Despite their very best efforts once again, Ipswich remain winless in the Premier League after losing a seven-goal thriller to Brentford in west London on Saturday.
WATCH BRENTFORD vs IPSWICH FULL MATCH REPLAY
The victory sends Brentford (9th place - 13 points) into the top half of the Premier League table for the time being. Ipswich (17th - 4 points) are still on the outside of the relegation zone with Southampton, Wolves and Crystal Palace all still seeking their first win as well.
There were four goals in the first half, as both sides scored twice in the blink of an eye and found themselves right back where they started at the break. Ipswich weathered a bit of early pressure from Brentford and proceeded to score with their first two scoring chances of the game, first in the 28th minute and then quickly again in the 31st. Sam Szmodics struck low and hard for the first and George Hirst did the same from the other side of the box for the second — two well-worked goals that punished Brentford for being slow in transition.
Unfortunately for the Tractor Boys, their lead didn’t last long. Yoane Wissa got on the end of Vitaly Janelt’s cross to make it 2-1 in the 44th minute and then Wissa raced in behind for another chance, which beat the goalkeeper but ultimately went in off defender Harry Clarke, two minutes later in stoppage time. Ipswich switched off and looked like coasting into halftime 2-0 up, and that’s something you just can’t do against Brentford.
The Bees were buzzing to start the second half and it didn’t take long until 2-2 became 3-2. Keane Lewis-Potter sped past Clarke in the open field and was dragged down just inside the penalty area with the option to shoot or pass right in front of him. Bryan Mbeumo stepped to the penalty spot and converted for his 7th goal of the season. Clarke’s day went from bad, to worse, to worst in the 69th minute, when he earned his second yellow card and very nearly gave away his second penalty of the day. A memorable first PL start, for mostly wrong reasons.
Alas, there was still a couple more twists to come. After taking zero shots in nearly 35 minutes since going behind, Ipswich got one look at Brentford’s goal and took their chance. Leif Davis hooked a cross in toward the near post just as Liam Delap darted across the box, glancing the ball with his left foot to beat Mark Flekken with a fantastic finish.
Brentford only know one way, for better or for worse
Undeterred as they often are, Brentford simply put their heads down and went back on the attack. Six minutes into stoppage time, Bryan Mbeumo cut inside and played a high cross toward the far post with two or three red shirts in the vicinity. None of them touched it, though, nor did any of the blue boys in the box, nor the man wearing pink and gloves on his hands. With an xG of 0.02, Mbeumo’s “shot” had eyes for the back of the net. With 8 goals, Mbeumo currently sits 2nd behind Erling Haaland (11) in the Golden Boot race. Bryan Mbeumo, superstar.
Player ratings - Brentford vs Ipswich
Brentford vs Ipswich updates - by Andy Edwards
Brentford vs Ipswich final score: 4-3
Goalscorers: Sam Szmodics (28'), George Hirst (31'), Yoane Wissa (44'), Harry Clarke (45'+1 - OG), Bryan Mbeumo (51' - PK, 90'+6), Liam Delap (86')
GOAL! Brentford 4-3 Ipswich: Bryan Mbeumo’s cross just keeps going and bounces in (90'+6)
GOAL! Brentford 3-3 Ipswich: Liam Delap equalizes with a touch of class late in regular time (86')
GOAL! Brentford 3-2 Ipswich: Bryan Mbeumo converts from the penalty spot; Keane-Lewis Potter fouled (51')
GOAL! Brentford 2-2 Ipswich: It’s Yoane Wissa running in behind again, it’ll be a Harry Clarke own goal (45'+1)
GOAL! Brentford 1-2 Ipswich: Yoane Wissa finishes coolly after Vitaly Janelt finds him in the box (44')
GOAL! Brentford 0-2 Ipswich: Tractor Boys are flying with another beautiful goal, from George Hirst (31')
GOAL! Brentford 0-1 Ipswich: Sam Szmodics finishes a well-worked chance right down Broadway (28')
Brentford starting lineup
Flekken - Van den Berg, Collins, Pinnock, Roerslev - Norgaard, Janelt, Damsgaard - Mbeumo, Lewis-Potter, Wissa
Ipswich starting lineup
Muric - O’Shea, Clarke, Burgess, Davis - Cajuste, Phillips, Chaplin - Ogbene, Szmodics, Hirst
How to watch Brentford vs Ipswich Town live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday (October 26)
Venue: Gtech Community Stadium — London
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Brentford focus, team news
Yoane Wissa is back and Bryan Mbeumo has been fantastic this season. The forward pair give the Bees a chance in every game.
OUT: Josh Dasilva (knee), Rico Henry (knee), Aaron Hickey (thigh), Igor Thiago (knee), Gustavo Nunes (lower back) | QUESTIONABLE: Mathias Jensen (calf)
Ipswich Town focus, team news
Liam Delap has impressed at forward, and his big frame and good pace might just hamper Brentford’s pursuit of a first clean sheet in the league this season.
OUT: Janoi Donacien (groin), Axel Tuanzebe (hand), Massimo Luongo (ankle), Jacob Greaves (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Jens Cajuste (knee), Ali Al Hamadi (other), Benjamin Johnson (thigh)
Brentford vs Ipswich Town prediction
Thomas Frank and Kieran McKenna are a fun match-up, in theory, as both teams want to go for it. And this is a tough match to predict, so we’ll leave on home field providing an edge. Brentford 2-1 Ipswich Town.
