Gomez and Welbeck goals seal return to winning ways

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James Milner breaks Premier League appearance record as Albion claim deserved 2-0 victory against Brentford

Bruce Talbot

2026-02-21T17:00+00:00

Diego Gomez celebrates after putting Albion in front with his first goal since 27 Dec. 📷James Boardman

Albion produced one of their best performances of the season as they returned to winning ways at Brentford.

James Milner made his 654th appearance to break the Premier League record and the 40-year-old played a big part in an impressive display.

Diego Gomez’s ninth goal of the season gave Albion the lead on the half-hour and just before the break Danny Welbeck’s tenth of the campaign provided breathing space.

Albion were calm and composed protecting their advantage in the second half and a first clean sheet for ten games was as welcome as those goals, given Brentford’s prowess at set pieces. It would be hard to pick a player of the match – this was a solid team performance epitomised by the mercurial Milner.

Jack Hinshelwood is the first to congratulate Diego Gomez after he put Albion in front. 📷James Boardman

The home fans joined in the applause when Milner’s achievement was announced before kick-off. His first touch did send the ball out of play but after that he didn’t put a foot wrong, using all his experience to make himself available to teammates, cut off Brentford’s passing lanes while always looking to play the ball forward.

Albion got on top. Lewis Dunk hit a low shot straight at Caoimhin Kelleher who unconvincingly parried Jack Hinshelwood’s well-struck 25-yarder round the post minutes later. The Brentford keeper did much better on 20 minutes when Hinshelwood nodded Milner’s pass forward into the path of Mitoma, but Kelleher blocked the shot with his legs.

James Milner congratulates Danny Welbeck after he doubled Albion's lead. 📷James Boardman

Mitoma forced Kelleher into another save before the goal Albion deserved arrived on 30 minutes. Brentford backed off allowing Ferdi Kadioglu to line up a shot from outside the box which quivered the bar with Kelleher beaten. The loose ball fell to the unmarked Gomez ten yards out and he expertly steered a left-foot shot into the far corner.

It was fully deserved and on the stroke of half-time Albion led 2-0. Nathan Collins, who’d only been on the pitch a matter of seconds, backheeled Hinshelwood’s cross against his own thigh and Welbeck volleyed the loose ball past Kelleher from two yards for his first goal of 2026.

Danny Welbeck capitalises on a defensive mistake to score his tenth goal of the season. 📷James Boardman

Brentford made two changes at the break and Thiago and Collins both headed wide before Dango Ouattara hooked a close-range shot over. Albion were happy to cede possession and counterattack and when Kadioglu laid the ball back to the D, Gross met it cleanly but fired straight at Kelleher.

Brentford’s late bombardment nearly yielded a goal but Verbruggen diverted Joel Veltman’s clearance away at full stretch to preserve a merited clean sheet.

James Milner walks out at the Gtech Stadium to make his 654th Premier League appearance. 📷James Boardman

A packed away end lapped up the celebrations led by Milner, who looked close to tears. After a tough few weeks they will believe their side can start looking up the table again.

Albion: Verbruggen, Wieffer (sub: Veltman 65), van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu, Mitoma, Gross, Milner (Baleba 90), Hinshelwood, Gomez (De Cuyper 76), Welbeck.