In a thrilling Premier League encounter marked by late VAR drama, Brentford snatched a crucial 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The win provides a much-needed boost for the Bees, who were desperate to avoid slipping into another mid-season slump like last year.
VAR Penalty Controversy Turns the Tide
The pivotal moment came midway through the second half when referee Tony Harrington awarded Brentford a penalty after consulting VAR. Will Hughes was deemed to have handled in the area, and Bryan Mbeumo stepped up to take the spot kick.
Mbeumo’s initial effort struck the post, but VAR determined that Palace defender Marc Guéhi had encroached before the kick was taken. Given a second chance, the Frenchman made no mistake, sending Vicente Guaita the wrong way to put Brentford ahead.
Schade Header Seals the Points
The Bees doubled their advantage ten minutes later through Kevin Schade. The German forward, likened to an “alchemist” for his spindly frame and jittery movement, met a cross from Mikkel Damsgaard to head past Guaita and make it 2-0.
Palace, who had been on an impressive run of just one defeat in 11 league games, struggled to create clear-cut chances. Their most threatening player was Eberechi Eze, who saw a deflected free kick come back off the post in the second half.
Palace Debutant Grabs Consolation
The hosts did manage a late consolation through 19-year-old debutant Romain Esse. The £14.5m January signing from Millwall turned in a volleyed cross from Daniel Muñoz, but it was too little too late for Patrick Vieira’s side.
Survival All But Assured for Brentford
For Brentford, this win was a huge relief after a worrying dip in form. Reaching the 30-point mark with 15 games still to play makes Premier League survival almost a certainty for Thomas Frank’s men.
The victory lifts the Bees up to 12th place in the table, ten points clear of the relegation zone. With their top-flight status virtually secured, they can now set their sights on a strong end to the season and a potential top-half finish.
For Brentford, there was a measure of relief…. Survival may not quite be mathematically assured but breaking the 30-point mark with 15 games remaining makes it almost certain they will be in the Premier League next season.
Jonathan Wilson, The Guardian
