Brentford rescue point against Crystal Palace with last-gasp Janelt goal

Vitaly Janelt
Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt celebrates his goal against Crystal Palace (Image credit: Getty)

Brentford extended their unbeaten run to 11 games as a late header from Vitaly Janelt earned them a point against Crystal Palace.

The German rose highest to nod home from Bryan Mbeumo's cross with virtually the last touch of the match.

Palace had taken the lead through a header of their own, as Ebere Eze converted from Michael Olise's centre.

But Patrick Vieira's side failed to hold out, as Janelt's header denied them what would have been their first victory of 2023.

Arsenal remain the only visiting team to have triumphed at the Gtech Community Stadium this season, with Brentford right in the mix for European qualification.

Ebere Eze

Crystal Palace had taken the lead through Ebere Eze (Image credit: Getty)

There was little to choose between the two teams in an uneventful opening 45 minutes.

Christian Norgaard shot wide from the edge of the box for Brentford's first opportunity, while Michael Olise forced David Raya to push his fierce effort over the top.

Mbuemo went close in the 37th minute after he danced around a challenge from Cheick Doucoure, but there were few clear-cut chances of note in the first half.

Neither Jeff Schlupp nor Jean-Philippe Mateta could hit the target with headers soon after the restart, while Norgaard stung the palms of Vicente Guaita on the hour.

Brentford

Ben Mee and Thomas Frank applaud the Brentford fans after the match (Image credit: Getty)

Palace made the breakthrough in the 70th minute, as Olise found the onrushing Eze at the back post.

Second-half substitutes Odsonne Edouard and Naouirou Ahamada had chances to wrap up the victory for Vieira's side, and their failure to convert ultimately proved costly.

With their last attack of the match, Brentford found Mbeumo in space down the right, and his cross was powered home by the head of Janelt.

It was joy for Thomas Frank and despair for Vieira, whose side are now just six points above the relegation zone.

Palace will return to action against Liverpool next Saturday, while Brentford have the weekend off due to Manchester United's participation in the EFL Cup final.

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).

Read more
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions
Watch Crystal Palace vs Brentford: Live stream, TV info and more ahead of Premier League clash
Mark Flekken of Brentford during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Liverpool FC at Gtech Community Stadium on January 18, 2025 in Brentford, England.
Is Mark Flekken injured this weekend? Premier League injury update on Brentford goalkeeper
Raul Jimenez of Fulham celebrates with teammate Rodrigo Muniz after scoring his team's first goal from the penalty-spot during the Premier League match between Fulham FC and Ipswich Town FC at Craven Cottage on January 05, 2025 in London, England.
How to watch Fulham v Crystal Palace: Live streams, TV channels for Premier League clash
Tottenham beat Brentford 3-1 in this season's earlier meeting between the two sides
How to watch Brentford vs Spurs online from anywhere – Live streams and TV channels
Manchester City thumped Salford City on Saturday and will hope for more of the same against Brentford
How to watch Brentford vs Manchester City: Live stream and TV details for Premier League clash
Aaron Ramsdale of Arsenal punches clea during the Premier League match between Brentford FC and Arsenal FC at Gtech Community Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Brentford, England.
Watch Brentford vs Arsenal: Live stream, TV, kick-off time, team news
Latest in Premier League
LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: (L-R) Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu of Arsenal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD2 training and press conference at Sobha Realty Training Centre on September 30, 2024 in London Colney, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
England could lose Arsenal wonderkid to Nigerian national side due this little known reason
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
Newcastle United's Dan Burn battles with Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle United at Anfield in Liverpool, England, on February 26, 2025.
I watch every football game on this TV - and it's been discounted by £210 in the Amazon Spring Deal Days
Dean Huijsen of AFC Bournemouth scores the opening goal during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Vitality Stadium on December 05, 2024 in Bournemouth, England
Bournemouth star wanted by Real Madrid in statement summer deal: report
Rasmus Hojlund is struggling in front of goal
'I think obviously I’ve not been on top of my game as I wanted to. It’s not all about goals - I know I'm not the finished article, but I just want to keep going' Manchester United forward Rasmus Hojlund opens up on reason for recently-ended goal drought
Latest in Features
Orlando Pride players raise the trophy during the NWSL Championship game between Orlando Pride and Washington Spirit at CPKC Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri.
How to watch NWSL: Live streams, TV information for National Women's Soccer League 2025
Premier League ball
Quiz! Can you name the players to have scored Premier League hat-tricks?
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola holds aloft the Premier League trophy at the Etihad in May 2023.
Quiz! Can you name every Premier League champion... in just 90 seconds?
Barcelona's Spanish midfielder Aitana Bonmati receives the Woman Ballon d'Or award during the 2024 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, 2024.
Who are the contenders for the Ballon d'Or Féminin?
 Sheila Garcia of Real Madrid CF battle for the ball with Alessia Russo of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Finals First Leg match between Real Madrid CF and Arsenal FC at Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on March 18, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.
'Over two legs I expected Arsenal to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League, I still think they can despite being 2-0 down,' says former Lioness Izzy Christiansen
Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammates Lamine Yamal and Gavi during the LaLiga match between Sevilla FC and FC Barcelona at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on February 09, 2025 in Seville, Spain.
Watch Barcelona vs Osasuna: Live streams, TV coverage for La Liga clash