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Brentford continued their impressive run of form with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Ipswich Town, courtesy of an early header from Kevin Schade. The goal came from the Bees’ very first chance of the game and was enough to separate the two sides at full time, pushing Brentford further up the Premier League table while leaving Ipswich hovering just above the relegation zone.
The match-winning moment arrived inside the opening stages of the contest when Bryan Mbeumo delivered a well-weighted corner into the box. Schade, already high on confidence after netting twice in Brentford’s thrilling 4-3 comeback win against Manchester United the previous weekend, rose highest to meet the delivery. His looping header sailed over Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer and into the far corner, giving Brentford an early lead they would not relinquish.
Brentford Edge Past Ipswich in Narrow Victory to Extend Winning Run
Despite a lack of clear-cut chances for much of the first half, Brentford remained composed and disciplined, largely dictating the pace of the game. In first-half stoppage time, midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard nearly doubled the visitors’ lead with a low effort that curled just wide of the far post, highlighting Brentford’s growing control of the match.
After the break, the London side increased the pressure on Ipswich in a bid to secure a more comfortable advantage. Yoane Wissa and Schade both came close, but Palmer stood firm in goal, producing key saves to keep Ipswich in the game. However, Brentford’s attacking threat remained persistent, forcing the home side to stay alert throughout the second period.
Ipswich, meanwhile, struggled to create significant goal-scoring opportunities in open play for most of the match. Their only shot on target before second-half injury time came in the second minute, when Liam Delap connected with a cross but failed to seriously test Brentford keeper Mark Flekken.
As the clock wound down, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna urged his players forward in search of an equaliser. The Tractor Boys responded with a late flurry of attacking efforts. Omari Hutchinson came agonisingly close to leveling the score, striking the outside of the post with a powerful shot that had Flekken rooted to the spot. Moments later, centre-back Cameron Burgess was denied from close range by the Brentford goalkeeper, who preserved his clean sheet with a crucial save.
The visitors managed to hold firm despite late pressure, with a resolute defensive display ensuring they came away from Portman Road with all three points. It was a composed and disciplined performance from Thomas Frank’s side, who showed maturity in managing the game after taking an early lead.
With the win, Brentford climbed to eighth in the Premier League table, continuing their strong momentum as the season approaches its final stretch. It marked the first time since 1939 that the Bees have won this many consecutive top-flight matches, a statistic that underlines their resurgence in recent weeks after a patchy spell of form earlier in the campaign.
Speaking after the game, Brentford boss Thomas Frank praised his team’s work rate and focus. “It wasn’t our most fluent attacking performance, but we were solid, and we took our chances when they came. Kevin’s goal gave us the platform, and from there, we showed a lot of discipline,” he said.
For Ipswich, the defeat was a frustrating blow after what had been a spirited 1-1 draw against Everton the previous weekend. The side currently sits 18th in the table, one point above the relegation zone, and will need to find goals—and points—quickly if they are to avoid slipping into deeper trouble as the season progresses.
McKenna, though disappointed, took positives from his team’s resilience. “We started slowly and paid the price with that early goal, but I thought the players responded well in the second half. We were pushing hard at the end and were unlucky not to get something from the game,” he said.
As Brentford look ahead to their next fixture with hopes of continuing their winning streak, Ipswich face an uphill battle to turn around their form. With the season nearing its climax, every point will be vital for both clubs—Brentford in their pursuit of European football, and Ipswich in their fight for survival.