toney's strike after a neat swivel.
Substitute Mohamed Elyounoussi had a clever half-volley denied by Raya before Adam Armstrong nearly robbed the Spaniard of possession.
Toney somehow couldn't convert from close range when Jensen's header dropped kindly to him in the six-yard box, but Kristoffer Ajer made sure of the points after dancing his way through the Saints box and sticking it between Forster's legs.
The away fans had seen enough and taunted Ralph Hasenhuttl that he will be getting sacked in the morning as the Bees held on to secure their biggest home win of the Premier League season.
1. Brentford (4-3-3)
GK: David Raya - 6/10 - Got away with a couple of lapses in concentration when on the ball but commanded his area very well and claimed several crosses.
RB: Kristoffer Ajer - 7/10 - Aerially dominant but gave Redmond a lot of time when the ball was on the floor. Scored a wonderful goal that definitely was not befitting of a 6'5 defender.
CB: Pontus Jansson - 8/10 - Endured a fascinating battle with Broja but usually came out on top.
CB: Mads Bech Sorensen - 5/10 - Saints targeted the youngster, winning a couple of free-kicks and throws off him.
LB: Rico Henry - 7/10 - Excellent at both ends of the pitch, stretching play and keeping Walker-Peters largely quiet.
DM: Christian Norgaard - 7/10 - Broke up play and distributed it well from the base of midfield. Got an assist for his troubles.
CM: Mathias Jensen - 5/10 - Wasteful on the ball and a passenger off it.
CM: Christian Eriksen - 8/10 - Another tremendous playmaking display from the Dane, effortlessly creating chances and keeping possession.
RW: Bryan Mbeumo - 5/10 - Pressed well but didn't offer much on the ball.
CF: Ivan Toney - 7/10 - A very good centre-forward's display, bringing others into play and toying with Southampton's defenders.
LW: Yoane Wissa - 7/10 - Took his goal extremely well. His pace caused Southampton trouble but he struggled to consistently provide a tangible threat.
SUB: Josh Dasilva (68' for Wissa) - 6/10
SUB: Shandon Baptiste (81' for Mbeumo) - N/A
SUB: Nathan Young-Coombes (88' for Jensen) - N/A - Made his senior debut in the dying embers.
2. Southampton (4-2-2-2)
GK: Fraser Forster - 3/10 - Distribution was poor and had little authority in his own box.
RB: Kyle Walker-Peters - 5/10 - Got forward with intent but not quality.
CB: Jan Bednarek - 3/10 - Spent a lot of time complaining when he should have been defending.
CB: Mohammed Salisu - 4/10 - Some desperate defending in the first half but improved after the break. Sat on his backside by Ajer, mind.
LB: Romain Perraud - 3/10 - Spent the day on skates despite Mbeumo's attacking struggles.
CM: Ibrahima Diallo - 4/10 - Erratic in midfield and the traveling fans were frustrated that he didn't play the ball forward more.
CM: James Ward-Prowse - 4/10 - His set pieces were underwhelming and he was a sieve in midfield.
AM: Stuart Armstrong - 6/10 - At least tried to carve out some openings for the Saints.
AM: Nathan Redmond - 5/10 - Gave Ajer some trouble but not enough to force a goal.
CF: Armando Broja - 6/10 - Always looked a threat and caused Brentford a number of issues.
CF: Adam Armstrong - 4/10 - Very quiet except for when he scored his offside goal.
SUB: Mohamed Elyounussi (64' for Diallo) - 5/10
SUB: Oriol Romeu (83' for S. Armstrong) - N/A