Match ends, Brentford 3, Southampton 0.
Brentford fans "can dream of Europe" after climbing to seventh in the Premier League by beating Southampton, says Ben Mee.
Defender Mee put the hosts in front, meeting Bryan Mbuemo's cross with a thumping header in the 41st minute.
And three minutes later, Brentford doubled their lead after Mbuemo dispatched Yoane Wissa's cut-back into the bottom corner.
Mathias Jensen added a third nine minutes from time, nodding in a Rico Henry cross from close range.
"There's a real good buzz around the dressing room and at the club," Mee told BBC Match of the Day.
"Fans can dream of Europe; we'll keep going and work hard for them. We'll keep going and get results."
With relegation rivals Everton edging out Arsenal and Wolves beating Liverpool, defeat left Southampton three points from a position of Premier League safety.
Meanwhile, Brentford extended their unbeaten run to nine matches, their longest in the top flight for 87 years.
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Pride of west London, the Bees know what they are
Brentford's victory moved them above Fulham - and they were already ahead of another west London team in Chelsea.
The Bees, unbeaten in the league since 23 October, always looked the better side against their struggling opponents and are now just six points off a top-four spot.
"I think it's important that we have that confident but humble attitude where we are dreaming a bit," Brentford boss Thomas Frank told Match of the Day.
"We are saying we want to stay as high as possible but the minimum criteria is always to stay in the league.
"But we want to end as high as possible, so let's see how high that is."
Frank's team nearly took the lead in the eighth minute when Wissa rounded Southampton keeper Gavin Bazunu only to strike the ball against the crossbar from a tight angle.
And, after a flurry of half-chances, the hosts did go in front through Mee's header, with the defender rising highest to meet Mbuemo's enticing cross.
Mee was checked for concussion immediately after his opener having clashed heads with a Saints defender, but was able to carry on as the Bees doubled their lead through Mbuemo.
Brentford's top scorer Ivan Toney had an effort cleared off the line midway through the second half before Jensen rounded off the win with a header into the far corner.
Southampton still rooted to bottom
Southampton may have given Newcastle a late scare in their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday, but against Brentford they looked tame.
The visitors came close when James Ward-Prowse went through on goal early in the first half but the midfielder chose to square the ball just out of team-mate Che Adams' reach when shooting looked the better option.
In the second half, substitute Theo Walcott had a decent strike blocked by a combination of Ethan Pinnock and Mads Roerslev with the scoreline at 2-0.
It is in defence, though, where Saints manager Nathan Jones will be most worried.
Southampton have conceded 53 goals in their past 27 Premier League matches, keeping just one clean sheet in that time, and they were repeatedly carved open by Brentford.
The Saints are still rooted to the bottom of the table as they hope to improve on a run that has brought four defeats in their past five games.
They take on Wolves next Saturday, while Brentford face a test against leaders Arsenal on the same day.
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 2HickeySubstituted forRoerslevat 61'minutes
- 5Pinnock
- 16Mee
- 3Henry
- 10DasilvaSubstituted forJaneltat 61'minutes
- 6Nørgaard
- 8JensenSubstituted forDamsgaardat 82'minutes
- 19MbeumoSubstituted forM Jorgensenat 82'minutes
- 17ToneyBooked at 64mins
- 11WissaSubstituted forSchadeat 74'minutes
Substitutes
- 9Schade
- 13M Jorgensen
- 14Ghoddos
- 20Ajer
- 23Lewis-Potter
- 24Damsgaard
- 27Janelt
- 30Roerslev
- 34Cox
Southampton
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 31Bazunu
- 14Bree
- 35Bednarek
- 22SalisuBooked at 90mins
- 15Perraud
- 27DialloSubstituted forSulemanaat 45'minutes
- 45LaviaBooked at 59minsSubstituted forAlcarazat 65'minutes
- 23EdozieSubstituted forWalcottat 65'minutes
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 24ElyounoussiSubstituted forOnuachuat 45'minutes
- 10AdamsSubstituted forA Armstrongat 81'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Maitland-Niles
- 4Lyanco
- 7Aribo
- 9A Armstrong
- 12Onuachu
- 13Caballero
- 20Sulemana
- 26Alcaraz
- 32Walcott
- Referee:
- Darren Bond
- Attendance:
- 17,051
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home48%
- Away52%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away14
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away6
- Corners
- Home4
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 3, Southampton 0.
Post update
Attempt saved. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Theo Walcott.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Ethan Pinnock (Brentford).
Post update
Attempt missed. Mads Roerslev (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Mikkel Damsgaard.
Booking
Mohammed Salisu (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Mohammed Salisu (Southampton).
Post update
Ivan Toney (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Paul Onuachu (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by James Bree with a cross.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Theo Walcott (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Christian Nørgaard.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match because of an injury Rico Henry (Brentford).
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Mikkel Damsgaard replaces Mathias Jensen.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Zanka replaces Bryan Mbeumo.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Adam Armstrong replaces Che Adams.
Goal!
Goal! Brentford 3, Southampton 0. Mathias Jensen (Brentford) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rico Henry with a cross.
Post update
Foul by James Ward-Prowse (Southampton).
Post update
Rico Henry (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Comments
Join the conversation
After supporting Brentford for fifty years I never thought I’d see the day.
Magnificent
Getting what we deserved for employing him in the first place.
Well done Brentford. Having a great season.
Two years ago there were folks saying that they wouldn't stay up.
Thomas Frank and the lads have done West London proud.
Has their EVER been a new manager with such a poor prem record at their new club?
Go now!
The Bees have now extended their unbeaten run to 9 games!
They just keep on Buzzing!