Brentford continued their habit of scoring early in matches, as they overwhelmed Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-3 in a thrilling Premier League contest on Saturday.
The game, marked by chaotic defensive lapses and six goals in the first half alone, saw Brentford secure victory in an enthralling end-to-end encounter at the Community Stadium.
For the fourth consecutive league game, Brentford found the back of the net early, taking the lead multiple times in a wild first half.
Each time Brentford edged ahead, Wolves hit back, exposing both sides’ vulnerabilities in defence.
The home crowd’s frustration with Wolves manager Gary O’Neil boiled over in the second half, as chants of “You’re getting sacked in the morning” echoed around the stadium, a reflection of Wolves’ dire form that leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table with just one point and a dismal goal difference of -12.
Brentford’s triumph, on the other hand, elevated them to ninth place with 10 points.
Having scored within the first minute in their last three games, the Bees were just shy of repeating the feat, netting after only 76 seconds.
Mikkel Damsgaard darted down the right wing before delivering a perfect cross for Nathan Collins, who headed the ball home with ease to give Brentford an early lead.
However, Wolves wasted no time in responding, equalizing within two minutes. Nelson Semedo ghosted behind Brentford’s backline, cutting the ball back for Matheus Cunha, who fired in a precise finish from near the penalty spot.
Defensive frailties plagued Wolves once again when Mario Lemina clumsily pulled Collins down in the box during a set-piece.
After consulting the replay, the referee awarded Brentford a penalty, which Bryan Mbeumo confidently converted for his sixth goal of the season, restoring the Bees’ lead.
But Wolves weren’t done. A defensive mix-up at the back allowed Rayan Ait-Nouri to float in a cross, which Jorgen Larsen latched onto, poking the ball past Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken for Wolves’ second equalizer of the game.
Brentford regained the upper hand in the 28th minute, capitalizing on Wolves’ sloppy play near their own box. A slick passing sequence ended with Vitaly Janelt teeing up Christian Norgaard, who took a composed touch before drilling a low shot into the far corner, making it 3-2.
Just before halftime, Brentford extended their advantage further. Another set-piece proved Wolves’ undoing, as Ethan Pinnock rose highest to direct a well-placed header into the far post, giving the Bees a 4-2 lead heading into the break.
The second half saw a marked improvement in both teams’ defensive efforts. Wolves’ goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who was tested throughout the game, made a string of saves to prevent Brentford from running riot, totaling seven saves in all.
However, his resistance was broken once more in the dying minutes when he parried a shot directly into the path of Brentford substitute Fabio Carvalho, who tapped in for his first Premier League goal for the club, making it 5-2.
Though Ait-Nouri pulled one back for Wolves late on with a fierce shot that slipped through Flekken’s legs, it was little more than a consolation goal as Brentford saw out the game comfortably.
The victory piles even more pressure on O’Neil, whose Wolves side remain bottom of the league.
