Igor Thiago scored his second goal of the Premier League season as Brentford suffered a late defeat to Sunderland at Stadium of Light.
Dango Ouattara’s smart finish was overturned by VAR for a marginal offside during a first half that produced little goalmouth action - but the game burst into life after the break. Kevin Schade had a penalty saved by Robin Roefs, and Thiago’s header gave the Bees the lead heading into the final 10 minutes. The Black Cats drew level through Enzo Le Fée’s spot-kick and Wilson Isidor headed home the winner in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
Jordan Henderson started on his return to Stadium of Light. The midfielder began his career with the Black Cats, making his Premier League debut as an 18-year-old, and went on to make a further 70 top-flight appearances for his boyhood club.
Henderson was part of an unchanged side from the Bees’ previous Premier League game against Aston Villa.
In the only change to the matchday squad, Ethan Pinnock replaced Myles Peart-Harris on the bench.
After an uneventful start, the first chance fell to Sunderland. Trai Hume’s corner led to some pinball in the Brentford box, and Nordi Mukiele blasted over the crossbar from six yards out.
On 14 minutes, Caoimhín Kelleher spilled Hume’s low cross from the right and Sepp van den Berg, having sensed the danger, cleared to safety under pressure from Le Fée.
At the other end, Schade stooped low to meet a Mikkel Damsgaard delivery, but his header dropped well wide of Roefs’ right post.
Brentford had the ball in the back of the net following their next attack.
Nathan Collins strode out of defence and released Ouattara, who raced clear of two Sunderland defenders and rolled the ball into the far corner, but the forward had strayed just offside and the goal was overturned by VAR.
Shortly before half-time, Schade peeled away from his marker to connect with Damsgaard’s corner at the front post, but his header flew over the bar.
Omar Alderete’s volley from 20 yards was bravely blocked by Collins in the final action of the first half.
Within a minute of the restart, Hume’s blocked shot dropped to Habib Diarra and the midfielder dragged wide from the edge of the box.
Brentford passed up a golden opportunity to take the lead shortly before the hour mark.
After Reinildo Mandava was adjudged to have fouled Collins in the penalty area, Schade was tasked with beating Roefs from the penalty spot, but the Sunderland keeper dived to his right and saved the spot-kick.
On 68 minutes, Collins’ crucial touch on Enzo Le Fée’s cross from the left prevented substitute Isidor from having a clear sight at goal. Diarra then seized on the loose ball and drilled wide.
Brentford broke the deadlock on 77 minutes. Following a series of crisp passes, substitute Frank Onyeka clipped the ball towards the far post and Thiago brilliantly headed beyond Roefs via the underside of the crossbar.
But the Bees’ lead was short lived. Rico Henry pulled down Diarra as a corner was swung into the box, and referee Anthony Taylor immediately pointed to the spot. Le Fée sent Kelleher the wrong way to make it 1-1 at Stadium of Light.
Diarra dragged wide from the right of the box, while Ouattara headed Thiago’s cross straight at Roefs, as both sides went in search of a winner.
It was Sunderland that snatched the points late on. In the sixth minute of stoppage time, Granit Xhaka’s first-time cross was headed in by Isidor to consign Brentford to a cruel defeat.
Sunderland (4-3-3): Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, Alderete, Reinildo; Diarra (Guiu 87), Xhaka, Sadiki; Talbi (Adingra 65), Mayenda (Isidor 65), Le Fée
Subs: Patterson, Neil, Roberts, Rigg, Seelt, Masuaku
Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode, Collins, van den Berg, Lewis-Potter (Henry 72); Henderson (Onyeka 71), Yarmoliuk, Damsgaard; Ouattara, Thiago, Schade (Carvalho 90)
Subs: Valdimarsson, Ajer, Hickey, Jensen, Milambo, Pinnock
Andrews: I’m really disappointed
Reaction: Andrews post-Sunderland
Head coach Keth Andrews was left disappointed by Brentford’s late defeat to Sunderland.
“We knew this was going to be a tough game,” said the Bees boss. “Any newly promoted team is always going to start with energy, enthusiasm and intensity.
“With the ball, in the first half, we weren’t at our best. We didn’t play with enough control and our decision making at times wasn’t spot on.
“During the second half, we played with a lot of personality with Dams [Mikkel Damsgaard] between the lines.
“To concede the late goal was bitterly disappointing.”
Collins: There’s a lot of frustration and a lot of anger
Reaction: Collins post-Sunderland
Captain Nathan Collins also expressed his frustration after the full-time whistle at Stadium of Light.
“There’s a lot of frustration and a lot anger,” he said. “Gutted, overall. First half, we weren’t at our best, but we still created a few things and defended really well.
“Second half, I thought we were on top, controlled the ball and created chances.
“We scored our goal, we were in control, then the momentum swung, and we need to deal with that better.”