Brentford claimed a crucial 2-0 victory at home against West Ham, which in turn dented the Hammers’ hopes for Europa League football next season.

The Bees would dominate the game from the first half, with a whole host of chances going their way only for them to not find the back of the net.

However three minutes after the restart, Bryan Mbeumo gave them the lead with his powerful strike before Ivan Toney made it 2-0 just after the hour mark with his header.

The result sees Brentford climb to 13th in the Premier League table and 12 points clear of the relegation zone, with West Ham now at risk of being overtaken by Manchester United for the final Europa League spot.

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Brentford’s possession limits West Ham’s chances

The hosts were the better side overall in the first half. Vitaly Janelt, who scored twice at Stamford Bridge last weekend, had the first effort of the game but his shot was blocked inside the box.

Vladimir Coufal was bolting down the right hand side for the Hammers and was able to send an inviting ball into the box, but Brentford were there to regain possession as both sides grew into the match.

Mbeumo had a header on target that went straight into the hands of Lukasz Fabianski, and it would be the first of many chances for the Frenchman throughout the half. He soon forced the West Ham ‘keeper into a strong save soon after, with Brentford dominating the match.

Midfielder Tomas Soucek was next to have an effort on goal, however his header towards the Bees’ goal was hit straight into David Raya. Mbeumo was involved in the action again and he tried to dink the opposing goalkeeper, only for him to hit it in the former Poland international’s face rather than the back of the net.

Thomas Frank’s side had a huge chance to make it 1-0 but they wasted the opportunity on the edge of the box, with Janelt choosing not to hit a shot first time when he probably should have done.

As halftime approached the hosts would continue to enjoy possession, with Christian Eriksen producing some fantastic passes throughout the opening 45 minutes. They hit the roof of the net in stoppage time at the end of the half, before Aaron Cresswell sent a volley wide of the post for the Hammers.

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Mbeumo and Toney linkup to secure victory

West Ham would continue to be on the back foot from the start of the second half, and Mbeumo finally gave Brentford the lead just three minutes after the restart.

The Frenchman was played through by Toney and he proceeded to fire the ball under Fabianski and give his side a deserved one goal advantage. David Moyes’ side were quick to try and find a response with substitute Saïd Benrahma able to run into the area, but he couldn’t find the target against his former side.

Toney soon made it 2-0 to the hosts, with the striker heading in from close range after Mbeumo was able to redirect Rico Henry’s cross towards the six yard box. With their lead doubled and West Ham beginning to show signs of frustration, a win for Brentford was starting to become a reality.

Mbeumo could and really should have made it three just minutes later, but he volleyed over the bar from close range as the Hammers appeared to still struggle in defence. Soucek had the chance to pull one back for the east Londoners but he was unable to reach a flicked-on cross towards the back post.

While Moyes made some attacking changes to try and threaten their hosts in the final 20 minutes or so they were unable to really click going forward, and had been unable to do so all game. An overhit pass from Soucek towards Fornals on the left flank summed up their day.

Brentford didn’t want to stop there and continued to attack, with Sergi Canos seeing an audacious effort from range fly into the hands of Fabianski down low to his right.

A late flurry of chances for West Ham would see Rice fire over the bar and Benrahma hit the roof of the net, with Raya able to keep another clean sheet. Full time soon came and the Bees were victorious on their home turf, with the Hammers travelling back to east London with nothing to show for their efforts.

Brentford will now travel to relegation threatened Watford next weekend, with West Ham making the trip to Lyon for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie.

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