Wissa leads Brentford fightback over Bournemouth

Brentford twice came from behind to beat Bournemouth and bounce back from Monday’s agonising defeat at Fulham.

The Bees conceded two stoppage-time goals to lose Monday’s London derby and have dropped more points from winning positions (14) than anyone else in the Premier League this season.

This time it was Brentford who fought back, though, equalising in each half before Yoane Wissa’s winner maintained the best home record in the Premier League.

After beating defending champions Manchester City last week, Bournemouth made a bright start and a poor backpass by Sepp van den Berg gifted Evanilson the opening goal.

The hosts managed to rouse themselves, with Wissa heading them level from a long throw just before the half-hour mark.

Bournemouth regained the lead early in the second half through Justin Kluivert following a well-worked move from a corner.

However, Mikkel Damsgaard levelled again from a tight angle just 80 seconds later before Wissa finished off a fine move for the winner, his seventh goal of the season.

Brentford might have extended their lead late on, while Bournemouth substitute Dean Huijsen could have equalised when he headed against the crossbar in stoppage time.

Brentford’s win lifted them above the Cherries to 10th in the Premier League table, before the rest of the weekend’s fixtures.

Bees not missing Toney’s goals

Both teams are dealing with life without their biggest goal threats of recent seasons, with Brentford having sold Ivan Toney and Bournemouth losing Dominic Solanke.

However, Brentford have had little trouble replacing Toney’s goals.

Coming into Saturday’s game, only three teams had scored more in the Premier League than the Bees (17), with both Bryan Mbeumo and Wissa among the league’s top 11 scorers.

Brentford appear to have undergone a tactical evolution since Toney’s departure, with manager Thomas Frank adding more style to his side’s substance, but their first equaliser was more scrappy than stylish.

After a sluggish start, Vitaly Janelt had tested Kepa Arrizabalaga with a strike from just inside the box, before the Bees won a throw-in down the right.

Mathias Jensen’s delivery was flicked on twice before Wissa managed to steer it back across goal and inside the far post, with a VAR check ruling there had not been a Brentford handball.

The Bees conceded again at the start of the second half but hit straight back, with Mbeumo slipping a pass into the box for Damsgaard to squeeze a low shot past Kepa at his near post.

With Brentford now buoyant, they began to produce more of the fluid football Frank has challenged them to play, and Janelt’s through-ball allowed Wissa to dink the ball over Kepa.

Mbeumo then blazed over from Janelt’s cut-back while captain Christian Norgaard had a deflected shot saved. The visitors threw caution to the wind at the death, but Brentford hung on.

Cherries need to ease burden on Evanilson

Bournemouth had beaten Manchester City and Arsenal and drawn with Aston Villa during a run of seven points from their previous three games.

And they started strongly here, with Antoine Semenyo cutting in from the right and forcing Flekken to turn a low strike wide.

A well-worked corner routine then resulted in Ryan Christie curling in a teasing cross that defender Marcos Senesi turned over from close range at the back post.

The visitors went in front when Brentford defender Van den Berg opted to play back to Flekken from about 40 yards out, and Evanilson latched on to the ball to round the keeper and score for his third straight league game.

Despite Brentford’s equaliser, Bournemouth produced another well-worked move from a corner to go back in front, with Kluivert playing a one-two with Lewis Cook before sidefooting past Flekken.

After the hosts’ fightback, the Cherries were denied a penalty for Ethan Pinnock pulling back Evanilson.

Bournemouth’s record signing took six games to open his account but now has four goals in six games. If the Brazilian striker continues to score at that rate, he will emulate Solanke’s 21-goal haul from last season.

However, they will need the likes of Kluivert and Semenyo to keep chipping in to ease the goal burden on Evanilson.