Match ends, Brentford 1, Cardiff City 2.
BrentfordBrentford1CardiffCardiff City2
Cardiff City came back from a goal down to beat play-off hopefuls Brentford despite ending the match with nine men.
Bees striker Andre Gray gave his side the lead when he tapped in after Cardiff keeper Simon Moore failed to hold on to an Alex Pritchard free-kick.
Federico Macheda slotted in a leveller after a defensive mix-up by Brentford and Alex Revell chipped Cardiff ahead.
Cardiff's Kadeem Harris received a straight red on 77 minutes and Macheda was sent off for two bookings late on.
Harris was dismissed for a challenge on Alan Judge, while a rash challenge from Macheda in the 90th minute earned him a second yellow card and his marching orders.
Brentford tried to take advantage but were denied by the visitors' resolute defence and remain sixth.
The Bees will be left ruing their failure to open up a four-point gap over seventh-placed Ipswich, who lost 4-1 to Middlesbrough earlier in the day.
Gray's 13th league goal of the season gave them an advantage after an error from Moore, who atoned by saving from Pritchard later on.
A collision between Brentford goalkeeper David Button and home centre-back Harlee Dean then allowed Macheda to slot in an equaliser.
Button was also caught out when he failed to intercept a through-ball and was caught off his goal-line as Revell capitalised by lofting the ball over him for the winner.
Cardiff manager Russell Slade:
"It was an interesting game. I didn't think it would explode into life like it did in the second half.
"Brentford were better in the first half and deserved their lead but the important thing is that we stayed in the game, got the next goal and then an excellent finish from Revell got us in driving seat."
Brentford manager Mark Warburton:
"I'd like to have seen us try to unpick them with a little more though in the final few minutes instead of lifting balls into their box because we know we have the technical ability to do that.
"We knew that Cardiff would come and try to break the tempo, slow things down and delay but we have to deal with that and keep playing our football. We were good for the 1-0 and dominated the game but two lapses have cost us."
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 27Button
- 10Odubajo
- 6Dean
- 26Tarkowski
- 3BidwellSubstituted forSmithat 82'minutes
- 8Douglas
- 20DiagouragaSubstituted forJudgeat 66'minutes
- 23Jota
- 21Pritchard
- 15DallasSubstituted forToralat 79'minutes
- 19Gray
Substitutes
- 5Craig
- 12McCormack
- 16Bonham
- 17Toral
- 18Judge
- 24Smith
- 31Long
Cardiff
Formation 4-4-2
- 33Moore
- 2PeltierSubstituted forRallsat 12'minutes
- 5Ecuele Manga
- 36MorrisonBooked at 27mins
- 3da Silva
- 30KennedySubstituted forK Harrisat 45'minutesBooked at 78mins
- 17Gunnarsson
- 7WhittinghamBooked at 58mins
- 11Noone
- 14MachedaBooked at 89mins
- 29RevellSubstituted forJonesat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Malone
- 9Jones
- 13Doyle
- 21Ralls
- 22O'Keefe
- 40K Harris
- 42Wilson
- Referee:
- Andy Davies
- Attendance:
- 11,217
Match Stats
Home TeamBrentfordAway TeamCardiff
- Possession
- Home67%
- Away33%
- Shots
- Home24
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away2
- Corners
- Home16
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away17
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Cardiff City 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tommy Smith (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alan Judge with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Bruno Ecuele Manga.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Kenwyne Jones.
Post update
Attempt blocked. James Tarkowski (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jon-Miquel Toral.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Alex Pritchard (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Jonathan Douglas (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Harlee Dean with a headed pass.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Simon Moore.
Post update
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Bruno Ecuele Manga.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Tommy Smith (Brentford) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kenwyne Jones (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Peter Whittingham following a set piece situation.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Craig Noone (Cardiff City) because of an injury.
Post update
Foul by Jota (Brentford).
Post update
Craig Noone (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Alex Pritchard (Brentford) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the top right corner.
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Federico Macheda (Cardiff City) for a bad foul.
Post update
James Tarkowski (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Federico Macheda (Cardiff City).
