Lucas Joao struck late to earn Sheffield Wednesday a first away win of the Championship season at Brentford.
The Owls had taken the lead in the first half through Atdhe Nuhiu, who tucked away from the spot after James Tarkowski was shown a straight red.
Alan Judge superbly levelled things up 13 minutes from the end, and things soon got even better for the Bees when substitute Jeremy Helan was himself dismissed.
It was to be Wednesday who claimed all three points, though, thanks to Joao's late winner in West London to make it 2-1.
Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Championship meeting between Brentford and Sheffield Wednesday at Griffin Park.
These two sides have made rather indifferent starts to the campaign and find themselves separated by just one point heading into today's fixture. Wednesday have won back-to-back games, however, including an impressive triumph away at Newcastle United in the League Cup earlier this week.
There is plenty to get through between now and kickoff at 3pm, so let's get straight into things by checking out some team news.
TEAM NEWS!
BRENTFORD XI: Button, Bidwell, Tarkowski, Dean, Djuricin, Clarke, Judge, McCormack, Kerschbaumer, Diagouraga, Vibe
WEDNESDAY XI: Westwood, Hunt, Lees, Turner, Pudil, Wallace, Hutchinson, Lee, Bannan, Matias, Nuhiu
There is some good news for the hosts, as James Tarkowski has been deemed fit to start this afternoon's clash. Brentford's injury problems have been mounting, which is why they are without Akaki Gogia, Maxime Colin, Sam Saunders and Philipp Hofmann in their starting lineup today, but Tarkowski's return is certainly a bonus.
Carlos Carvalhal made mass changes to his lineup for the trip to Newcastle United in midweek, which may have given him a selection dilemma. The Portuguese has stuck largely with the same squad that played last time out in the league, however, meaning that Lewis McGugan misses out.
BENCH WATCH!
BRENTFORD SUBS: Bonham, Woods, O'Connell, Yennaris, Barbet, Udumaga, Canos
WEDNESDAY SUBS: Wildsmith, Loovens, McGugan, Bus, Helan, Joao, Lopez
Carvalhal has talked so highly of academy graduate Joe Wildsmith in the past, but he is unable to edge out Keiran Westwood who is preferred between the sticks after returning from injury. Wednesday can also call upon McGugan, following his match-winning performance against Newcastle in midweek.
The setting for this afternoon's clash in West London, as Brentford look to make it two home wins on the bounce
Well as touched upon, Brentford ended a four-game winless run last time out when breaking their home duck against Preston North End. Marinus Dijkhuizen admitted after that game to being 'relieved' by the three-point haul, which could now provide the Bees with a real platform to push on.
The mass - and brave - decision made earlier this year to overhaul the coaching staff has yet to full pay off, but Dijkhuizen will no doubt remain confident that he can achieve the long-term target of promotion to the Premier League. Brentford may struggled at Griffin Park of late, yet they have found the net in each of their last 12 games here.
DID YOU KNOW? Sheffield Wednesday have had fewer shots than any other side in the division. They come up against a Brentford side holding claim to a poor defensive record, however, having shipped 13 so far this term - the third-worst tally in the second tier.
That midweek win over Newcastle will no doubt see Wednesday enter this game in a confident mood, albeit with a largely different group of players. It is now two wins on the bounce for the Owls, who are looking to climb the division on the back of their indifferent start.
Wednesday's away record is far from great, though, and their form so far this season - W2, D3, L3 - suggests that it could be a season of mid-table mediocrity. Three points here today will see them among the chasing pack, however, so it is still far too early to offer any long-term prediction.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! The bad news for the neutrals among us is that just the four goals have been scored in the last four fixtures between these sides. That is largely down to Wednesday's strong defensive record, having kept three clean sheets in the last four. Kieran Lee's goal proved the difference when they last met earlier this year.
Right, the players have emerged from the tunnel at Griffin Park and kickoff is now just a matter of moments away
KICKOFF! We are up and running in West London. Wednesday won the toss and have elected to attack their own end in this first half.
A promising start for Wednesday, as they make a quick start to the match. The Bees were already a goal down this time last week, remember, so it is so far so good as from their perspective.
I mentioned a little earlier that Wednesday sit one point above their opponents in the table heading into this one, well it is only fair to point out that the Bees have played one game less. That was due to this Griffin Park playing surface having to be relayed last month, thus putting a halt to their home meeting with Birmingham City.
Pudil swings in a dangerous looking cross from the right-hand side, which just about evades each of his teammates. Wednesday are looking for the aerial threat of Nuhiu in these opening stages of the contest.
CLOSE! Nuhiu is such a threat in the air, which he has just proven yet again. The striker met a cross into the box, getting enough power on his attempt to find the target, but it was simple enough for Button to keep out in the end.
SAVE! The Owls have made a really decent start to this match, asking plenty of questions of their opponents early on. Wallace is the latest to test Button, firing in a shot from range which the Bees stopper beat away.
