Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo scored twice as the Bees dealt a blow to Brighton’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s European competitions.
The Cameroon international gave Thomas Frank’s side the lead with a powerful right-footed effort following a defence-splitting Keane Lewis-Potter through ball.
Striker Danny Welbeck equalised for Brighton with his ninth league goal of the season – equalling his most prolific Premier League campaign – by heading in Mats Wieffer’s cross on the stroke of half-time.
Mbeumo, 25, scored his second of the day and 18th of the season when his curling effort found the bottom corner after a slight deflection off Lewis Dunk.
The Cameroonian turned provider for Brentford’s third, teeing up strike partner Yoane Wissa, who saw his effort deflect in after cannoning off defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
It went from bad to worse for Brighton as Brazilian striker Joao Pedro was shown a straight red card for lashing out at Brentford defender Nathan Collins in an off-the-ball incident.
The Seagulls set up a tense finish when substitute Kaoru Mitoma scored their second, beating Mark Flekken with a deft left-footed finish following Jack Hinshelwood’s through ball.
But Brentford captain Christian Norgaard put the result beyond doubt in the sixth minute of stoppage time when he headed in Mathias Jensen’s free-kick.
A clash of heads between Brighton defender Van Hecke and Brentford’s Yunus Konak in the final minute of injury time led to a delay of 10 minutes, with the Dutchman eventually being carried off on a stretcher after receiving oxygen.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was unable to offer an update on Van Hecke’s condition after the match but said “hopefully he’s back on the pitch soon”.
The defeat means Brighton have earned just one point from their past four matches, leaving them 10th in the table, six points behind sixth-placed Chelsea and two points ahead of 11th-placed Brentford.
Mbeumo and Wissa the perfect double act
Brentford are the only club in the Premier League to have more than one player in the top-10 scorers this season.
Those players are, of course, Mbeumo and Wissa.
Only three players – Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland – have scored more than the 18 goals Mbeumo has managed this season, while Wissa is fifth in the standings with 16.
But the pair are so much more than just goals.
Mbeumo, in particular, had an afternoon to remember against Brighton.
He ran the channels expertly, giving his side a constant threat on the break.
His first goal of the afternoon came via a rapid counter-attack, which Frank had prepared his side for.
“We knew we could hit them in behind on the transition and this is what we did,” said Mbeumo.
“We respected the gameplan very well.”
Mbuemo and Wissa have scored in the same game seven times this season – more than any other pairing in the Premier League.
‘You don’t know what you’re doing’
Brighton’s European hopes are sinking fast.
Since losing to Nottingham Forest in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on 29 March, the Seagulls have collected just one point from a possible 12.
The anger of travelling supporters spilled over 15 minutes from time, with fans chanting: “You don’t know what you’re doing” at manager Fabian Hurzeler.
It came after the German took off Welbeck and Carlos Baleba for Yasin Ayari and Diego Gomez, with the Seagulls losing 3-1.
It was a public showing of growing fan discontent but Hurzeler will argue that his side improved following the changes.
But striker Welbeck alluded to a disconnect in his post-match interview, accusing his team-mates of not playing for one another.
“We made our bed and we have to lie in it. It’s not good enough,” said Welbeck.
“There have been so many of these performances throughout the season.
“We need to play far more collectively. Fight for each other more. It was evident that we weren’t doing that.”
[BBC]