Brentford U21s 4 QPR U21s 0: Donovan leads young Bees to win | OneFootball

Brentford Under-21s cruised to a 4-0 Professional Development League win over QPR Under-21s at Gtech Community Stadium on Tuesday night.

A strong first team contingent featured for Sam Saunders' side. Ellery Balcombe took his place in goal, with Benjamin Arthur, Vitaly Janelt, Myles Peart-Harris, Romelle Donovan, Reiss Nelson and Gustavo Nunes rounding out the first team presence.

A Donovan strike got the young Bees off to a strong start in the first half, while second half goals from Josh Stephenson, Iwan Morgan and Peart-Harris secured the three points.

Under the lights in west London the game started slowly, neither side able to produce any real attacking threat.

The young Bees shifted the momentum into their favour soon after as Janelt pounced on a loose QPR pass in their own half. He played to Donovan down the right side who pushed into the box and fired at goal, but it was secured by Charlie Warren in goal for the visitors.

Two minutes later Ethan Laidlaw found himself in space inside the box and crossed to Michel Boni at the back post, the ball skimming past his outstretched leg and out of play.

Brentford’s best early chance came on 15 minutes as they continued to dominate the game. Nelson beat his defender down the left side and pushed forward before cutting the ball back to the penalty spot, Donovan running onto the ball and firing at goal, Warren doing well to keep the ball out of the net.

The stranglehold was broken on 27 minutes, Donovan able to go one better than his earlier strike to give Saunders’ side the lead. Laidlaw found space through the middle of the pitch before playing to Donovan down the right side. The winger pushed back into the middle, beating three defenders and firing at goal, the ball sailing into the back of the net from 25 yards.

QPR enjoyed a period of momentum as they looked to wrestle back control of the game, but they struggled to penetrate Brentford’s backline.

The hosts were back on the attack soon after as Laidlaw fought to win the ball back in some congestion. He played to Donovan who again pushed forward into the box, cut back onto his left and shot, but it sailed straight to Warren’s hands.

The beginning of the second half mirrored the first, neither side able to produce anything threatening in attack across the early stages.

That changed on 56 minutes as Donovan took a corner from the right side. His ball hit a dangerous spot inside the box, Stephenson there to head it home to double Brentford’s lead.

Half-time substitute Nunes came close to making it three two minutes later as he won the ball back deep in QPR’s half, however his effort sailed over the bar.

The young Bees continued to apply the pressure as they eyed a third goal and they again came close after the hour mark. Maxwell McKnight put a dangerous cross across goal from the right side, Boni’s tap in attempt sailing just left of the goal.

The third goal eventually came through substitute Morgan, who wasted little time making an impact. He received the ball from Donovan on the left side of the box, cutting back onto his right foot and firing the ball into the back of the net.

Looking to make it a trio of second half goals the young Bees continued to push and were rewarded as the full-time whistle drew near. On 86 minutes Michael Olakigbe crossed a dangerous ball from the right side, Peart-Harris tapping it home for the fourth of the evening.

Brentford U21s: Balcombe, McKnight (McManus 78), Grey, Arthur, Stephenson, Janelt, Laidlaw (Olakigbe 67), Peart-Harris, Boni (Morgan 67), Donovan (Headman 78), Nelson (Nunes HT)

QPR U21s: Warren, Agbude (Moore 78), Putman, Wilkie, Akindileni, Alemayehu, Coomes (Neziri 78), Dyke, Hassan, Pearman (Neill 86), Trujillo (Oluwabusola 67)

Subs not used: Halliday

Booked: Agbude 77

Saunders rapt with 90-minute performance

Brentford U21s head coach Sam Saunders reflected on a superb display against QPR U21s at the Gtech on Tuesday night.

"There was good quality on show, the quality of player that we had out there was high, so we didn't expect anything less than that," he said.

"The lads had trained really well the last couple of days, the competition for places is so high, everyone knows every single day at training you've got to be at maximum.

"I had no doubt that the boys would bounce back (from Exeter City), the training's been good, the competition's high, everyone wants to play every single game.

"The good games are coming thick and fast with Luton Town in the Premier League Cup next week which everyone's excited for and everyone's looking forward to."