Keane Lewis-Potter scored as Brentford beat Colchester United 1-0 to secure a Carabao Cup third round tie against Leyton Orient.
Lewis-Potter scored just before half-time when he slotted home from close range after Kevin Schade found him in the box. Hákon Valdimarsson saved Jack Payne’s penalty in the 81st minute after Frank Onyeka brought down Mandela Egbo in the box.
Thomas Frank made nine changes to the team that lost to Liverpool on Sunday.
Fábio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg, both signed from Liverpool this month, started at the JobServe Community Stadium, as did defender Ben Mee for the first time since February.
Ryan Trevitt, who made his professional debut against Colchester two years ago, was selected as right-back.
The hosts had the first chance. Aaron Donnelly’s long throw-in into the box set the tone for the U’s direct approach in the opening stages and Valdimarsson went down after a hard tackle from Ben Goodliffe.
Tom Hopper was the quickest to react in the scrum, grabbed the loose ball and shot it hard and flat towards goal, but his attempt went straight at the Bees goalkeeper who was on the ground.
On the other side, Schade sprinted to the near post and headed a corner from Carvalho just wide.
Midway through the first half, Trevitt took a clever high pass from Mikkel Damsgaard and passed the ball back to Carvalho in the six-yard box. Goodliffe intervened at the last second and Onyeka’s follow-up shot was blocked.
In the 34th minute, a quick corner routine involving Carvalho and Trevitt resulted in Trevitt sending a cross into the box. Lewis-Potter was the one to touch the ball, but his header went wide of the far post.
The Bees finished the half in front, dominating the game and patiently trying to score.
Carvalho exchanged passes with Lewis-Potter on the edge of the box and his low shot from 18 yards was easily saved by Matt Macey.
Frank’s side took the lead in the final minute of the first 45 minutes. Trevitt played a long ball into the middle and U’s defender Donnelly, who had positioned himself between Schade and the goal, went down gently.
The referee rightly allowed play to continue, leaving the German to pass to Lewis-Potter, who faked a shot to bring down Rob Hunt before slotting the ball into the empty net.
Carvalho’s weak attempt was intercepted by Macey in the closing stages of the half.
Shortly after the restart, Lewis-Potter and Carvalho went on a quick solo run. Schade passed the ball to Trevitt on the edge of the penalty area and the B-team graduate’s direct shot flew over the bar.
Colchester were surprised by a clever free kick, but Macey made a wide move and parried from close range against Schade.
The speculative attempt by substitute Jack Payne was then saved by Valdimarsson.
In the 81st minute, Mandela Egbo provoked a foul by Onyeka in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Jack Payne opted for a shot through the middle and Valdimarsson made an excellent save with his trailing leg.
Lewis-Potter’s devilish cross narrowly eluded the stooping Yoane Wissa and the Bees seemed to heed their warning and decide the game.
After a clever move to the right, Macey quickly left his goal, narrowed the angle and stopped Myles Peart-Harris’ shot in the fourth of seven extra minutes.
Then Nathan Collins headed the ball just inches past Macey’s right post after capitalising on an inside-kick from Mathias Jensen.
The Bees’ reward for their victory in Essex is a third round tie against Leyton Orient at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Colchester United: Macey; Hunt (Egbo HT), Goodliffe, Iandolo (Gordon HT); Woodyard (Payne HT); Anderson (Edwards 62), Donnelly, Read, Oni (Tovide 66); Hopper, Ihionvien
Unused substitutes: Smith, Bendle, Thorn, Terry
Brentford – Statistics & current form Valdimarsson; Trevitt, van den Berg, Mee, Janelt (Collins 73); Onyeka (Konak 89), Yarmoliuk; Damsgaard (Jensen 73), Carvalho (Peart-Harris 84), Lewis-Potter; Too bad (Wissa 73)
Unused substitutes: Cox, Roerslev, Ji-soo, Morgan
