Brentford 2 – 0 Rochdale

Dale's relegation battle continues as goals in either half from Brentford gave The Bees a 2-0 win at Griffin Park on Saturday.

John Coleman made four changes to the starting eleven that lined up against Tranmere on Tuesday night.

Marcus Holness was given his first start since January, while Kevin Amankwaah joined him in the back four after returning from injury. JLAA was also given the nod as was BBM. Edwards, Holden and Grimes were omitted from the squad altogether, while Temitope Obadeyi dropped to the bench. Sean McConville who joined Dale on loan from Stockport County on Thursday was named as a substitute

In a first half dominated by the home side, Brentford took a 1-0 lead into the interval after substitute Toumani Diagouraga put The Bees ahead on 32 minutes.

They had taken a grip of the match after an evenly matched opening period, applying pressure on the Dale goal.

During the opening 10 minutes of the match neither team could take control of the game, and struggled to get the ball down to play free flowing football. This meant the two sides failed to make much of an impact in front of goal.

Jean Louis Akpa Akpro did show his pace after three minutes as he fired a shot a goal after cutting inside from the left flank. The effort however failed to meet the target and went the wrong side of the woodwork.

At the other end Sam Saunders was through on goal on seven minutes, but struck an effort wildly over the bar without causing any threat to Dale goalkeeper Dave Lucas.

Skipper Gary Jones scuffed a shot wide from around 30 yards out before Brentford began to make their mark on the game in the final third.

With around a quarter of an hour played the home side began to get a foot a hold on the game and apply pressure on the Dale goal.

A Marcus Holness clearance on 16 minutes was met by the chest of Brentford's Jonathan Douglas, and Dale had Kevin Amankwaah to thank as his well timed sliding tackle stopped Douglas getting his shot away.

The home side were forced to make a substitution on 24 minutes after Adam Forsham received a head knock following an accidental clash of heads with Holness. He appeared to look groggy after being looked at on the pitch and was replaced by Toimani Diagouraga.

Despite the change it was Brentford who stayed on top and just two minutes after the substitution the home side again threatened the Dale goal, but were spared after Saido Berahino failed to hit home from around six yards out. He had been picked up out perfectly by Karleigh Osbourne who thread a long diagonal pass towards the frontman from his half. Luckily for Dale, Berahino tried to over complicate matters and hit the ball over the bar instead of taking his time to pick his place.


With the pressure building, The Bees always looked like the most likely to open the scoring, and they did just that shortly after the half hour mark. The initial shot from Clayton Donaldson rattled the base of Lucas' post, before substitute Diagouraga hit home from the re-bound to give Brentford the lead.

Rochdale did have the opportunity to test the home side's goal just two minutes later when Akpa Akpro was adjudged to have been fouled on the edge of the box. The set piece however was wasted as Jason Kennedy curled the cross up and out of play.

Brentford continued to keep a hold of the match, making Lucas work. Marcus Bean blasted a header directly at the goalkeeper, adding another on target effort to the their tally.

Dale did have one final effort of the half as Andrew Tutte fired over from distance in added time.

At the interval John Coleman made one substitution as debutant Sean McConville replaced Brian Barry Murphy.

He did bring energy to the side and Dale looked certainly looked livelier than they did in the first half without causing too much trouble for Brentford goal keeper Richard Lee.

Tutte had a go from distance, but as seen before the break it went wide of the target. McConville then looked to make his mark on the game but he perhaps took the wrong option. He decided to go it alone despite Akpa Akpro matching his run, and his shot from around 22 yards out went well wide of the target.

Although Dale were improved from the first half, Brentford were never far away and Lucas again pulled off some crucial saves.

A curling free kick aimed at Brentford's Osbourne, who was waiting at the back post, was palmed away by Lucas, seeing off the danger for Rochdale.

The save arguably kept Dale in the match, and at the other end Akpa Akpro and McConville both had half chances for the visitors.

Jean Louis broke away from The Bees defence and did have three Dale shirts waiting in the box for a cross. He decided to go it alone and struck the ball wide of the target.

Minutes later and the offside flag brought an end to a surge forward from McConville.

On 64 minutes Brentford were awarded a free kick on the edge of the area after Saunders was grounded by Jonah. His set piece was sent straight into the hands of Lucas.

Brentford continued to apply pressure, and had three corners in as many minutes, but Lucas again was on hand to see out the danger.

The home side's keeper who had very little to do in the second half, timed a run off his line well as substitute Obadeyi broke through on goal. Lee collected as the on loan Bolton man failed to control the ball.

And it was on 84 minutes that Brentford put the game to bed as Clayton Donaldson hit home give the home side a 2-0 lead. A left foot cross from Saunders was met by the head of Donaldson who headed home.

After The Bees' goal Dale threw everything forward and Tutte watched on as an opportunity went the wrongside of the bar and onto the top of the netting.

The game finished Brentford 2, Rochdale 0.