Brentford continued in their quest for promotion by thrashing relegation threatened Wycombe Wanderers 7-2.
After a tight first-half in which the Chairboys asked many questions of the hosts, Thomas Frank’s men turned it on in the second half and ran riot.
The Bees came into the game off the back of a frustrating draw against Swansea City, in a game where many Bees fans were left scratching their heads at how they failed to win the game.
It left them fourth in the table, two points off an automatic promotion place, with a game in hand.
Wycombe, who were rooted to the bottom of the Championship, had not played a league game since January 2 due to an outbreak of Covid-19, but took on Tottenham in the FA Cup fourth round, with the Premier League outfit showing their class in the final ten minutes to run out 4-1 winners.
Frank made two changes from the trip to Swansea, with the impressive Vitaly Janelt dropping to the bench for Saman Ghoddos, and Bryan Mbeumo was left out of the squad for Ghanaian Tariqe Fosu.
Wycombe’s day started poorly as Alex Pattison, named in the starting XI was injured in the warm up, and was replaced by Dennis Adeniran.
Brentford started on the front foot and it took them just nine minutes to take the lead, as the unmarked Ethan Pinnock headed in Mathias Jensen’s corner.
However, the lead lasted just five minutes as Uche Ikpeazu skipped past three Bees defenders and curled and superb shot past David Raya.
The goal seemed to rock the hosts, as Wycombe grew into the game, forcing Raya into two saves, one of which was pushed onto the post.
The goal seemed to rock the hosts, as Wycombe grew into the game, forcing Raya into two saves, one of which was pushed onto the post.
Brentford eventually retook the lead, four minutes from the break as an Ivan Toney shot parried by Ryan Allsop was forced over the line by Fosu.
There was initial doubt as to whose goal it was, but the goal was eventually credited to Fosu.
However, the Bees were vulnerable yet again and it took just two minutes for the Chairboys to level again, as Darius Charles headed Jason McCarthy’s free-kick into the path of Admiral Muskwe who notched his first goal for the club.
Frank would have gone in at half-time frustrated at his defence, and failing to deal with Wycombe’s balls into the box.
The Bees came out after the break firing on all cylinders, and barely gave the visitors a sniff.
It took just five second half minutes for Fosu to double his tally, after he was set up by top scorer Toney.
On 56 minutes Brentford were awarded a contentious penalty after a Fred Onyedinma challenge on Sergi Canos.
Toney confidently stroked home the penalty to end his seven-game goal drought, and earned himself a deserved goal.
The Bees added a fifth with nine to play after a mazy run from Josh Dasilva saw him cross for Canos to finish on the half volley.
By this point, Wycombe were becoming to look lethargic, with tired legs showing, and Brentford took full advantage of that as Toney doubled his tally after he was played in over the top, before rounding Allsop to fire in.
Dasilva completed the rout on 89 minutes, after being played through by substitute Marcus Forss, before neatly finishing.
The end finally came for Wycombe, and Gareth Ainsworth would have been disappointed with the end result, particularly after more than matching the hosts in the first half.
Frank’s side move up to third with that win, on 48 points with a game in hand on second placed Swansea City. Next up for them is a home game against Bristol City on Wednesday, in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Wycombe remain rooted to the bottom of the Championship on 15 points, and are now 11 points from safety. A massive game comes next on Tuesday for them, as they host Birmingham City – in what could be a must-win encounter if they want to have any chance of staying up.
By Josh Mann
