Donaldson delivers Brentford victory

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Walsall 0 Brentford 1

Clayton Donaldson’s 27th-minute header was enough to give Brentford their fourth win in six league games under boss Uwe Rosler.

Myles Weston’s excellent cross enabled Donaldson to find the bottom corner of the net – the striker’s second goal for the Bees since his summer move from Crewe.

Brentford were the better side throughout and Sam Wood fired over before Donaldson’s all-important opener.

Rosler’s men kept the pressure on Walsall in the second half and Marcus Bean went close to doubling their lead, while Donaldson missed two chances to score his second.

And they were almost punished when Ryan Jarvis’ shot beat Brentford goalkeeper Richard Lee and struck the inside of the post.

That gave the Saddlers some encouragement and they rallied in the closing stages.

Darryl Westlake shot wide of Lee’s left-hand post and Claude Gnakpa had a late chance for Walsall but headed wide from Kevan Hurst’s corner.

But Brentford were deserved winners and their victory was sealed when Lee saved Alex Nicholls’ injury-time effort.