Brentford simply have not been allowed to settle into any sort of rhythm so far, which is credit to Wednesday's impressive start. It remains goalless, though, so it is simply a case of the Bees biding their time.
Still Carvalhal's charges press for an opener, and it is Nuhiu who is involved again. After winning a corner, the ball came into the box where the striker failed to truly get the contact he desired on the ball, with his effort trickling wide of the far post.
A couple of decent openings for Wednesday so far, then, but nothing to truly trouble Button between the sticks. Brentford have still yet to find their groove, which looks unlikely to change anytime soon.
Well that shows how much I know about this sport... moments after suggesting that Brentford had shown little signs of growing into the game, a dangerous cross gets home supporters out of their seats. A good, flowing opening quarter to this contest.
A decent Bannan cross into the back-post area is met by Matias who just ghosted in unmarked. It was an awkward one, though, and one which the midfielder could not properly connect with low down. In the end he headed wide of goal, but that offers another warning to Brentford.
OFF THE BAR! How on earth is this one still goalless? It is Wednesday yet again who come close to making the breakthrough, and it is Nuhiu who is continually proving to be the danger man. Wallace's cross was met by the forward, who crashed his headed attempt back off the bar.
SAVE! Button is forced into another save, this time getting in the way of Matias's stinging drive. You would back the Bees man to have kept that one out, but it is another shot on target for an Owls side who really should have a goal or two to their name.
YELLOW CARD! Alan McCormack clatters into Lee on the halfway line to earn himself the game's first caution. Pudil is receiving some treatment, meanwhile, after picking up a knock.
Chances have been kept to a minimum over the past five minutes or so, with Djuricin's blocked effort from 10-yards out the best of the action during that time.
A decent away following at Griffin Park this afternoon
OFF THE BAR! A cross into the back post area does not look to be of any real concern for Wednesday, but Bidwell does brilliantly to loop it goalwards from a tight angle, and if not for the bar it was dipping into the back of the net.
PENALTY TO SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY!
The lively Nuhiu is brought down by Tarkowski inside the box, gifting Wednesday with the perfect chance to take the lead. There is more bad news for the hosts, too, as the returning Brentford man is shown a straight red after some consultation between the officials.
GOAL! BRENTFORD 0-1 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (NUHIU, PEN)
Nuhiu makes no mistake from the spot, rolling the ball past Button to give Wednesday a deserved lead against the 10 men of Brentford. A huge mountain for the hosts to climb now.
SUBSTITUTIONS! No surprise here, as Jack O'Connell comes on for Kerschbaumer. Wednesday have also shaken things up slightly, with the injured Pudil unable to continue. Jeremy Halan is the man to replace him.
Brentford have actually played slightly better with 10 men in fairness, ending the half strongly by attacking their opponents. They have three minutes to lift the spirits of their supporters before the half-time whistle blows.
Plenty of Wednesday pressure now, but no way through. Wednesday deserve their lead, but as long as it remains 1-0 then the 10 men of Brentford certainly have a hope of rescuing a point or more.
Bannan's cross was heading straight for Nuhiu's head, but Button collected the ball at full stretch to avert the danger.
Wednesday totally in control as we enter the final stages of this first half. Wallace in particular is starting to look a real threat, as Brentford work hard to remain in this game.
HALF TIME: BRENTFORD 0-1 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
So Wednesday hold a 1-0 lead over Brentford at the break, in what has been a decent opening 45 minutes in West London. While the goal may be deserved, the manner in which it came about was rather controversial.
James Tarkowski did bring the lively Nuhiu down inside the box, yet Bidwell did look to be in a position to cover for his teammates, thus making the red car questionable. Credit to the referee, though, because he took his time before making a decision, speaking to the linesman and fourth official prior to reaching into his back pocket.
As already mentioned, however, there is no denying that the Owls are worthy of their interval lead. Nuhiu in particular was a real menace, forcing Button into a save and striking the bar, while Wallace also came close to getting his name on the scoresheet.
Matias was the other visiting player to force Button into action, firing away a fine 30-yard drive, while Bidwell came closest to making a breakthrough for the visiting side. Brentford have yet to get going, with their task now made all the more difficult.
BENCH WATCH!
BRENTFORD SUBS: Bonham, Woods, Yennaris, Barbet, Udumaga, Canos
WEDNESDAY SUBS: Wildsmith, Loovens, McGugan, Bus, Joao, Lopez
We have already seen two changes in the opening 45 minutes; O'Connell and Helan being brought on for Brentford and Wednesday respectively. No further changes at the break, as both sets of players re-enter the field of play.
RESTART! Atdhe Nuhiu's first-half penalty is the difference so far, as the action gets back underway in West London.
O'Connell takes on a shot from 25 yards out, which just for a moment looked to have Westwood scrambling across goal. It was well wide in the end, though, following what has been a flat start to the half.
