Jansson scores late as Brentford grab victory at Watford

Updated: May 17, 2023, 01:57 pm
Brentford's Christian Norgaard celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with teammates
Brentford's Christian Norgaard celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game with teammates
Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images

Brentford defender Pontus Jansson scored in extra time as they secured a 2-1 Premier League victory over Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday for their third straight win that piled the pressure on their relegation-threatened hosts.

Swede Jansson powerfully headed in the winner following a free kick, shortly after Watford's Imran Louza had missed from point-blank range at the other end, to spark wild celebrations among the away supporters.

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Brentford's victory followed their 4-1 thumping of Chelsea and a 2-0 victory over West Ham United last weekend and meant that they had sealed three straight league victories for the first time in the top flight since September 1946.

Earlier, Christian Norgaard gave his side the lead from a well-worked set piece routine in the 15th minute as he tapped in Kristoffer Ajer's flick on from Ethan Pinnock's long throw into the box to silence the home fans.

Watford, who are 19th in the table, barely threatened after the opener but came to life shortly after the restart as Emmanuel Dennis beat the offside trap and blasted one past David Raya, with the goal awarded following a lengthy Video Assistant Referee check.

Roy Hodgson's side pushed in search of a winning goal as the game wore on but they failed to find one that would have given them a boost in their bid to avoid the drop to the second-tier Championship next season.