A huge six-pointer in the Championship took place at the Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday as Brentford comfortably saw off Reading 3-1.
The clash between two sides in the play-offs saw the hosts blow the Royals away inside the first 45 minutes. A Bryan Mbeumo double came after Mathias Jensen opened the scoring.
Sone Aluko then reduced the deficit immediately after coming on but it was only a consolation.
The Bees came into this game off the back of a 12-game unbeaten run, with their last game being a hard-fought 1-1 draw at fellow promotion chasers Watford.
Reading however, were in inconsistent form, picking up seven points from their last five, narrowly losing 2-1 at home to a strong Norwich City side on Tuesday.
The two sides were separated by just one point, and one place as the hosts sat in sixth on 32 points, and the visitors fifth on 33.
Brentford came out of the blocks firing, and it took them just 11 minutes to break the deadlock.
It was a moment to forget for Rafael Cabral however as Sergi Canos teed up Mathias Jensen, his deflected close-range shot was hit straight at Cabral in the Royals’ net, and the ball trickled over the line.
Brentford looked dangerous going forward with every attack, and with Reading having no answer it was not long before the second goal came.
Josh Dasilva spotted Mbeumo on the right wing with a superb ball, and the latter took it down before curling in superbly from 20 yards.
The Bees were looking frightening on every attack they went on, and just seven minutes later all but put an end to the contest. Top scorer Ivan Toney turned provider and laid the ball off for Mbeumo who turned his man and found the corner from close range.
It capped off a stunning opening 30 minutes for the hosts, who completely blew the visitors away, who didn’t help themselves defensively with the goals conceded.
Reading finally woke up, and tested David Raya in the Bees’ net, but he comfortably held onto Josh Laurent’s effort. That was the last bit of action for a half that the Royals were delighted had finished.
The second 45 was a much less lively affair, mainly down to the torrential downpour in West London. A lengthy injury break after goal scorer Jensen was caught by an elbow slowed the pace of the game down before the visitors finally woke up.
The highly rated Michael Olise swung in a cross which was met by the unmarked Sone Aluko to head home, having only been on the pitch three minutes.
Despite this, the final 25 minutes remained a quiet affair, with Brentford seeing out the game without much challenge from Reading.
The result was a fair reflection of the game, with the Bees looking comfortable and on top throughout, and effectively had the game wrapped up in the first 45.
The win sees Thomas Frank’s men extend their unbeaten run to 13 games and move up to fourth in the league on 35 points. Veljko Paunovic’s men on the other hand have dropped out of the play offs to eighth.
Both sides return to action on Boxing Day, as the Bees travel to Wales to face Cardiff City, whilst the Royals host Luton Town.
Both sides return to action on Boxing Day, as the Bees travel to Wales to face Cardiff City, whilst the Royals host Luton Town.
By Josh Mann
