Brentford 4-2 Brighton: Thomas Frank’s side secure impressive win to strike a blow into Seagulls’ European hopes as Joao Pedro is sent off

Thomas Frank praised his strike force of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa for their ‘unbelieveable achievement’ of scoring a combined 34 goals this season, as they kept Brentford’s hopes of European football alive.

Wissa scored his 16th of the season and Mbeumo took his tally to 18 with two goals as the Bees closed the gap to two points on Brighton, who had Joao Pedro sent off on the hour mark and defender Jan Paul van Hecke taken to hospital with a head injury during 20 minutes of stoppage-time.

Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler faced chants of ‘where’s our striker gone?’ from fans when he took off goalscorer Danny Welbeck in the 77th minute, whereas Frank was all smiles at the end of Brentford’s first home win since December 7.

‘I said to the players, “just win” for two reasons. It was time to win at home again and we had to win if we have dreams of Europe,’ Frank said.

‘It was a big win. Mbeumo and Wissa are so consistent as a pair. No other team has a duo with over 16 goals each, which is an incredible achievement.’

Mbeumo opened the scoring from a superb counter-attack in the ninth minute, running on to a defence splitting pass from Keane Lewis-Potter to fire past keeper Bart Verbruggen.

Bryan Mbeumo scored twice and Yoane Wissa also netted as Brentford’s dynamic duo shone

Mbeumo put his side 1-0 up after just nine minutes as he finished smartly with his right foot

Brighton barely had an effort on target until the third minute of first-half stoppage-time, when Welbeck headed home a cross from Mats Wieffer on the right.

But Mbeumo restored Brentford’s lead three minutes after the break, cutting in from the right to power a shot in at Verbruggen’s far post, the ball being deflected by Lewis Dunk on the way.

And the Brighton captain also got an inadvertent touch to wrong-foot Verbruggen when Wissa made it 3-1 ten minutes later, after another swift counter- attack led by Mikkel Damsgaard and Mbeumo.

The game looked lost for Brighton when Pedro was sent off soon afterwards for aiming an elbow at Nathan Collins.

But Hurzeler threw on fit-again Karou Mitoma to reduce the arrears in the 81st minute with a smart finish, sliding the ball into the net past Mark Flekken.

Brentford looked in danger of letting their lead slip as Brighton piled on the pressure.

 But Christian Norgaard made it 4-2 by heading in Mathias Jensen’s free-kick in the sixth minute of stoppage- time, which was extended to 20 minutes after a clash of heads between Yunus Konak and Van Hecke, who was taken off on a stretcher and to a west London hospital for treatment.

Brentford are now just two points behind the 10th-placed Seagulls, who have gone five games without winning.

Danny Welbeck equalised for Brighton in first half added time with his ninth goal of the season

But Mbeumo restored Brentford’s lead shortly after the break to continue his fine campaign

Wissa then made it 3-1 to Brentford on 58 minutes after more good link-up play with Mbeumo 

Things went from bad to worse for Brighton when Joao Pedro was sent off for an elbow

Kaoru Mitoma pulled a goal back in the 81st minute, before Christian Norgaard made it 4-2

The loss was a blow for Fabian Hurzeler’s side as they battle to qualify for Europe next season

And if various permutations come to pass, the team in 10th could still find themselves playing in Europe next season.

Hurzeler, who has seen his team pick up just one point from their last four league matches, said: ‘I am responsible and have to find the solution.

‘The fans have their own opinions.’

Explaining the decision to take Welbeck off, he added: ‘I wanted to have more midfielders on the pitch to control the game more, to have more connections and then, up top, two fast wingers.’