Two for Maupay as Bees make perfect start

Brentford thrashed newly-promoted Rotherham, with Neal Maupay scoring twice and Ollie Watkins netting with a superb strike.

Maupay shrugged off a hamstring strain to start and twice found the net from close range after spillages by on-loan Fulham goalkeeper Marek Rodak.

Watkins – a transfer target for Premier League teams this summer – smashed home the third from a tight angle via the crossbar on 49 minutes after Sergi Canos had made it 2-0 before half-time.

Lewis Macleod scored only his second goal for the club in over three years when he finished low from inside the box for Brentford’s fifth. Zak Vyner scored a stoppage-time consolation for the Millers.

The Bees were superior to Rotherham throughout and went ahead after just four minutes when Watkins’ cross was poked at goal by  Macleod and Rodak parried to Maupay, who gratefully accepted the chance.

Fulham academy product Rodak did make some good saves, denying Chris Mepham from close range and getting a slight touch to Romaine Sawyers’ bullet that rattled the bar.

But Rodak was rooted to the ground when the ball dropped to Canos at a corner on 43 minutes and he rifled in.

Watkins’ goal three minutes into the second half was some strike.

He beat his man for pace before breaking into the penalty box and sending the ball home inside the near post.

Macleod scored the fifth with a minute of normal time left.