Thomas Frank hails ‘incredible achievement’ from Brentford strike duo

Brentford manager Thomas Frank hailed an “incredible achievement” after Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa made it 31 Premier League goals between them in a 4-2 win over Brighton at the Gtech Stadium.

The result kept alive the home side’s outside hopes of qualifying for Europe, and their credentials appeared strong as Brighton – for whom striker Joao Pedro was sent off for violent conduct just past the hour – were batted aside and made to look wholly disjointed in the face of Brentford’s attacking threat.

Mbeumo is now the division’s fifth-top scorer with 16 and registered two finely-taken goals, one in each half, and though Danny Welbeck equalised for Fabian Hurzeler’s side on the stroke of half-time, Brentford were the better side, Wissa quickly making it 3-1 with his 15th of the season.

“As a pair, is there anyone who has (scored more)?” said Frank. “I know (Mohamed) Salah has been ridiculous, you’ll find a Liverpool player that has more between the two of them, but as a consistent pair? That’s an incredible achievement from the two of them.

“When you consistently over the last six seasons have produced top scorers, that must be something we’re doing right.

“I’m very happy that (Mbeumo) is shining and is the main man now for us. But I think it’s a duo, him and Wissa.”

Karou Mitoma came off the bench for Brighton and briefly ignited hope of a comeback by making it 3-2, though their ambitions had by then been hindered by Pedro’s foolish dismissal for lashing out at Nathan Collins.

Christian Norgaard made it 4-2 in stoppage time to seal a first home win since December, before the worrying sight of defender Jan Paul van Hecke being carried from the pitch wearing a neck brace.

“It’s always about performance but we had to get over the line, we had to win at home again,” said Frank. “It’s about time.

“If we want to have any hope of European ambitions, we had to win today. Now there’s five games to go, an extremely interesting end to the season.”

Brighton boss Hurzeler was jeered with cries of “you don’t know what you’re doing” from away fans when he took off lone striker Welbeck at 3-1 down.

The discontent with the manager was clearly audible to owner Tony Bloom who watched the game amongst the travelling supporters.

“That’s fine, if they have their opinion,” said Hurzeler. “I think the team played well after (the substitution).”

Brighton are now five games without a win, with their own European hopes beginning to dwindle.

“In the end I am responsible for that, I have to find the right solutions,” said Hurzeler. “We know there are some things that aren’t perfectly ongoing. We’re struggling with availability, struggling with the connections on the pitch. We do too many individual mistakes. That’s why I’m here, to find solutions.”