Two goals in 79 first-half seconds set Brentford on their way to a comfortable victory over Southampton.
Both sides began the day on 40 points but Brentford’s victory moved the Bees up to 12th in the Premier League, 11 points clear of the bottom three.
They went in front when centre-back Pontus Jansson forced home Ivan Toney’s cross from close range, before Yoane Wissa curled into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area moments later.
Kristoffer Ajer sealed the win in the second half when he skipped away from two Saints players in the area before poking the ball beyond Fraser Forster.
Despite the defeat, Southampton should be safe from relegation, with an eight-point cushion between themselves and 18th-placed Everton, although Saints have the fewest games remaining of any of the bottom six.
Saints limp over the line
Southampton were ninth in the table in February, but seven defeats in their last 10 Premier League games have sent them sliding down the table.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side have two tricky-looking fixtures to come against title-chasing Liverpool on Tuesday before a final-day trip to Leicester.
They still should have enough points to avoid worrying about the drop, but could face a nervy run-in if Everton, Burnley and Leeds pick up victories.
A poor start cost them here, with Brentford unlucky not to be more than two goals up in the opening half an hour, with Wissa and Mathias Jensen both going close.
After that poor start, Saints did rally but were mainly restricted to efforts from distance, with home goalkeeper David Raya equal to efforts from James Ward-Prowse and Mohamed Elyounoussi either side of the break.
More to follow.
Player of the match
EriksenChristian Eriksen
Brentford
-
Squad number21Player nameEriksen
-
Squad number17Player nameToney
-
Squad number11Player nameWissa
-
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
-
Squad number43Player nameYoung-Coombes
-
Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
-
Squad number18Player nameJansson
-
Squad number10Player nameDasilva
-
Squad number3Player nameHenry
-
Squad number8Player nameJensen
-
Squad number20Player nameAjer
-
Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
-
Squad number29Player nameBech Sørensen
-
Squad number1Player nameRaya
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 20Ajer
- 18Jansson
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 3Henry
- 8JensenSubstituted forYoung-Coombesat 87′minutes
- 6Nørgaard
- 21Eriksen
- 19MbeumoSubstituted forBaptisteat 81′minutes
- 17Toney
- 11WissaSubstituted forDasilvaat 68′minutes
Substitutes
- 10Dasilva
- 23Jeanvier
- 24Fosu-Henry
- 26Baptiste
- 27Janelt
- 30Roerslev
- 36Stevens
- 43Young-Coombes
- 49Lössl
Southampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 44Forster
- 2Walker-Peters
- 35Bednarek
- 22Salisu
- 15Perraud
- 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forRomeuat 83′minutes
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 27DialloBooked at 17minsSubstituted forElyounoussiat 64′minutes
- 11Redmond
- 9A Armstrong
- 18Broja
Substitutes
- 1McCarthy
- 4Lyanco
- 6Romeu
- 7Long
- 10Adams
- 23Tella
- 24Elyounoussi
- 43Valery
- 45Dibling
- Referee:
- Michael Salisbury
Live Text
-
Match ends, Brentford 3, Southampton 0.
-
Second Half ends, Brentford 3, Southampton 0.
-
Attempt missed. Romain Perraud (Southampton) left footed shot from long range on the left is too high. Assisted by Oriol Romeu.
-
Armando Broja (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Mads Bech Sørensen (Brentford).
-
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Foul by Shandon Baptiste (Brentford).
-
Foul by Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton).
-
Rico Henry (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Romain Perraud (Southampton) wins a free kick on the left wing.
-
Foul by Nathan Young-Coombes (Brentford).
-
Substitution, Brentford. Nathan Young-Coombes replaces Mathias Jensen.
-
Foul by Oriol Romeu (Southampton).
-
Mathias Jensen (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
-
Substitution, Southampton. Oriol Romeu replaces Stuart Armstrong.
-
Attempt missed. Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse with a cross following a corner.
-
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Mads Bech Sørensen.
-
Attempt blocked. Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong.
-
Substitution, Brentford. Shandon Baptiste replaces Bryan Mbeumo.
-
Goal! Brentford 3, Southampton 0. Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Christian Nørgaard.
- Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before – here’s everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment
