Brentford B picked up an important three points in the Premier League Cup on Monday night, beating Exeter City Under-21s 3-0 at Wheatsheaf Park.
Following a goalless first half, Josh Stephenson opened the scoring just after the hour mark. Substitutes Kyrie Pierre and Michel Boni followed suit soon after, enough to secure a vital win for the west Londoners.
With Exeter sitting top of the PL Cup group and Brentford having lost to the young Grecians in September, the game held extra significance for Sam Saunders’ side’s quest for the knockout stages.
The start of the game reflected that, a frenetic opening three minutes ensuing. The Bees calmed the quickest of the two sides, however, enjoying time on the ball which brought strong build-up play.
While on top in the game, chances were hard to come by for Brentford in the opening 20 minutes. Conor McManus had the west Londoners' best look on goal as he fired from the edge of the box, but his effort sailed over the bar.
Soon after, the visitors came close to finding the opener as the ball fell near the penalty spot, however Maxwell McKnight was there to make a timely block to send the ball out for an Exeter corner.
As the half-hour mark approached, Iwan Morgan called Exeter goalkeeper Frankie Phillips into action for the first time, his shot from long-range forcing Phillips to fist the ball away from danger.
The game remained tense as the half-time break approached, however neither side was able to piece it together in the final third, the game remaining deadlocked after 45 minutes.
Out of half-time, the game remained a repeat of the opening half, both sides enjoying possession without threatening the opposite backline.
The breakthrough came as the hour mark ticked over through Stephenson. Morgan met the ball off the corner, his header crashing against the post. The ball was crossed back and, this time, Chanse Headman's header was blocked. Eventually it popped up to Stephenson, the centre-back able to head it neatly into the top-right corner to give Saunders’ side the lead.
Riding a wave of momentum, the Bees continued to press forward as they eyed a second goal. Three minutes after scoring, Stephenson broke free through the middle of the pitch before playing to Ollie Shield down the right shot. After taking a touch to his left the winger fired at goal, but it was well blocked.
The fresh legs of Isaac Holland – who returned from injury – and Boni provided a spark for Brentford off the bench, as did Pierre on 76 minutes. Two minutes after coming, on the midfielder ran onto a dangerous cross from Shield, smashing the ball into the back of the net to double the west Londoners’ lead and score his first Brentford goal.
Heading towards a big win, the Bees continued to attack and they were rewarded just before full-time, Boni blasting home a sensational strike to make it 3-0.
Saunders' side now sit second in the group standings with three games to play, one point behind group leaders Exeter with a game in hand.
The young Bees turn their attention to West Bromwich Albion at The Alexander Stadium on Friday night.
Brentford B: Rose, McKnight, McManus, Stephenson (Picotto 90+2), Headman, Konak, Shield, Owen, Morgan (Pierre 76), Bentt (Holland 62), Grey (Boni 62)
Subs not used: Olakigbe
Booked: Morgan 45+1, Rose 59
Exeter City U21s: Phillips, Dean, Cummins, James, Alsop, Horn (Williams 79), Cayless (Appleton 79), Doyle-Hayes (Perkins HT), Oakes, Birch, Wilson
Subs not used: Bown, Graham
Booked: Doyle-Hayes 44
Saunders: I was pleased for the guys to get that clean sheet
Reaction: Sam Saunders on Exeter City win
Brentford B head coach Sam Saunders reflected on his side's impressive 3-0 Premier League Cup win over Exeter City at Wheatsheaf Park.
"In the first half we were probably the more dominant side in possession but it was pretty slow, I wanted us to express ourselves a little bit more, I wanted a little bit more individual quality," he said.
"It was good that we got a set piece goal... then we got the second and the third and it was pretty comfortable in the end.
"I think we've probably been guilty of giving away one or two soft goals. This week we worked on being more robust and better without the ball.
"I thought the boys did that tonight, so it's pleasing to see that the work that we did on the training pitch in the last week paid off. I was really pleased for the guys to get the clean sheet because it was thoroughly deserved."