Substitute Frank Onyeka scored in second-half stoppage time to secure Brentford a much-needed win over Sheffield United.

The game burst into life after the break. Oliver Arblaster turned Mikkel Damsgaard’s cutback into his own net on 63 minutes, before Onyeka wrapped up the points late on with his first Bees goal.

Damsgaard was controversially denied a goal of his own on 68 minutes; his well-struck volley chalked off after a VAR review.

Maupay goes closest during tightly contested first half

There was one personnel change and a switch of system for the Blades’ visit to west London. Thomas Frank opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with Kristoffer Ajer dropping out due to a minor calf strain and Neal Maupay starting in attack.

Kevin Schade was named in a matchday squad for the first time since September having recovered from an adductor injury. Ethan Pinnock, absent since February due to an ankle injury, was also among the substitutes, as was striker Ivan Toney.

Sheffield United, set up in a 3-5-2 shape by boss Chris Wilder, also made a single change as Yasser Larouci came in for Jack Robinson.

It was Larouci who had the first effort of the game with five minutes on the clock. Gustavo Hamer received the ball on the turn and fizzed a low pass across the 18-yard box and the left wing-back’s effort from a tight angle was blocked by Mads Roerslev.

Five minutes later, Ben Brereton Díaz spun Zanka and darted away from the Bees’ backline, but under pressure from the advancing Mark Flekken couldn’t generate enough power on his shot and the ball was gathered by the keeper.

Brentford’s first chance came on 13 minutes. Roerslev beat Larouci with a clever turn and lifted the ball towards the back post. Sergio Reguilón, peeling in from the left flank, got above Jayden Bogle to make contact, but his downward header bounced wide.

Midway through the half, Maupay laid the ball off for Janelt in a central position 20 yards from goal and the German saw his curling effort well held by Ivo Grbić. Larouci then drove up the left and worked the ball inside to Brereton Díaz, who dropped a shoulder to beat Janelt and fired over the crossbar from distance.

The next chance at the Gech was straight off the training pitch at Jersey Road. Damsgaard timed his run perfectly to meet Mathias Jensen’s low corner just inside the box, but his first-time effort flew over the bar.

Jensen went for goal himself just after the half-hour mark. His dipping effort from 25 yards bounced just in front of Grbić but was comfortably saved by the keeper.

Brentford had a big chance to take the lead on 36 minutes. Anel Ahmedhodžić received a short pass from his goalkeeper and, faced by an aggressive Bees press, saw his misplaced pass intercepted by Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroon international immediately lofted a pass into Maupay, who at full stretch met it with his toe and the ball rolled millimetres wide of an open goal.

Yoane Wissa’s glancing header, connecting with Reguilón’s cross, was then held by Grbić in the final action of the half.

Substitute Onyeka seals the win in stoppage-time

An uneventful start to the second period didn’t set the tone for what was to come.

Brentford had the ball in the back of the net on 55 minutes. Jensen whipped a free-kick deep into the Blades’ box and Zanka poked home, but the assistant’s flag was rightly raised for offside.

On the hour mark, Oliver Arblaster’s in-swinging corner was met by Ahmedhodžić at the back post and his header bounced wide via a deflection.

On 63 minutes, Brentford took the lead – and this goal stood. Damsgaard exchanged passes with Mbeumo on a foray down the right and his pull-back, looking for Maupay on the penalty spot, took a mean deflection off Arblaster and rolled across the line.

Flekken was equal to Bogle’s header moments after the restart as the Blades went in search of an immediate equaliser.

On 68 minutes, Damsgaard thought he’d doubled the Bees’ lead. Found by another clever set-piece, this time a lofted delivery by Mbeumo from the right, the Dane slammed a volley into the ground and into the bottom corner beyond Grbić. But Brentford were to be denied as, after a VAR check, it was decided that Nathan Collins had fouled McBurnie as the ball was swung in.

Five minutes later, Bogle turned Auston Trusty’s cross wide of the target 10 yards from goal.

As the game entered the final 10 minutes, substitute Cameron Archer latched on to Brereton Díaz’s through ball, checked back onto his right foot and skewed wide from the tightest of angles inside the six-yard box.

At the other end, Grbić dived to his left to push Keane Lewis-Potter’s well-struck effort from just inside the box around the post.

Brereton Díaz then connected with McAtee’s looping cross at the back post, but his effort was high and wide.

Brentford secured the victory three minutes into stoppage-time and it was a goal made by two of Frank’s substitutes. Reguilon’s throw-in was met by a deft touch by the returning Schade, leaving Frank Onyeka with time and space inside the box to drive past Grbić and net his first Bees goal.

Brentford: Flekken; Roerslev, Zanka, Collins, Reguilón; Janelt, Damsgaard (Yarmoliuk 79), Jensen (Onyeka 90); Wissa (Pinnock 90), Maupay (Lewis-Potter 79), Mbeumo (Schade 90)

Subs not used: Strakosha, Ghoddos, Toney, Baptiste

Sheffield United: Grbić; Holgate (Ben Slimane 90+1), Ahmedhodžić, Trusty; Bogle (Archer 76), Hamer, Arblaster, Osborn, Larouci (McAtee 57); Brereton Díaz, McBurnie

Subs not used: Foderingham, Norwood, Souza, Curtis, Osula, Brooks

Attendance: 17,175

Frank: A win has been coming

Thomas Frank expressed his relief and delight at picking up three points against Sheffield United, which leaves the west Londoners unbeaten in four games.

"It's always a relief when you win because it's so difficult, we've seen it this season, it’s only our eighth win," stated the Bees boss.

“We hadn’t won in nine, so I just said [to the players], ‘Please don't do that to me or themselves again!’ - they are definitely not doing it on purpose, we know that they are running hard every game, doing everything they can to win. 

“It's been coming, we’ve had a lot of good performances, so I’m so happy with another good performance - not a through-the-roof performance - but a good performance.  

“That was enough to win, a deserved win - and we finally got that little bit of luck that we have been searching for and haven’t been getting this season.”

Damsgaard: We’re happy to get the win

Mikkel Damsgaard cut a delighted figure following Brentford’s 2-0 victory at Gtech Community Stadium.

“It was a little bit more scrappy than we would have liked, but we’re just happy to get the win,” he said.

“We had nine games without win, so it feels good to finally get one.

“It’s very important for the relegation battle and it feels so good to get a little bit of distance.”

On his involvement in the Bees’ first goal, Damsgaard added: “I just try to create chances – that’s one of my roles in the team – and I got a little bit fortunate with that one! But we take that and it helped us get the win today.

“I tried to give everything in the 50-50 battles and, on the ball, avoid the tackles and try to get around them and create chances.”