For a Burnley side completely void of confidence after three successive defeats, successfully negotiating the opening 15 minutes against a Brentford side who are solid at home was a small win in itself.
But there was precious little else for Burnley to shout about in the opening exchanges, as Brentford had them largely penned inside their own half, with Mikel Damsgaard almost finding the unmarked Igor Thiago inside the area. However, to the surprise of many, he could only turn an effort around the post.
Damsgaard was proving difficult to tie down for the Clarets, and it was only after his 20-yard strike flew narrowly over the bar that Burnley finally woke up. In the 35th minute, Axel Tuanzebe had what looked to be a decent chance for the Clarets to nose ahead, but he could only fire straight at Caoimhin Kelleher.
The former Manchester United man was offside in any case, but Burnley did at least finish with the half with a flourish, when Zian Flemming’s strike from the edge of the area forced Kelleher into a routine stop.
Whatever Keith Andrews said at HT looked to do the trick for Brentford, who started on the offensive. They managed to get the ball in the back of the net this time through Igor Thiago, but the offside flag cut short his celebrations after Dango Ouatarra had strayed offside in the build up.
Ouatarra went close himself soon after when he flashed a header inches wide of the post as pressure started to build on the Burnley goal. Chances continued to come and go for the Bees, with Thiago the next to waste another good opening when he sliced over from inside the area when he ought to have at least hit the target.
Brentford received the ultimate gift in the closing stages, when a clumsy challenge from Tuanzebe was punished with a penalty. Thiago stepped forward from 12 yards and confidently dispatched – but there was to be a huge sting in the tail for the Bees though, as they gave away a penalty of their own soon after.
Jaidon Anthony was clipped by Michael Kayode inside the area, and Flemming assumed responsibility from the spot to level the scores.
The game had time for one last twist though, and Thiago was insistent on having the final say, sending a rocket into the roof of the net to secure Brentford three points that they’ll feel they were great value for.
Meanwhile, it was another crushing blow for Burnley, who remain inside the bottom three, and will surely be pondering just where their next points are coming from and their misery was compounded in stoppage time when Ouattara added a third.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Igor Thiago (Brentford)