Albion 2 Brentford 0: Gomez and Gross on target as Albion go second

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First-half goals seal a comfortable victory over ten-man Brentford

Bruce Talbot

2026-11-08T16:00+00:00

Sealed with a kiss: Pascal Gross leads the celebrations after making it 2-0. 📷James Boardman

Albion will go into the international break second in the Premier League after a comfortable win over Brentford.

After five successive away games Fabian Hurzeler’s side relished home comforts again and their fans enjoyed a dominant performance - and another special goal by Diego Gomez.

The midfielder’s second of the season was sweetly struck into the top corner from 25 yards and Brentford’s afternoon went from bad to worse when Igor Thiago was sent off for thrusting his arm in Chema Andres’ face.

Diego Gomez hammers Albion in front with a powerful strike from 25 yards. 📷James Boardman

Pascal Gross made it five for the season with a penalty just before half-time and Albion could have added to their lead in the second half with better finishing.

It might not have been from the halfway line but Gomez’s 15th-minute goal was, in its own way, just as special.

He picked up a clearance 25 yards out, shifted the ball onto his left foot and found the top corner with a shot of thunderous power generated with minimal backlift. Caoimhin Kelleher had no chance.

Diego Gomez celebrates after his brilliant strike from 25 yards found the top corner. 📷James Boardman

It should have been two moments later. Albion’s press again forced Brentford to cough up possession and suddenly they had a three on one break. Gross slipped Babis Kosatoulas in but his strike towards the far corner lacked power and Kelleher made the save.

Brentford then found themselves down to ten players.

Brentford striker Igor Thiago was sent off for violent conduct after hitting Chema Andres in the face. 📷Paul Hazlewood

Thiago and Andres tussled in midfield and the Albion midfielder went down clutching his face. Referee Michael Oliver gave both a yellow but was sent to the monitor by the VAR and showed a straight red to Thiago for violent conduct.

Brentford settled into a low block and Albion enjoyed themselves as they tried to find a way through. Gomez directed a far-post header into the side netting from Maxim De Cuyper’s cross and the hosts were typically relentless in their pressing.

A second goal came from the penalty spot four minutes before the break. Keane Lewis-Potter grabbed Luka Vuskovic as he attacked a corner and wrestled him to the ground. Gross made no mistake as he hammered the spot kick into the top right-hand corner.

Pascal Gross makes no mistake from the penalty spot to double Albion's lead. 📷James Boardman

Brentford, to their credit, kept a disciplined shape in the second half and had a brief spell midway through it when they won a couple of corners and threatened to upset Albion’s equilibrium and an 11th clean sheet of the season.

But most of the play was in the visitors’ half and with better finishing Albion could have extended their lead.

Maxim De Cuyper battles for possession. 📷Paul Hazlewood

De Cuyper and Kostoulas both saw close-range efforts blocked and Yasin Ayari also went close before substitute Jack Hinshelwood dragged a shot just wide in the closing stages.

Fabian Hurzeler ran his bench with Yankuba Minteh coming on for the last eight minutes to make his first Amex appearance since suffering his pre-season injury.

In the end it was a comfortable afternoon for Albion with another Gomez goal of the season for good measure.

Albion: Verbruggen, Costinha, Dunk, Vuskovic, Boscagli, De Cuyper (Minteh 82), Gross, Chema (Wieffer 46), Ayari (HInshelwood 77), Gomez (Yalcouye 90), Kostoulas (Rutter 82).