Match ends, Brentford 1, Luton Town 0.
BrentfordBrentford1LutonLuton Town0
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."
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 22Dalsgaard
- 5Pinnock
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 3Henry
- 20GhoddosSubstituted forZamburekat 83'minutes
- 27Janelt
- 8Jensen
- 19MbeumoBooked at 32minsSubstituted forFosu-Henryat 74'minutes
- 17ToneyBooked at 90mins
- 7CanósSubstituted forForssat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Goode
- 15Forss
- 21Dervisoglu
- 24Fosu-Henry
- 28Daniels
- 30Rasmussen
- 31Zamburek
- 36Stevens
- 37Gilbert
Luton
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 12Sluga
- 26Bree
- 15LockyerBooked at 90mins
- 5BradleyBooked at 39mins
- 3PottsSubstituted forNaismithat 76'minutes
- 17Mpanzu
- 7Cornick
- 8BerrySubstituted forTunnicliffeat 64'minutes
- 22Dewsbury-HallSubstituted forHyltonat 89'minutes
- 14MoncurSubstituted forClarkat 64'minutes
- 19CollinsSubstituted forLuaLuaat 65'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Shea
- 4Tunnicliffe
- 6Pearson
- 9Hylton
- 16Rea
- 18Clark
- 24Naismith
- 25LuaLua
- 27Nombe
- Referee:
- Steve Martin
Match Stats
Home TeamBrentfordAway TeamLuton
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Luton Town 0.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Ivan Toney (Brentford).
Dismissal
Tom Lockyer (Luton Town) is shown the red card for violent conduct.
Post update
Tom Lockyer (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ivan Toney (Brentford).
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Offside, Luton Town. Simon Sluga tries a through ball, but Harry Cornick is caught offside.
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Foul by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town).
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Ivan Toney (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Hand ball by James Bree (Luton Town).
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Sonny Bradley (Luton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ivan Toney (Brentford).
Substitution
Substitution, Luton Town. Danny Hylton replaces Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mathias Jensen (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
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Attempt blocked. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Attempt blocked. Jordan Clark (Luton Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ryan Tunnicliffe.
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Attempt missed. Henrik Dalsgaard (Brentford) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mathias Jensen with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Kal Naismith.
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Attempt blocked. Marcus Forss (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jan Zamburek.
Post update
Foul by Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (Luton Town).
