Stoke City 1-0 Brentford: Bees eight-game winning run ends

Lee Gregory was left with a simple finish for Stoke’s winner

Brentford missed the chance to put promotion to the Premier League in their own hands by falling to defeat at Stoke City, a result which handed Leeds United the Championship title.

Leeds, who were promoted on Friday, now cannot be caught at the top, while the Bees remain third in the table and a point behind West Brom heading into Wednesday’s final round of fixtures.

Brentford conclude their season against Barnsley at Griffin Park while the Baggies, the only other team left in the automatic promotion race alongside Fulham, host Queens Park Rangers.

Stoke are now mathematically safe for another season and move up to 17th, eight points clear of the drop zone before the rest of Saturday’s matches are played.

The only goal at the bet365 Stadium came in the first half when Lee Gregory tapped in after visiting goalkeeper David Raya palmed out Sam Clucas’ long-range strike.

Brentford, who had won their previous eight games, put in arguably one of their poorest performances of an otherwise excellent season and their prolific front three of Ollie Watkins, Said Benrahma and Bryan Mbeumo were kept quiet.

Centre-back Ethan Pinnock almost scored a dramatic leveller deep into stoppage time but his stinging effort was superbly tipped wide by Adam Davies.

An incredible run ends

With West Brom losing at Huddersfield on Friday, a result which sent Leeds up to the top flight, Brentford knew victory in the Potteries would leave them realistically requiring one more point to secure promotion.

However, they looked far from the side who had won their previous eight games, and the Championship’s top scorers created little against a resolute Stoke backline.

But the defeat can take nothing away from what has been a sensational few weeks for Thomas Frank’s side since the league resumed on 20 June.

Brentford were fourth and 10 points off the automatic promotion places when the Championship was suspended amid the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Their run of victories, combined with the Baggies winning just three of their past 10 matches, saw the deficit shrink to just one point – although they will feel this is a huge missed opportunity.

The west London side have not been in the top flight of English football since 1946-47, but the Baggies, or west London rivals Fulham, could now stop them going straight up even if they beat Barnsley.

More to follow.