CLOSE! Superb play from 10-man Brentford, which offers plenty of encouragement for the remainder of this half. O'Connell sprayed a pass out to Bidwell on the left, with the full-back picking out Djuricin in the centre. The Austrian headed the ball onto the bar, but the offside flag was raised anyway.
A really positive start to the half from Brentford, who have found the net in each of their last 12 home games remember. A second is likely to be needed from the visiting side if they are to claim maximum points.
Wallace takes a blow to the head and goes to ground, with the referee then halting play. That has left home supporters and players alike hugely frustrated. Any momentum they had has just been broken up.
OFF THE POST! The post has been hit for the fourth time this afternoon, as Judge's cross evades everyone and comes within inches of creeping into the net. So unlucky from the Brentford man, who was aiming for that danger zone.
Far more urgency about Brentford's play now and, in a complete reversal of the first half, the possession is being dominated by the home side. Wednesday perhaps need to make a change to turn the flow of things.
Judge's free kick is collected by a grateful Westwood, ending Brentford's latest attacking move. Changes appear to be imminent from an Owls side who have been sitting back for far too long now.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY SUB! Lucas Joao replaces Matias for the visitors, as we enter the final 30 minutes. Plenty left to play for, with the Owls unable to add a second goal to their tally.
YELLOW CARD! Helan brings down Clarke near the touchline to earn himself a booking. Things have been bubbling over slightly, so that card has been a long time coming.
It is probably a good time to bring up that stat from pre-match concerning Brentford's scoring record in this fixture. The Bees have failed to find a way through in three of the last four meetings with Wednesday.
A little over 20 minutes to go at Griffin Park, with Wednesday holding onto their slender lead
Joao stalls when finding himself in a good shooting position inside the box, and is eventually wrestled off the ball. Momentum has swung back in the favour of Carvalhal's side now, but they will not be truly comfortable until a second goal arrives.
BRENTFORD SUB! An attacking change from Dijkhuizen, as Canos replaces Josh Clarke. Eighteen minutes left to play in West London.
SAVE! Bidwell was given a sight of goal, but Westwood was equal to his shot to keep Wednesday ahead. This game remains awfully tight at 1-0.
SHOT! A decent attempt from Joao to force Button into action. The Brentford stopper had to get down low to keep that effort out.
GOAL! BRENTFORD 1-1 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (JUDGE)
Well Wednesday's goal had been coming in the first half, and it is fair to say that Brentford are now good value for their goal, too. It was a fine finish from Judge - as good as you will see anywhere today - bringing down Button's punt and curling the ball into the far corner in a superb manner.
RED CARD! A goal apiece and now 10 men apiece. This game has taken an incredible turn over the past few minutes! Substitute Jeremy Helan trips Canos to receive a second yellow card. Hutchinson has also been cautioned.
Canos has been a threat since coming on, and his hard work nearly edges Brentford ahead. After cutting inside, the substitute's shot was on target, yet it was simply enough for Westwood to get down and collect.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY SUB! Nuhiu is booed by all three home sections as he departs the field thanks to his part in the first-half penalty decision. Alex Lopez is on in his place for Wednesday's final change.
This one really could go either way now, which will hopefully provide an entertaining conclusion. All the momentum is with Brentford, but it has been that way for large parts of this second half.
CHANCE! Glorious opportunity for Vibe to win it for his side, only to blast over Canos's cross. Again, it was superb work from the Spanish youngster to make some space down the right.
BRENTFORD SUB! Ryan Woods has come on for McCormack as we enter the final minute of normal time. This could still go either way!
GOAL! BRENTFORD 1-2 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY (JOAO)
There was an inevitability about this goal, rounding off what has been an incredible game for the neutral. Joao raced through on goal after O'Connell failed to deal with a long ball, keeping his nerve and tucking the ball beyond Button to surely rescue all three points for his side.
Griffin Park has fallen silent for the first time in a while after that killer blow. A first away win of the campaign now beckons for the Owls.
Wednesday, unsurprisingly, having to do a lot of defending in these final seconds. Just no way through for the Bees at the moment.
Vibe tries his best to work his way through on goal, but there is no way through for the Brentford striker. That should be that.
FULL TIME: BRENTFORD 1-2 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Sheffield Wednesday take all three points in the end, then, on the back of a game that contained plenty of excitement.
The Owls had taken the lead in the first half through Atdhe Nuhiu, who tucked away from the spot after James Tarkowski was shown a straight red. Alan Judge superbly levelled things up 13 minutes from the end, and things soon got even better for the Bees when substitute Jeremy Helan was himself dismissed. It was to be Wednesday who claimed all three points, though, thanks to Joao's late winner in West London to make it 2-1.
Well that is all from me in terms of live text coverage of the day's Championship action, but be sure to stick around with text commentary still to come from the late Premier League kickoff.
