Brighton & Hove Albion 2-0 Brentford: Igor Thiago Sees Red In Bees Defeat

Goals from Diego Gomez and Pascal Gross saw Brighton & Hove Albion move up to second in the Premier League as ten man Brentford tasted defeat on the road for the first time in the league this season.

Brighton took the lead early on with a wondergoal from Diego Gomez, before Igor Thiago was sent off just minutes later, shredding any hopes of a Bees revival. 

Pascal Gross's penalty extended the Seagulls' advantage to two just before the break from the penalty spot, setting up a nerveless second half for Fabian Hurzeler's side as they coasted through to another three points at the American Express Stadium. 

Brighton came into the afternoon with an unchanged side from their 1-0 win against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last weekend. 

Brentford, however, made one change from the side that had beaten Nottingham Forest 2-0 last weekend, with Aaron Hickey coming in for Mathias Jensen, in a move which saw the Scotsman start at left back whilst Keane Lewis-Potter moved into a slightly more advanced role. 

The hosts started off the better side, coming close to opening the scoring inside four minutes when Maxime De Cuyper's back post from close range sailed over the bar. 

Brentford shortly after had their best, and probably only genuine, chance of the game, as Keane Lewis-Potter's corner was headed narrowly over the bar by Kristoffer Ajer.

The opening goal came on the 15 minute mark for Brighton after a moment of magic from Diego Gomez, in which the Paraguayan midfielder unleashed a sensational left footed effort from range into the top left hand corner leaving Caoimhin Kelleher in the Brentford net with absolutely no chance. 

Any Brentford hopes of a positive response to the opener were dashed just a few minutes later after a tussle between Chema Andres and Igor Thiago. On-field referee Michael Oliver initially booked both players, however was sent to the screen by the VAR to look at a potential push in the face from Thiago towards Andres which, after review, was adjudged to have been violent conduct, resulting in the Brazilian's dismissal and Brentford's third red card of the season.

Ten man Brentford held firm defensively for much of the remainder of the half as they attempted to keep the deficit to just one going into the break, however became their own worst enemies yet again as Keane Lewis-Potter pulled Luka Vuskovic to the ground off the ball from a corner, conceding a penalty. 

Pascal Gross made no mistake from the spot, firing his spot kick into the top right hand corner, to give the Seagulls a comfortably 2-0 lead. 

Club captain Nathan Collins was one of two half time changes for the Bees as Keith Andrews shifted to a back five at half time amidst fears the 10 men could be in for a heavy defeat. 

Brentford's backline defended well in the second 45, ensuring no further damage was done to the scoreline, however failed to create any real opportunities to get a goal that would raise any hope of an unlikely comeback.

It was a second half in which Brighton seemed fairly content to manage their two goal lead, with Jack Hinshelwood's low effort from the edge of the box the closest they came to scoring in a half which they'll probably remember best for Yankuba Minteh's return to home action after injury.

Brighton's win sees them go into the international break in second place ahead of their trip to Hull City in two weeks time. 

Brentford meanwhile drop to eighth place, next in action two weeks on Monday at home to Everton, in the first of three games they will face without Igor Thiago.