Match ends, Brentford 0, West Bromwich Albion 1.
BrentfordBrentford0West BromWest Bromwich Albion1
Kyle Edwards scored a stunning solo goal on his first league start for West Bromwich Albion to ensure victory for the promotion chasers at Brentford.
It took a captivating run to put the Baggies ahead, Edwards slaloming past a number of Bees players after collecting the ball wide on the right, skipping through challenges before poking his finish past Luke Daniels.
West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone kept the visitors in it at half-time with a series of saves - twice denying Said Benrahma before foiling Julian Jeanvier and Yoann Barbet.
Edwards' stunning individual effort was West Brom's first effort on target, with Daniels then going on to keep Dwight Gayle and Ahmed Hegazi out.
Johnstone's intervention was again needed after the break as he foiled Sergi Canos, a save that capped a fine display by the keeper to help the Baggies to their second win in seven days since head coach Darren Moore's sacking.
West Brom remain fourth in the table with the win, and move to within seven points of the automatic promotion spots.
Defeat was Brentford's first at home in six league games at Griffin Park, leaving them 14th and eight points adrift of the play-off spots.
Johnstone was made to work hard in the first half with a string of saves - the finest to keep Barbet out - while West Brom in response failed to get a shot on target before the interval.
Edwards' goal early in the second half was a dazzling moment that decided the game, but Johnstone's impregnable presence proved decisive.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank told BBC London:
"The wind played a big part and on the day we didn't show enough quality.
"We needed to create more chances in the first half. There were four or five very good counter-attacking opportunities where with a better decision, a better pass, we could have created a massive chance."
West Brom caretaker boss James Shan told BBC WM:
"Kyle Edwards has been magnificent. I've worked with him from under-eights and seen him progress through the academy. To see him do that at this level is a magnificent achievement.
"We were under the cosh at times in the first half but we also had some really good moments.
"In the second half we began to have some real moments of control and caused Brentford some problems."
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 3-4-3
- 28Daniels
- 26Konsa
- 23JeanvierBooked at 65mins
- 29Barbet
- 22Dalsgaard
- 19Sawyers
- 12MokotjoSubstituted forDa Silvaat 83'minutes
- 2OdubajoBooked at 58minsSubstituted forMarcondesat 83'minutes
- 7CanosSubstituted forWatkinsat 69'minutes
- 9Maupay
- 21Benrahma
Substitutes
- 10McEachran
- 11Watkins
- 13Gunnarsson
- 14Da Silva
- 17Marcondes
- 33Forss
- 34Bech Sörensen
West Brom
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Johnstone
- 68Holgate
- 25Dawson
- 26Hegazi
- 14Townsend
- 7MorrisonSubstituted forLivermoreat 80'minutes
- 11Brunt
- 6Johansen
- 21EdwardsSubstituted forRobson-Kanuat 74'minutes
- 19Rodriguez
- 16GayleBooked at 33mins
Substitutes
- 4Robson-Kanu
- 5Bartley
- 8Livermore
- 12Mears
- 18Barry
- 23Bond
- 70Murphy
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
- Attendance:
- 11,488
Match Stats
Home TeamBrentfordAway TeamWest Brom
- Possession
- Home65%
- Away35%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home7
- Away6
- Corners
- Home6
- Away14
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 0, West Bromwich Albion 1.
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Romaine Sawyers (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Dwight Gayle (West Bromwich Albion).
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Ollie Watkins (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Stefan Johansen (West Bromwich Albion).
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Foul by Ollie Watkins (Brentford).
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Chris Brunt (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Luke Daniels.
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Attempt saved. Dwight Gayle (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Foul by Julian Jeanvier (Brentford).
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Dwight Gayle (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Yoann Barbet.
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Foul by Josh Da Silva (Brentford).
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Dwight Gayle (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Romaine Sawyers (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Conor Townsend (West Bromwich Albion).
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Emiliano Marcondes replaces Moses Odubajo.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Josh Da Silva replaces Kamohelo Mokotjo.
Post update
Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Luke Daniels.
