A clinical Brentford display heaped more pressure on Bournemouth boss Gary O’Neil and extended their own impressive recent form in the Premier League.
Talisman Ivan Toney stepped up and slotted past Neto after being pulled down by Marcos Senesi to maintain his 100% record from the spot from his nine Premier League penalties.
It took him to 13 for the season in the league, beating his tally from last season.
Chances were few and far between but Brentford – who are now unbeaten in seven Premier League games, and climb above Liverpool into eighth – sealed the win when Mathias Jensen slotted Joshua Dasilva’s cross into the top corner.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, O’Neil said: “I thought the penalty decision was scandalous, I don’t know how you get that wrong with VAR. Crazy for me.
“It’s a foul as clear as day, Ivan Toney locks his arm in and pulls Marcos Senesi down. It’s never a penalty.
“We need to work hard, there are little things that can go your way or not. We’ve suffered some injuries, we’re weaker than we’d like to be. We’ve got to keep working.”
Bournemouth, who are 17th and one point clear of the relegation zone, have now lost six games in a row since O’Neil was appointed permanent manager during the World Cup.
They have only won two of their past 13 in all competitions and one of their past 10 in the league.
Those results have seen pressure build on O’Neil, who started the weekend as third favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked, behind Everton’s Frank Lampard and Chelsea’s Graham Potter.
Despite that, O’Neil said: “I’m not interested. I’m working as always to win the next game.”
Toney delivers for Brentford
This was the first time Toney had played in 2023 after suffering a knee injury in their victory over West Ham that concluded 2022.
His run in behind won the penalty with Senasi wrapping his arm under Toney’s, which the Brentford striker then effectively trapped, before falling backwards onto the floor.
Jarrod Gillett had little hesitation in awarding the spot-kick, and Toney took two steps forward before side-footing the ball into the side netting, just above the reach of Neto.
It means he has scored four goals in his last five Premier League games, and Brentford will be hoping any ban that may come from a Football Association charge for alleged breaches of betting rules is not too substantial as they potentially push for a place in Europe.
Overall, it was a relatively flat Brentford performance, until Dasilva burst forward and crossed for Jensen to curl home, with the win meaning the Bees have claimed 19 points from 30 available at home this season.
Bournemouth lack edge again
There is an uncertainty about the managerial situation at Bournemouth and that won’t put O’Neil at ease, especially with the club now on their longest winless run since 1983.
Since O’Neil’s appointment, the American businessman Bill Foley has taken over the club, and fans are yet to see how patient he is.
Investment in the playing squad was seemingly guaranteed when he took over, with Foley insisting the Cherries “will not be relegated” this season.
They are yet to make any signings in the January transfer window and saw relegation rivals Wolves, Southampton and Nottingham Forest all win on Saturday.
This was another performance of endeavour, suggesting the players are still behind O’Neil but they lacked a spark in the attacking areas, with Siriki Dembele’s driven effort just one of two shots on target.
Doubts will be creeping in on the south coast. The investment needs to arrive soon if Foley’s bold claim is going to be true come May.
Player of the match
JensenMathias Jensen
Brentford
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Squad number8Player nameJensen
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Squad number10Player nameDasilva
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Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
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Squad number16Player nameMee
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Squad number17Player nameToney
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Squad number13Player nameM Jorgensen
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Squad number11Player nameWissa
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
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Squad number5Player namePinnock
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
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Squad number23Player nameLewis-Potter
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Squad number1Player nameRaya
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Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard
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Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
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Squad number20Player nameAjer
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Squad number9Player nameSchade
AFC Bournemouth
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Squad number20Player nameDembélé
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Squad number8Player nameLerma
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Squad number13Player nameNeto
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Squad number22Player namePearson
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Squad number10Player nameChristie
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Squad number29Player nameBilling
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Squad number4Player nameL Cook
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Squad number6Player nameMepham
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Squad number21Player nameMoore
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Squad number32Player nameAnthony
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Squad number17Player nameStacey
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Squad number25Player nameSenesi
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Squad number14Player nameRothwell
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Squad number5Player nameKelly
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1RayaBooked at 69mins
- 20AjerSubstituted forM Jorgensenat 82′minutes
- 5Pinnock
- 16Mee
- 27Janelt
- 8Jensen
- 6Nørgaard
- 10DasilvaSubstituted forDamsgaardat 82′minutes
- 19MbeumoSubstituted forLewis-Potterat 89′minutes
- 17ToneySubstituted forSchadeat 82′minutes
- 11WissaSubstituted forRoerslevat 71′minutes
Substitutes
- 7Canós
- 9Schade
- 13M Jorgensen
- 14Ghoddos
- 22Strakosha
- 23Lewis-Potter
- 24Damsgaard
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 30Roerslev
Bournemouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 13NetoBooked at 38mins
- 17Stacey
- 6Mepham
- 25SenesiSubstituted forRothwellat 78′minutes
- 5Kelly
- 10Christie
- 8Lerma
- 4L CookSubstituted forPearsonat 35′minutes
- 32AnthonySubstituted forDembéléat 66′minutes
- 29Billing
- 21Moore
Substitutes
- 1Travers
- 3Stephens
- 14Rothwell
- 20Dembélé
- 22Pearson
- 33Zemura
- 49Sadi
- 50Dacosta Gonzalez
- 51Adu-Adjei
- Referee:
- Jarred Gillett
- Attendance:
- 17,031
Live Text
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Match ends, Brentford 2, Bournemouth 0.
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Second Half ends, Brentford 2, Bournemouth 0.
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Attempt blocked. Philip Billing (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Chris Mepham.
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Substitution, Brentford. Keane Lewis-Potter replaces Bryan Mbeumo.
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Attempt missed. Ben Mee (Brentford) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Mads Roerslev with a cross following a set piece situation.
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Foul by Ben Pearson (Bournemouth).
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Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt missed. Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right.
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Substitution, Brentford. Mikkel Damsgaard replaces Josh Dasilva.
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Substitution, Brentford. Kevin Schade replaces Ivan Toney.
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Substitution, Brentford. Zanka replaces Kristoffer Ajer.
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Attempt missed. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Vitaly Janelt.
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Substitution, Bournemouth. Joe Rothwell replaces Marcos Senesi.
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Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Philip Billing with a cross.
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Goal! Brentford 2, Bournemouth 0. Mathias Jensen (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Josh Dasilva with a cross.
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Substitution, Brentford. Mads Roerslev replaces Yoane Wissa.
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David Raya (Brentford) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt missed. Kieffer Moore (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Siriki Dembélé (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Philip Billing.
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Attempt missed. Yoane Wissa (Brentford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right.
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