Brentford’s superb Premier League season continued as a comfortable win over an abject West Ham United secured their first top-half finish in the top flight since 1938.
The Bees, without 20-goal leading scorer Ivan Toney because of a hamstring injury, went ahead when Bryan Mbeumo swept under Lukasz Fabianski.
They won the ball back high in the West Ham half and worked an overload on the right wing for the Cameroon international to slot home his seventh goal of the season.
Thomas Frank’s side dominated throughout and deservedly doubled their lead just before half-time when Ben Mee flicked a long throw on for Yoane Wissa to head home.
West Ham made seven changes from their 1-0 win over Manchester United last weekend with eyes on Thursday’s Europa Conference League semi-final second leg against AZ Alkmaar.
Should they get through, it would be their first European final since 1976, offering the chance of their first major trophy since 1980.
While David Moyes’ side are not yet mathematically safe from relegation, they are far enough above the bottom three that the manager was willing to prioritise.
He introduced Declan Rice and Said Benrahma just before the hour mark and it did bring about an improvement with Danny Ings having a goal ruled out for handball in the build-up.
They remain 15th, six points clear of safety, while Brentford climb above Fulham into ninth.
Brentford continue to impress
When the teamsheet was released with Toney’s name missing, it raised the question of where Brentford’s goals would come – considering the forward had scored 20 of the 52 they had in the league at kick-off.
The Bees did not need to worry.
The biggest compliment you can give them is they looked a Premier League side – and a dangerous one – without the England international.
Frank will only be annoyed that his side failed to win by a more handsome margin.
Wissa was denied by a superb one-handed save in the first half, before Ben Mee’s follow-up was blocked on the line.
Mbeumo and Wissa both missed chances early in the second half, while the former also saw a powerful stoppage-time header saved, as they continued to overrun a lacklustre Hammers.
Brentford have now taken 34 points from a possible 54 at home this season and while Europe may now be out of their reach they have confirmed themselves as an established Premier League outfit – with a top-half finish guaranteed.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Brentford boss Frank said: “It was the most convincing 2-0 win I’ve seen a long, long time. We were completely dominant in all aspects. We should have scored at least two more goals.
“It is very promising to see that performance without Ivan Toney.
“We’ve ticked off a top-half finish, which is an incredible achievement when everyone has spoken about second-season syndrome.”
Moyes gambles and West Ham fall flat
Before kick-off, Moyes said his selection was made with “one eye on Thursday” but added “it is about picking up points”.
His side never looked like picking up anything from this game.
They were sloppy in possession and showed a lack of energy, certainly until they went two goals behind.
Ings saw an effort saved moments the Hammers went two down, and they may well bemoan the decision to disallow his goal, with the ball hitting Divin Mubama’s hand after Benrahma’s cross hit the post.
It has been a frustrating campaign for West Ham but with another season of Premier League football practically guaranteed and a first major trophy in 43 years still available, it could turn into a successful one.
They may have to do both without Michail Antonio, who was absent with a calf injury, with Moyes saying “he couldn’t say much more than that”.
Talking to BBC Match of the Day, Moyes said: “We weren’t at our best. The first goal took the wind out of us. We’ve only got ourselves to blame.
“The players are goosed at the moment. I wanted to give some other players an opportunity to show and the players a chance to rest. It was always going to be needed at some stage along the line.”
Moyes added he was “incredibly surprised” Ings’ goal was ruled out, adding: “It is certainly not deliberate handball. I thought it hit his shoulder and I don’t think it is conclusive that it was handball.
“We’ve had some ridiculously bad decisions in recent games.”
Player of the match
HickeyAaron Hickey
Brentford
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Squad number2Player nameHickey
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Squad number16Player nameMee
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
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Squad number8Player nameJensen
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Squad number11Player nameHe warned
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Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard
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Squad number27Player nameJanet
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Squad number3Player nameHenry
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Squad number9Player nameInjury
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Squad number1Player nameRaya
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Squad number5Player namePinnock
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Squad number15Player nameLook
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Squad number10Player nameDasilva
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Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
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Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
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Squad number14Player nameGhoddos
West Ham United
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Squad number22Player nameBenrahma
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Squad number72Player nameMubama
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Squad number41Player nameRice
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Squad number1Player nameFabianski
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Squad number21Player nameOgbonna
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Squad number10Player nameWhat is it?
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Squad number18Player nameIngs
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Squad number28Player nameSoucek
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Squad number12Player nameDownes
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Squad number14Player nameCornet
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Squad number27Player nameAguerd
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Squad number8Player nameFornals
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Squad number33Player nameEmerson
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Squad number20Player nameBowen
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Squad number2Player nameJohnson
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 2HickeyBooked at 76minsSubstituted forRoerslevat 85′minutes
- 5Pinnock
- 16Mee
- 3Henry
- 24DamsgaardSubstituted forBaptisteat 77′minutes
- 27Janet
- 8JensenSubstituted forLookat 70′minutes
- 19Mbeumo
- 11He warnedSubstituted forDasilvaat 77′minutes
- 9InjurySubstituted forGhoddosat 86′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Dasilva
- 13M Jorgensen
- 14Ghoddos
- 15Look
- 20Ajer
- 26Baptiste
- 30Roerslev
- 33Stevens
- 34Cox
West Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Fabianski
- 2Johnson
- 27Aguerd
- 21Ogbonna
- 33Emerson
- 28SoucekSubstituted forRiceat 58′minutes
- 12Downes
- 8FornalsSubstituted forMubamaat 58′minutes
- 10What is it?
- 14CornetSubstituted forBenrahmaat 59′minutes
- 18IngsSubstituted forBowenat 83′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Cresswell
- 4Dry
- 11Lucas Paquetá
- 13Areola
- 20Bowen
- 22Benrahma
- 24sweeper
- 41Rice
- 72Mubama
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 17,075
Live Text
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Match ends, Brentford 2, West Ham United 0.
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Second Half ends, Brentford 2, West Ham United 0.
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Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Mads Roerslev.
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Foul by Frank Onyeka (Brentford).
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Flynn Downes (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Mads Roerslev with a cross.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Rico Henry (Brentford).
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Delay in match (West Ham United).
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Foul by Saman Ghoddos (Brentford).
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Ben Johnson (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Josh Dasilva (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Shandon Baptiste.
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Attempt saved. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Saman Ghoddos.
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Substitution, Brentford. Saman Ghoddos replaces Kevin Schade.
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Substitution, Brentford. Mads Roerslev replaces Aaron Hickey.
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Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Ethan Pinnock.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Jarrod Bowen replaces Danny Ings.
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Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Aaron Hickey.
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Attempt saved. Saïd Benrahma (West Ham United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Offside, West Ham United. Flynn Downes tries a through ball, but Nayef Aguerd is caught offside.
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