Improved Brentford see off Rochdale

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Brentford 2 Rochdale 0

Brentford returned to winning ways, with goals from Toumani Diagouraga and Clayton Donaldson keeping their slim play-off hopes alive.

Substitute Diagouraga gave the Bees a first-half lead, firing home the rebound after Donaldson had hit the post.

And Donaldson sealed the victory seven minutes from time with a header from Sam Saunders’ left-wing cross.

Rochdale rarely threatened and the result is a major boost for Uwe Rosler’s team after three consecutive defeats in which they failed to score.

They were forced to make a 24th-minute change after Adam Forshaw limped off injured, but his replacement opened the scoring.

Jonathan Douglas picked out Donaldson and after the striker’s shot came back off the post, Diagouraga was on hand to net his fourth goal of the season.

On-loan forward Saido Berahino had earlier squandered a great chance for the home side when he missed the target after being found by Karleigh Osborne’s long ball forward.

Berahino was replaced with 10 minutes remaining by former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison, who moved to Griffin Park on loan from Sheffield Wednesday this week.

Morrison was given a warm reception by the home fans, but it was Donaldson who had the last word.

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