Out-of-form Brighton stunned European hopefuls Brentford with a 2-0 win at the Gtech to claim their first victory in six matches.
Ironic chants of “We’ve scored a goal” echoed from the 1,700 or so travelling fans after Diego Gómez scored the opener, having seen their side fail to find the back of the net in their previous three games, in which they lost all three.
Danny Welbeck doubled the lead to seal a first league away win for the Seagulls since November, and a second win since December.
Brentford, who had taken more points than any Premier League side over the previous 10 matches, failed to match that form. They remain seventh in their hunt for European qualification, but missed an opportunity to climb above Liverpool in sixth, albeit the Reds were yet to play.
Despite Brentford’s ascendancy and Brighton’s miserable run of form heading into the contest, it was the visitors who dominated the first half and deservedly went into the break ahead.
Jack Hinshelwood and Karou Mitoma forced Caoimhin Kelleher into smart stops as the visitors probed and tested the Bees’ backline in the opening exchanges.
James Milner, who became the Premier League’s all-time appearance maker (654), also had a long-range effort bounce just wide of the post.
Brentford’s best opportunity in the opening 45 minutes came from top scorer Igor Thiago, but January’s Player of the Month lashed his strike over the bar after controlling the ball with his chest from a ball over the top.
Brighton’s pressure and possession were rewarded on the half-hour mark; Kadioglu’s curling shot rattled the crossbar but fell to teammate Gómez to convert the rebound.
Then, in first half injury time, a simple ball over Brentford’s defence freed Hinshelwood, who put in a teasing ball across the six-yard box. Nathan Collins, who had just replaced the injured Aaron Hickey 46 seconds earlier, tried to clear his lines with a tentative back flick, but the Irishman got it all wrong, allowing Danny Welbeck to bury a simple goal and double their lead.
Keith Andrews brought on Kevin Schade after the interval, returning to the squad after serving a three-match suspension, and the hosts were marginally better going forward in the second half, but in truth, Brighton were happy to step off the gas and cruise through the rest of the game.
Thiago, Collins, and Mathias Jensen each had headers go wide or over the bar, as set-pieces seemed to be the most viable route back into the match.
Alas, Jensen swung in a deep free kick in the 76th minute, which Thiago headed back across goal, but Dango Ouattara’s acrobatic attempt flew over the bar.
A terrific ball over the top from Ouattara freed substitute Mikkel Damsgaard with three minutes left, but the Dane didn’t put enough juice on his attempted lob.
A minute later, Bart Verbruggen produced an outstanding save at full stretch to keep the ball out of his net after it bounced off a defender and preserve a clean sheet.
Andrews: ‘We didn’t hit the levels’
Brentford were unbeaten in their previous three league games, beating Aston Villa and Newcastle and securing a valiant point against Arsenal, but Bees boss Andrews admitted his side were off the pace.
“First half, we didn’t hit the levels that we’ve been doing pretty consistently,” he said. “A little bit flat, didn’t play with the same level of intensity that we have been doing really, really well. The game was lost, obviously, in the first half.”
Brentford have now lost two of their last three home games, the previous one being a similarly disappointing 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest. But when asked if there was frustration at losing games that were ‘easier’ on paper, Andrews was defiant in his response.
“I totally disagree,” he insisted. “Brighton, the games they’ve been in have been very, very fine margins. I have absolute belief that we can beat anyone in the league because we’ve proved that.
“But I take nothing for granted in terms of if you don’t hit the same performance levels that you need to compete and challenge the opposition, really take the game to them and show bravery, courage and be ruthless in the actions that you need to be, then you don’t get the results.
“Forest, we should have got something from – we were pretty firm on that. Today, in the first half, we didn’t perform to the levels that we are.”