Forward Yoane Wissa netted twice as Brentford comfortably defeated Luton, extending their lead over the relegation zone to 10 points.
Wissa skillfully connected with Bryan Mbeumo’s pass to elegantly curl in the opening goal from the edge of the box with 24 minutes played.
The DR Congo forward secured his second goal just before halftime, reacting swiftly to a loose ball following Luton’s failure to clear Mbeumo’s low cross.
Defender Ethan Pinnock, returning to the starting lineup for the first time since February 10th, nodded in a Sergio Reguilon corner in the 62nd minute, firmly putting Brentford in control.
Luton appeared disheartened and short of ideas, evident when Keane Lewis-Potter found space at the far post two minutes later, heading in Mbeumo’s cross, before substitute Kevin Schade added to the visitors’ tally.
Despite limited threats from the home side, they were presented with an opportunity in injury time when Luke Berry capitalized on a loose ball, sidestepped goalkeeper Mark Flekken, and finished from a tight angle.
Brentford have moved above Crystal Palace into 14th place and hold a 10-point cushion above the relegation zone with four games remaining, while Luton remains in 18th place, one point away from safety.
Another heavy loss for Hatters
Opportunities were scarce for Rob Edwards’ squad, appearing disorganized, and their confidence in securing another season in the Premier League may be dwindling.
With only four matches remaining to climb out of the relegation zone, they have managed just one victory in their last 13 league outings, suffering nine losses during this period, and conceding 10 goals in their last two matches.
While their extensive injury list, which includes nine senior players, must be considered, Luton have typically shown resilience on home turf, a quality that was notably absent in their match against Brentford.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Edwards said: “Brentford were very good and we were poor. They deserved to win the game. In spells in the first half, it looked a very even game. We had moments. It’s all ifs buts and maybes. We didn’t show enough, certainly in the second half.
“We’re fighting for our lives to stay in the Premier League. It shouldn’t be hard [to be motivated]. It’s a tough day.
“Our supporters are incredible, I’m sorry they had to go through that. We owe them a performance now.”
Survival in sight for Brentford
Thomas Frank’s team has adapted to playing without Ivan Toney, who faced a suspension in the earlier part of the season due to a breach of FA betting regulations. Despite the absence of the injured England striker at Kenilworth Road, Brentford showed no signs of slowing down.
Wissa and Mbeumo displayed a near-telepathic connection in the attacking front, while Lewis-Potter showcased his own capabilities. In addition to Wissa’s clinical brace, which marked his first double-digit league goal tally since the 2020-21 season with Lorient in France, Mbeumo struck the crossbar with a powerful shot.
Lewis-Potter posed threats throughout the first half, forcing goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski into a goal-line save and seeing another attempt deflected wide by defender Teden Mengi.
The match was effectively decided just after the hour mark with goals from Pinnock and Lewis-Potter scored within two minutes of each other, while Schade’s late goal underscored Brentford’s depth.
This marks Brentford’s first five-goal haul in a league fixture since their 5-2 victory over Leeds in September 2022. With only 12 points remaining to be contested, Brentford, sitting comfortably 10 points clear of the relegation zone, can now confidently plan for another season in the Premier League, having extended their unbeaten streak to five matches.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Frank said: “We’ve finally got a bit of momentum. We had some very good performances recently, especially against Manchester United and Aston Villa.
“I respect Rob Edwards and his staff and they make it difficult for every team that comes here. We were very dominant and on top throughout the game.”