Watford led for an hour at the Brentford Community StadiumBrentford scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to come from behind and deny Watford victory.
Bryan Mbeumo slotted in a stoppage-time penalty to make it 2-1, minutes after captain Pontus Jansson had equalised with a header at the back post.
Watford led for an hour thanks to Emmanuel Dennis’ first-half header but a late surge from Brentford was eventually rewarded.
Defeat means Watford remain just three points above the relegation zone.
Dennis, who has been directly involved in nine of Watford’s last 12 Premier League goals, was left unmarked as he nodded in the opener against the run of play in the first half.
Brentford had controlled the first 20 minutes, coming close through Shandon Baptiste and Mbeumo but Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann made several smart saves.
Frank praises ‘unbelievable’ Brentford performanceJoshua King’s curling effort then struck the post, giving Watford their first corner of the match, and Dennis converted.
Watford looked set to take all three points home too but Brentford burst into life late on when Jansson got on the end of a curling cross to nod in the equaliser.
Brentford piled on the pressure as the game went deep into stoppage time and substitute Saman Ghoddos was brought down by William Troost-Ekong to set-up a dramatic finale.
Mbeumo kept his cool to send goalkeeper Bachmann the wrong way and the win, which sparked jubilant scenes at the Brentford community Stadium, moves the Bees up to ninth in the table for at least a night.
‘It was crazy, what football is all about’ – reaction from Brentford’s Thomas Frank’We were too nervous’ – reaction from Watford’s Claudio RanieriHow Brentford’s dramatic win over Watford unfoldedWatford toying with bottom threeEmmanuel Dennis scored his seventh Premier League goal of the seasonWith just six points separating 14th and 20th in the table, there could be a scrap to avoid relegation this season.
The bottom three is currently occupied by Norwich, Newcastle and Burnley – but Sean Dyche’s side have two games in hand and will go above 17th-placed Watford if they win both.
In the 83rd minute, Watford were set to go six points clear of the drop until Jansson’s equaliser dealt a blow.
It was Jansson’s first Premier League goal and he celebrated heavily, calling on his team-mates and the crowd to lift their game for the final few minutes.
Brentford responded to his rally and pinned Watford in before Mbeumo showed composure to net the winner from the spot.
Watford have attacking threat in Dennis – who has been directly involved in 12 Premier League goals this season – but his last three have all come in defeats to Chelsea, Leicester and now Brentford.
We were too nervous, I don’t know why – Watford boss RanieriPlayer of the match
MbeumoBryan Mbeumo
with an average of 7.60
BrentfordSquad number19Player nameMbeumo
Squad number14Player nameGhoddos
Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Squad number18Player nameJansson
Squad number8Player nameJensen
Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Squad number15Player nameOnyeka
Squad number3Player nameHenry
Squad number9Player nameForss
Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
Squad number11Player nameWissa
Squad number4Player nameGoode
Squad number40Player nameFernández
WatfordSquad number25Player nameDennis
Squad number7Player nameKing
Squad number19Player nameSissoko
Squad number8Player nameCleverley
Squad number29Player nameCucho Hernández
Squad number21Player nameKiko Femenía
Squad number26Player nameBachmann
Squad number15Player nameCathcart
Squad number2Player nameNgakia
Squad number33Player nameKucka
Squad number10Player nameJoão Pedro
Squad number18Player nameTufan
Squad number12Player nameSema
Squad number5Player nameTroost-Ekong
Line-upsBrentfordFormation 3-5-2
40Fernández
4Goode18Jansson27Janelt
30Roerslev26Baptiste6Nørgaard8Jensen3Henry
19Mbeumo11Wissa
40Fernández4GoodeBooked at 81mins18JanssonBooked at 70mins27JaneltBooked at 68mins30Roerslev26Baptiste6Nørgaard8JensenSubstituted forGhoddosat 69’minutes3HenrySubstituted forOnyekaat 77’minutesBooked at 90mins19Mbeumo11WissaSubstituted forForssat 69’minutesSubstitutes2Thompson9Forss14Ghoddos15Onyeka28Bidstrup29Bech Sørensen36Stevens41Cox43Young-CoombesWatfordFormation 4-2-3-1
26Bachmann
21Femenía5Troost-Ekong15Cathcart2Ngakia
33Kucka19Sissoko
29Hernández8Cleverley7King
25Dennis
26Bachmann21Femenía5Troost-Ekong15Cathcart2Ngakia33Kucka19Sissoko29HernándezSubstituted forSemaat 77’minutes8CleverleySubstituted forJoão Pedroat 58’minutes7King25DennisSubstituted forTufanat 90+1’minutesSubstitutes3Rose6Louza10João Pedro12Sema17Fletcher18Tufan27Kabasele35Elliot41AngeliniReferee:Michael Oliver
Attendance:16,861
Live TextMatch ends, Brentford 2, Watford 1.
Second Half ends, Brentford 2, Watford 1.
Goal! Brentford 2, Watford 1. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Penalty Brentford. Saman Ghoddos draws a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty conceded by William Troost-Ekong (Watford) after a foul in the penalty area.
Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Kiko Femenía (Watford).
Substitution, Watford. Ozan Tufan replaces Emmanuel Dennis.
Frank Onyeka (Brentford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Frank Onyeka (Brentford).
Juraj Kucka (Watford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Emmanuel Dennis.
Attempt blocked. Vitaly Janelt (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Marcus Forss (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Juraj Kucka (Watford).
VAR Decision: Goal Brentford – Brentford 1-1 Watford (Charlie Goode).
Goal! Brentford 1, Watford 1. Pontus Jansson (Brentford) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Marcus Forss following a corner.Goal confirmed following VAR Review.
Attempt missed. Marcus Forss (Brentford) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Vitaly Janelt with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Jeremy Ngakia.
Attempt blocked. Frank Onyeka (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Vitaly Janelt with a cross.
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