Wednesday 20th January
Brentford 1 Luton Town 0
From the BBC Sport website:
Brentford climbed to third in the Championship as Saman Ghoddos' goal gave them victory over Luton and extended their unbeaten league run to 16 games.
The Iranian headed home Ivan Toney's whipped cross after Luton keeper Simon Sluga had earlier denied Sergi Canos with a magnificent flying save when the forward tried his luck from 25 yards.
The Bees were playing their first league game of 2021 because of a Covid-19 outbreak, but dominated the opening half in which Luke Berry's glancing header, held by David Raya, was Luton's only effort on target.
The second half saw the Hatters willing to commit more men forward, but substitute Jordan Clark fired across the face of goal from an angle as they failed to conjure an equaliser.
However, the end of the game was marred by two red cards as Hatters defender Tom Lockyer and Toney were sent off in added time following an off-the-ball incident.
Brentford's win lifted them above Watford, Reading and Bournemouth and they are just two points behind second-placed Swansea, while the visitors slipped a place to 13th.
Luton arrived at the Brentford Community Stadium having lost their previous seven league games in London, while the home side had boss Thomas Frank back on the sidelines after having to isolate with coronavirus.
The Dane got to see Ghoddos score his first league goal after making his loan move from Amiens permanent earlier in the month to reward Brentford's positive start.
The visitors, though, were roused by Nathan Jones' words at the interval and David Raya saved well from James Collins on the hour, although the striker was flagged for offside.
After Clark's miss, Raya kept out an audacious backheel by Ryan Tunnicliffe before Luton forward Harry Cornick missed his kick from eight yards as James Bree crossed low into the box.
The altercation between Lockyer, who received a straight red card, and Toney, a second yellow, provided a sour note to end the game but another victory means Brentford have not lost in the league since 24 October.
The Bees now host Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, while Luton visit Chelsea.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank told BBC Radio London:
"We were extremely good in the first 35 minutes as we pressed aggressively and created chances.
"We got too passive in the last 10 minutes of the half and that carried on into the second half. Maybe that is because of the break, but I need to give a lot of credit to Luton.
"They caused us a lot of problems. But sometimes in this league you need to dig deep to get wins."
Luton boss Nathan Jones:
"In the first half, we allowed Brentford to do what Brentford do well. I'm disappointed with that. Second half, I thought we were excellent, got the ball into great areas and had enough chances to have got something from the game.
"There are a lot of positives especially as the last time we came here, we lost 7-0 and earlier in the season they comprehensively beat us (3-0 at home).
"Barring a little bit of quality in the final third, we would have got something from the game and I can't ask any more from them."
(On Tom Lockyer sending off) " I'm disappointed my player got involved with a minute to go after an earlier incident. We will appeal it because he will miss three game and he shouldn't."
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