Bryan Mbeumo announced himself as Brentford’s new talisman with two goals in a 3-1 victory over Southampton, who finally scored for the first time since returning to the Premier League.
Ivan Toney watched from the stands at the Gtech Community Stadium as he bid a final farewell after signing for Al Ahli on Deadline Day while Mbeumo clinically gave Brentford their second win of the season and inflicted a third defeat on the Saints.
Aaron Ramsdale shone on his debut for Southampton despite being helpless in preventing their three goals. His best moment came in only the second minute when he had to smother Mikkel Damsgaard's close-range effort.
Despite the early scare, Southampton started quickly and saw Kyle Walker-Peters denied by Mark Flekken before Joe Aribo's flick header came back off the left post at the resulting corner.
Brentford began to get a foothold with Yoane Wissa spurning several half-chances until the visitors self-destructed. Centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis dallied on the ball deep inside his own half, having it poked off him by Damsgaard. Kevin Schade burst into the box and hit the left post but Mbeumo followed in to tuck home the rebound.
Southampton should have equalised in added time when a deflected cross came to the unmarked Adam Armstrong in the box and he missed his kick.
The visitors struggled in both penalty areas and only had themselves to blame for Mbeumo's second, losing the ball on the edge of their own box which allowed Mathias Jensen to tee up the striker, who calmly slotted home.
Wissa then bundled in the third after Vitaly Janelt had flicked on a long throw but Saints did at least end their goal drought when Yukinari Sugawara struck in added time.