Diego Gomez strike sparks comfortable Brighton win over Brentford

Diego Gomez scored another stunner as Brighton enjoyed a happy homecoming by climbing to second in the Premier League with a 2-0 win over 10-man Brentford at the Amex Stadium.

Albion have clocked up thousands of miles since thumping rivals Crystal Palace 5-0 three weeks ago, playing Conference League fixtures in Czechia and Spain either side of a trip to Liverpool and two visits to Manchester City.

Midfielder Gomez, who scored from the halfway line against Palace, rifled a thunderous, left-footed shot into the top left corner to give the high-flying Seagulls a 15th-minute lead.

Brentford striker Igor Thiago was sent off eight minutes later following a VAR review after catching Brighton midfielder Chema Andres in the face with a raised arm.

Pascal Gross sealed a comfortable victory for the hosts with a 42nd-minute penalty awarded for Keane Lewis-Potter’s shirt pull on Luka Vuskovic.

Albion’s win was a seventh from 10 top-flight games this term and lifted them above City and back to within five points of leaders Arsenal, while eighth-placed Brentford remain on 14 points.

Following Thursday’s 1-0 win away to Getafe, Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler reverted to the team which began the club’s maiden league victory at the Etihad Stadium last weekend.

His in-form side began on the front foot before edging in front in spectacular style.

Costinha’s cross from the right was only partially cleared by Bees defender Michael Kayode and Paraguay international Gomez took a couple of touches before unleashing an unstoppable effort high into the net from more than 25 yards.

Charalampos Kostoulas wasted a golden chance to add a quick-fire second by firing straight at Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Brentford’s bid for a first Premier League win away to the Seagulls then became substantially harder.

Referee Michael Oliver initially booked both players after Brazil international Thiago reacted with annoyance to having his shirt pulled and then being pushed by Andres.

However, following a trip to the pitch-side monitor, Oliver upgraded Thiago’s punishment to red as he was deemed to have caught his opponent in the face “with force”.

Thiago, who earlier failed to seriously test Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen with a tame lob, left the pitch with a wry smile before Bees boss Keith Andrews endured further frustration.

Match official Oliver immediately pointed to the spot when Lewis-Potter impeded Vuskovic following a corner, leaving Gross to emphatically dispatch the penalty into the top-right corner.

Disgruntled away fans chanted “2-0 to the referee” and “Michael Oliver, it’s all about you” before watching their depleted team struggle to get out of their own half for large periods of a low-tempo second half containing a couple of flashpoints.

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk was booked for scything down Kevin Schade, prompting a disagreement with Brentford head coach Andrews.

Bees forward Schade received a yellow card of his own after a petulant shove on Vuskovic and was later unable to properly connect with a Callum Wilson cross.

Brentford were given five minutes of added time to make the home fans anxious but failed to register an attempt on target in the game as Albion eased to another three points.