Brentford boss Dean Smith could not have been more delighted after seeing his side end their run of four straight defeats with a 2-1 victory over Burton Albion.

Scott Hogan had given the Bees the lead after latching on to a perfect Romaine Sawyers pass, before Burton replied against the run of play on the half-hour mark, side-footing a low shot through the crowded six-yard box.

The visitors, without an away win this season, started the second half the strongest, but it was Brentford who scored the winner when Hogan reacted quickest to an attempted clearance to round the Brewers’ goalkeeper, much to his manager’s joy.

“Our record here at the start of the season was very good, but in the last few weeks things have gone against us,” he said.

“You have to remain positive. Sometimes you lose games when it's not under your control. We should have beaten Birmingham and there was lots to remain positive about.

“I've seen all week a determination from the players to put right what went wrong last week. I thought they did that today. Chances wise, apart from their goal, I can't really remember Dan Bentley having to do much. I thought it was a fair result.”

After a slow start to the tie at Griffin Park, Burton had found their feet as the game progressed, and Brewers’ boss Nigel Clough was quick to point out double goalscorer Hogan as the reason for their defeat.

“Ironically the winner came during our best spell of the game when we had two or three opportunities, but as usual didn't put them away,” he said.

“The difference between the two teams today was the goalscorer. You can still play poorly and nick something on the road if you've got a goalscorer.

“Having got back to 1-1 they were a little bit nervy and if we'd have got a goal at the start of the second-half it would have been different. It was an opportunity missed to get at least a point.

“When you lose four on the spin you not going to sit back at home, we spoke about that all week but one or two ours weren't ready for that.”

Read more on Brentford each week in The Football League Paper