Brentford win to stay in play-off race

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Reading 0 Brentford 2

Brentford can still clinch a play-off spot on the final day of the season after goals from Alan Judge and James Tarkwoski secured their first victory in five matches.

Judge turned in Andre Gray’s cross from close range to give the Bees a seventh-minute lead before Tarkowski (pictured) headed in the second after an hour.

The Royals did put the ball in the net after the break, having missed a number of good chances to equalise, but Chelsea loanee Nathaniel Chalobah’s effort was ruled out for offside.

Substitute Jon Toral smashed an effort against the Reading post late on but, by then, a victory that moved Brentford to within two points of sixth-placed Derby was already secure.

Alex Pritchard and Gray were a constant threat as the visitors looked to hit on the break, but it was Reading who had more efforts on goal before the interval.

The lively Chalobah had two attempts, flicking a near-post header at Button before firing over from the edge of the box.

And the Chelsea youngster will feel aggrieved at his disallowed goal on 55 minutes, appearing level with his marker when he turned the ball in at the far post from Hal Robson-Kanu’s low cross.

The game was put beyond the hosts when Judge’s pin-point cross into the six-yard box handed Tarkowski his first Championship goal.

Toral, who reinvigorated Brentford after coming on, was unfortunate to see his hard, low shot bounce back off the upright.

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Button; Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell; Diagouraga, Douglas; Jota (Toral 68), Judge, Pritchard (Smith 84); Gray (Dallas 68)
Subs not used: Bonham, Craig, McCormack, O’Connell.

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