Brentford vs Sheffield Wednesday. Sky Bet Championship.
Griffin ParkAttendance10,134.
Report and highlights as Bees beat Wednesday
Monday 20 August 2018 14:31, UK
Brentford maintained their impressive start to the season with a comfortable 2-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday
Goals in each half from Neal Maupay and Ollie Watkins kept up the free-passing Bees' unbeaten start to the season in a one-sided affair at Griffin Park.
They took the lead midway through the first half after Sam Hutchinson gave away a needless penalty, hauling back Lewis Macleod as he tried to run onto a throw-in; Bees' top scorer Maupay thumped his third of the season past Cameron Dawson to give the hosts the start they wanted.
The hosts stretched their advantage just after the hour mark, Maupay racing clear from his own half before drawing the 'keeper and squaring for Watkins to stroke home from 12 yards.
It was all Brentford in the opening half but the final ball lacked the quality to unlock a resolute Wednesday back four. Watkins was a constant threat on both flanks and forced a save from Dawson after cutting in from the left to fire in a rasping low drive which the keeper stopped at the second attempt.
Sergi Canos burst clear just before the half-hour mark and cut in from the left but his 20-yard strike was saved by Dawson at the foot of his near post.
Wednesday striker Marco Matias should have given his side a foothold in the game just before the break when he raced onto a Bannan through ball but fired his shot straight at the onrushing Daniel Bentley.
At the other end, Canos was equally guilty of wasteful finishing when he worked himself into acres of space from a corner only to fire well wide.
Brentford fizzed the ball around well but looked slightly sloppy at times as Wednesday hung in there to make the second half an interesting affair.
After the break they tightened their grip and could have run in six or seven as the hapless Owls were left chasing shadows. Canos was guilty of a handful of misses or denied by Dawson and Watkins, played in by Maupay, was thwarted by the keeper from close range after 53 minutes.
Watkins should have made it three after 74 minutes when he charged in from the left but opted to curl past the far post instead of squaring for substitute Said Benrahma arriving fast at the back post
Brentford resisted Wednesday's physical approach, which almost reaped rewards when Matias hooked a rare effort just over the bar late on, but that was all they really had to offer all afternoon.
It was Algeria international Benrahma who almost saved the best until the very last minute, dummying a through ball and running onto it before seeing his low drive palmed wide by the keeper.
Dean Smith: "If I'm honest, today's win could have been a lot more emphatic. We created a number of chances and, apart from a five-minute spell before half time, we were always the aggressors."
"We have young, hungry lads in this squad who have all had a season at this level and are all the better for it. They are all pushing each other on. They went to Stoke last week and were disappointed to come away with a point and that gives us belief."
Jos Luhukay: "All credit to Brentford. They deserved the win and were a better team than us. They had chances to make it a bigger defeat and we have to thank our keeper for keeping the score down," he said.
"I am very disappointed because it is not nice the way we played. For the first 20 minutes we were in the game and then the penalty came and we lost control and Brentford looked stronger and had moments to score more.Realistically we have to try to finish higher than last season. We were strong in the last two months of last season and that spirit was not there today and that is very disappointing."
