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Jan Bednarek's opener was the fourth time Southampton have scored in the first five minutes of a Premier League game this season; the most of any side in 2021-22.Southampton comfortably beat Brentford to move up to 11th in the Premier League - in front of the Saints' new owner Dragan Solak.
Jan Bednarek gave the hosts the early lead when he glanced in a header from James Ward-Prowse's left-wing corner.
Brentford equalised with their first shot on target thanks to Vitaly Janelt's excellent sliced volley after Bryan Mbeumo's cross.
But the Saints retook the lead as Ibrahima Diallo shot goalwards and it bounced off the post and off Bees' goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez for an own goal.
Shortly after the restart, the hosts added a third when Armando Broja raced on to Oriel Romeu's fine through ball and calmly finished past Fernandez.
Substitute Che Adams, back after a Covid-19 absence, scored within five minutes of coming on, reaching a long pass before the Brentford goalkeeper and poking in a fourth - the first time Southampton have scored four times in a Premier League match this season.
This was the first home game for Southampton since it was confirmed that the Sport Republic group had bought Chinese businessman Gao Jisheng's 80% stake of the club earlier this month.
Serb media mogul Solak, who financially backed the takeover, was at St Mary's and saw his new side record only their fifth league win of the season.
The Saints move above Brentford, who missed a chance to move into the top half and instead drop to 13th.
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Dragan Solak waves to supporters before the game at St Mary's StadiumPoor Brentford easily beaten
For Brentford, this result continues a worrying run of form away from home which has seen them pick up only two points on the road from their past six league matches.
After falling behind to Bednarek's header, they equalised on 23 minutes when Mbeumo, who had scored a hat-trick in their 4-1 win over Port Vale in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday, crossed and Janelt showed excellent skill to cut across the ball and volley home.
Janelt instantly had a chance to put the Bees ahead but saw his 25-yard powerful strike parried well by home goalkeeper Fraser Forster.
But after the Saints regained their advantage, the hosts pulled cleared and scored twice more to run out worthy winners and inflict the heaviest defeat of the season on the visitors.
Both Ivan Toney and Mbeumo had efforts saved late on by Forster, but Brentford boss Thomas Frank will be unhappy with his side's performance and they will need an instant improvement as their next game is at Liverpool on Sunday.
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Southampton
Squad number44Player nameForster
Squad number35Player nameBednarek
Squad number4Player nameLyanco- Squad number22Player nameSalisu
- Squad number23Player nameTella
Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse
Squad number6Player nameOriol Romeu- Squad number27Player nameDiallo
- Squad number15Player namePerraud
Squad number11Player nameRedmond- Squad number18Player nameBroja
- Squad number9Player nameA Armstrong
- Squad number10Player nameAdams
- Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
Brentford
Squad number40Player nameFernández
Squad number20Player nameAjer
Squad number18Player nameJansson
Squad number5Player namePinnock
Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
Squad number7Player nameCanós
Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
Squad number17Player nameToney
Squad number8Player nameJensen
Squad number11Player nameWissa
Squad number36Player nameStevens
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 3-5-2
- 44Forster
- 35Bednarek
- 4Lyanco
- 22Salisu
- 23TellaSubstituted forS Armstrongat 70'minutes
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 6Romeu
- 27Diallo
- 15Perraud
- 11RedmondSubstituted forAdamsat 65'minutes
- 18BrojaSubstituted forA Armstrongat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Stephens
- 7Long
- 9A Armstrong
- 10Adams
- 13Caballero
- 16Small
- 17S Armstrong
- 38Simeu
- 48Chauke
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
- 40Fernández
- 20Ajer
- 18Jansson
- 5PinnockSubstituted forJensenat 68'minutes
- 30Roerslev
- 27Janelt
- 6Nørgaard
- 26BaptisteSubstituted forWissaat 56'minutes
- 7CanósSubstituted forStevensat 76'minutes
- 19Mbeumo
- 17ToneyBooked at 45mins
Substitutes
- 2Thompson
- 8Jensen
- 9Forss
- 11Wissa
- 14Ghoddos
- 28Bidstrup
- 29Bech Sørensen
- 36Stevens
- 49Lössl
Referee:Stuart Attwell
Attendance:27,383
Live Text
Match ends, Southampton 4, Brentford 1.
Second Half ends, Southampton 4, Brentford 1.
Foul by Ivan Toney (Brentford).
Ibrahima Diallo (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Yoane Wissa (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Lyanco (Southampton).
Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ibrahima Diallo (Southampton).
Attempt saved. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mathias Jensen with a through ball.
Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Finley Stevens with a headed pass.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by James Ward-Prowse.
Attempt saved. Adam Armstrong (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ibrahima Diallo.
Substitution, Southampton. Adam Armstrong replaces Armando Broja because of an injury.
Substitution, Brentford. Finley Stevens replaces Sergi Canós because of an injury.
Goal! Southampton 4, Brentford 1. Che Adams (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ibrahima Diallo.
Substitution, Southampton. Stuart Armstrong replaces Nathan Tella because of an injury.
Substitution, Brentford. Mathias Jensen replaces Ethan Pinnock.
Substitution, Southampton. Che Adams replaces Nathan Redmond because of an injury.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Lyanco.
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