Bryan Mbeumo at the double as Brentford beat Brighton to stay in European hunt

Bryan Mbeumo’s brace kept alive Brentford’s outside hopes of qualifying for Europe as 10-man Brighton were beaten 4-2 at the Gtech Community Stadium.

A first home Premier League win in four months meant a top-eight finish is within the reach of Thomas Frank’s side and the steely self-assurance with which they saw off another European hopeful would suggest they can carry the fight into the season’s final weeks.

They still trail Brighton by two points but they were the better side in west London, going ahead early when Mbeumo powered through the heart of Fabian Hurzeler’s defence to finish.

Danny Welbeck headed Brighton level at the end of the first half, Mbeumo then restored the lead immediately after the restart before Yoane Wissa’s deflected effort made it three.

Joao Pedro was foolishly dismissed for lashing out at Nathan Collins in the 61st minute before a late goal from Kaoru Mitoma gave the visitors hope, which was ultimately dashed at the end by Christian Norgaard’s clinching header.

The match ended, after more than 20 minutes of second-half stoppage time, with the concerning sight of Brighton defender Jean Paul van Hecke being carried from the pitch on a stretcher wearing a neck brace after colliding with Yunus Konak.

The hosts went ahead after nine minutes. Wissa had already been denied a goal by the outstretched boot of Bart Verbruggen but Brighton’s goalkeeper could do nothing about Mbeumo’s strike.

Brentford’s top scorer delayed his run to keep onside from Keane Lewis-Potter’s pass and then steamed between Brighton’s central defenders before firmly whipping the ball into the bottom corner.

The first half looked to be drifting to a tepid close when suddenly the match turned.

With the final play before the