Former Arsenal youngster scores unwanted hat-trick in worst full Premier League debut in history

Ipswich Town defender Harry Clarke endured a nightmare outing on his first Premier League start in a dramatic defeat at Brentford.

The Arsenal academy graduate was included in Kieran McKenna's starting XI for the trip to west London, and things were looking good. the tractor boys they went 2-0 up in 31 minutes.

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However, they were at the level of Brentford At half-time, Yoane Wissa reduced the deficit and Clarke scored an own goal in added time.

Early in the second half, the hosts were awarded a controversial penalty after the Ipswich right-back fouled Keane Lewis-Potter.

Bryan Mbeumo scored from the spot before the visitors' afternoon got even worse when Clarke was sent off for a second yellow card.

That made him only the second first division player who once scored an own goal, conceded a penalty and was sent off in just one game.

The first to do so was Jan Bednarek with Southampton in their 9-0 win over Manchester United in the 2020/21 season.

However, Clarke is the first to do so on his full debut in football's top flight.

In a rollercoaster match, Ipswich looked to be heading towards their first win of the season in all competitions when they took a two-goal lead after the first half hour.

Sammie Szmodics scored after receiving a pass from George Hirst, who scored his team's second of the day moments later with a composed finish.

However, their hard work was undone in just two minutes of play as half-time approached with a low shot from Wissa and an own goal from Clarke.

Mbeumo's penalty early in the second half put Brentford ahead for the first time in the match and was followed by Clarke's red card.

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However, with four minutes remaining it looked like ten-man Ipswich had grabbed a point on the way through Liam Delap's finish.

But a lack of concentration by goalkeeper Arijanet Muric allowed Mbeumo's ball inside the area to sneak in for a dramatic winning goal.

The fatal blow came in the sixth minute of stoppage time, before Delap came agonizingly close to equalising, only for his wicked shot to crash just outside the far post.

That meant Ipswich suffered their fifth Premier League defeat of the season at full-time, despite scoring three away goals.

After nine games played, they are one of four teams that have yet to achieve a victory in the top flight for the 2024/25 campaign.

They remain one point above the relegation zone but will drop into the bottom three if Crystal Palace draw against Tottenham on Sunday.

Brentford's latest victory has placed them in ninth place in the table with 13 points and just three of the European qualifying places.

Thomas Frank's side are also the second top scorers in the Premier League alongside Spurs with 18 goals.