MX23RW : Wednesday, January 22 18:22:27| >> :120:12514:12514:
[monks data]
Stoke logo
Championship | Gameweek 45
Jul 18, 2020 at 12.30pm UK
Bet365 Stadium
Brentford logo

Stoke
1 - 0
Brentford

Gregory (38')
Campbell (74'), McClean (90+2')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Brentford miss chance to move second as Stoke secure survival, Leeds win title

Brentford miss chance to move second as Stoke secure survival, Leeds win title
© Reuters
The Bees remain one point behind the Baggies with one game to play.

Brentford missed the chance to move into the Championship's automatic-promotion places as their eight-match winning run came to an end with a 1-0 defeat at Stoke – a result which handed the title to Leeds.

Avoiding defeat would have seen the Bees replace West Brom in second spot ahead of Wednesday's final round of fixtures.

But Lee Gregory's close-range finish in the 38th minute, on the follow-up after David Raya parried an effort by Sam Clucas, proved the only goal of the game as Stoke's safety was sealed.

Bryan Mbeumo was denied by Potters goalkeeper Adam Davies prior to Gregory's finish, and Josh Da Silva shot wide of the hosts' goal just before the hour mark.

Substitute Emiliano Marcondes and Ethan Pinnock subsequently had strikes saved by Davies late on as Brentford continued to endure frustration.

Thomas Frank's men remain a point behind West Brom in third spot. They host rock-bottom Barnsley on Wednesday, while the Baggies take on QPR at the Hawthorns.

Leeds, whose promotion was already confirmed following Albion's 2-1 loss at Huddersfield on Friday, are now uncatchable at the top, sitting five points clear.

Meanwhile, the win for Michael O'Neill's Stoke in their last home match of the campaign left them eight points above the relegation zone in 17th.

After a low-key start to the contest in pouring rain, the first real goalscoring opportunity arrived in the 17th minute when Said Benrahma sent a cross towards the far post and Mbeumo's header was well saved by Davies.

Three minutes later Brentford were on the attack again, with Ollie Watkins heading wide, before Sam Vokes nodded over the bar at the other end.

Pinnock went down in the Stoke box under pressure from Bruno Martins Indi, but nothing was given by referee Geoff Eltringham.

Having kept their opponents fairly quiet, Stoke then grabbed the lead as Raya's parry from Clucas' strike left a simple tap-in for Gregory.

Rico Henry fired off target in the opening moments of the second half, before decent chances were passed up by both sides, with Vokes directing a header wide and Da Silva then prodding the ball the wrong side of the post.

Watkins subsequently saw an attempt blocked by Danny Batth, and as the clock ticked down, Brentford's efforts to rescue something continued to be in vain, with Marcondes sending a free-kick over the bar and then seeing a shot pushed behind by Davies.

Another substitute, Sergi Canos, sent a delivery across the danger zone in stoppage time but Benrahma was unable to get on the end of it, and Davies then produced another good save to keep out Pinnock's strike.

ID:407066: cacheID:407066:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5156:
Written by
P A
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Stoke City manager Michael O'Neill pictured on July 4, 2020
Read Next:
Michael O'Neill: 'We won't celebrate avoiding the drop'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd28186440182258
2Leeds UnitedLeeds27168351193256
3Sunderland28159440221854
4Burnley27141123192253
5Middlesbrough28128846341244
6Blackburn RoversBlackburn28126103126542
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2891453324941
8Watford28125113939041
9Queens Park RangersQPR2891183235-338
10Bristol City2791083331237
11Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds27107103843-537
12Norwich CityNorwich279994339436
13Coventry CityCoventry2898113737035
14Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2898113343-1035
15Swansea CitySwansea2897123135-434
16Preston North EndPreston2871383035-534
17Millwall27710102626031
18Stoke CityStoke27610112533-828
19Cardiff CityCardiff28610123143-1228
20Derby CountyDerby2876153138-727
21Hull City2868142738-1126
22Portsmouth2668123245-1326
23Luton TownLuton2875162947-1826
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2749142555-3021


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!