Kevin Schade's first-half header was his fourth goal in his last three Brentford appearances

Brentford beat Ipswich to keep alive European hopes 0-1

Brentford manager Thomas Frank says his team are “dreaming” of Europe after Kevin Schade’s first-half goal at Ipswich Town earned the Bees a fourth consecutive Premier League victory.

Schade, who scored twice in last weekend’s 4-3 win over Manchester United, steered a looping header inside the far post from Bryan Mbeumo’s corner to secure all three points for the visitors.

The win lifts the Bees, who last won more consecutive top-flight games in 1939, to eighth – which as it stands will be enough to secure Uefa Conference League football as long as Crystal Palace lose to Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

“We need a perfect run-in,” said Frank, whose side face Fulham at home and Wolves away in their final two games. “It demands two top performances against difficult opponents.

“It’s always been [our aim] to end as high as possible. We’re dreaming.”

Mikkel Damsgaard dragged a shot narrowly wide of the far post in first-half stoppage time, while Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer denied Yoane Wissa and Schade in the second half as Brentford sought to add to Schade’s opener.

Omari Hutchinson struck the outside of the post and Cameron Burgess was denied by Mark Flekken as Ipswich created a flurry of late chances, but Brentford held out.

Schade scores again as Bees survive late pressure

Brentford are one of four teams chasing an eighth-place finish in the Premier League, but the wind is very much with the Bees heading into the final two games.

Frank’s team are unbeaten since losing to Newcastle on 2 April – a six-match run which has included games against Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United – and have lost only two of their past 12 in the top flight.

While much of the focus this season has been on the goalscoring exploits of Mbeumo and Wissa, Schade has hit a rich vein of form to boost Brentford’s hopes of securing European football for the first time.

The German’s header at Portman Road was his fourth goal in his past three appearances and his 12th in all competitions in 2024-25.

Schade’s winner came after the video assistant referee (VAR) had checked for a potential foul by Jacob Greaves on Van den Berg from Mbeumo’s initial corner.

And as the Cameroonian attempted to retake the set-piece, play was stopped again with Jack Taylor and Christian Norgaard booked for tussling with one another.

The visitors felt they should have had another penalty in the second half when Nathan Collins went to ground under Axel Tuanzebe’s challenge.

But Frank will have been relieved to see his team survive the latter stages as Ipswich began committing more bodies forward in search of a late leveller.

Late flurry not enough for Ipswich

Kieran McKenna’s side recovered from two goals down to earn their 15th away point of the season at Everton last weekend, but the Tractor Boys’ home form has left a lot to be desired.

Only Southampton have taken fewer points on their own turf than Ipswich’s seven.

Saturday’s defeat was their 13th home reverse of the campaign – equalling their club record from the 1994-95 season – while eight straight defeats at Portman Road represents their longest losing run in front of their own supporters.

Ipswich perhaps should have salvaged a point but George Hirst failed to capitalise on an error from Van den Berg, scuffing his shot wide with only Flekken to beat, before Hutchinson rattled the frame of the goal from a tight angle.

Burgess’ first-time effort from another teasing Hutchinson delivery in added time was saved by Flekken, who clung on to a goalbound Hirst header moments later as Ipswich’s search for an equaliser ended in vain.

McKenna’s team travel to Leicester next weekend before welcoming West Ham to Portman Road in their final fixture.