Cardiff City 3-2 Brentford
Dean Smith tasted defeat for the first time as Brentford manager as Cardiff City snatched a dramatic victory at the death in Wales.
The new Bees boss was unbeaten going into this clash after a win and a draw in his opening two fixtures but that came to an end after a heartbreaking night for the west Londoners in in the Welsh capital.
Brentford started slowly before an Alan Judge free-kick looked to have finally woken up the visitors, forcing a smart save from David Marshall in the Cardiff goal.
However, it only succeeded in sparking the hosts into life. Craig Noone fired a volley towards the far post and a ricochet fell kindly for Tony Watt and the former Celtic striker slammed in the opener.
It was two before half time as the Bluebirds unleashed their counter-attacking game.
John Swift lost possession in midfield and goalscorer Watt brought the ball forward, playing in Kenwyne Jones, with David Button stopping the initial effort but unable to keep out the second.
Cardiff 3-2 Brentford in pictures:
The Bluebirds were looking commanding but Smith’s boys don’t give up easily and the home crowd grew increasingly anxious as the night wore on and the conditions deteriorated.
They were right to be worried too as Jake Bidwell rose highest at the back stick to pull the visitors back into it with a shade over 20 minutes remaining.
And when Jota sent in a cross that was only half cleared, Swift was on hand to poke home a leveller as boos rang out around the Cardiff City Stadium.
But their despair was to be short-lived as towering former Sunderland striker Jones stole in to claim victory for Russell Slade’s team in the final minute of stoppage time.
Brentford: Button; Yennaris, O’Connell, Tarkowski, Button; Diagouraga (Jota), Kerschbaumer (McEachran); Woods, Judge, Swift; Vibe (Hofmann).
Subs (not used): Bonham, Colin, Dean, Saunders.
