Bryan Mbeumo’s retaken 66th-minute penalty and Kevin Schade’s header 10 minutes from time gave Brentford their second successive Premier League away win and condemned Crystal Palace to their first defeat in seven matches in all competitions.
Mbeumo appeared to have suffered a first ever miss from the spot with the 10th penalty of his career when his initial effort hit the base of a post to the glee of the home fans at Selhurst Park.
Palace defender Marc Guehi was adjudged to have encroached inside the box when the kick was taken, giving Mbeumo a chance the Cameroon international took to score from the retake, placing his finish in the opposite direction to his first.
Kevin Schade heads home to double Brentford’s lead! 🐝 pic.twitter.com/ZbzkWGQ5uc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 26, 2025
Schade’s emphatic header from Mikkel Damsgaard’s eighth assist of the season looked to have given the visitors breathing space, although Premier League debutant Romain Esse’s close-range reply with five minutes remaining gave Palace hope.
The result moves 11th-placed Brentford four points ahead of Palace, who are immediately below them and a point ahead of Manchester United and West Ham.
Bryan Mbeumo misses the first penalty but gets to retake as Palace players entered the box too early!
No mistakes the second time from Mbeumo! 😤 pic.twitter.com/itU2vVXrXT
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 26, 2025
Palace vs Brentford: Bees buzzing
An eventful contest sparked into controversial life when Mbeumo was afforded the chance to redeem himself following a Video Assistant Referee review.
His 14th goal in 23 league appearances this season followed, as did the sight of the striker goading the home fans while goalkeeper Dean Henderson was booked for booting the ball in Mbeumo’s direction.
Schade looked to have put the game beyond Palace, who will have enjoyed the sight of Esse – signed from Millwall on January 18 – opening his account.
What a MOMENT for Romain Esse on his Crystal Palace debut! ✨ pic.twitter.com/otBfyl18r5
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) January 26, 2025
“He looks a bright spark,” Henderson told PLP of the 19-year-old midfielder, via BBC Sport. “Hopefully there are many more to come.”
Brentford defender Nathan Collins described the game as “really enjoyable” but “scrappy and tough” in rain-lashed conditions.
“We see him do it in training all the time,” Collins said of the header from Schade, who was injured while scoring. “He can jump as high as the sky. He’s a great player.”
