Brentford fourth after crushing Reading

Brentford 4 Reading 1

Josh Clarke and Maxime Colin scored their first goals for Brentford as they enjoyed another thumping win at Griffin Park.

Lasse Vibe was also on target and Yann Kermorgant pulled a goal back for Reading with a penalty before Scott Hogan netted the Bees’ fourth.

It was another impressive display by Dean Smith’s side, who thrashed Preston 5-0 in their previous home match and are now fourth in the Championship table.

Reading were stiffer opposition and went close to taking the lead when George Evans headed former Bees loanee John Swift’s free-kick against the bar on 38 minutes.

Five minutes later, the home side were 2-0 up.

The opening goal was beauty, with Clarke rounding off a lovely move.

Romaine Sawyers played the ball in from the right, Hogan’s dummy fooled the Reading defence and Vibe then steered the ball into the path of youngster Clarke, who applied the finish.

And Brentford doubled their lead when Hogan cleverly pulled the ball back from the left for Vibe to score his second goal of the season.

Reading remained a threat and would have pulled a goal back before half-time had Dan Bentley produced a fine save to keep out Roy Beerens’ shot.

The visitors went close again soon after the restart when John Egan cleared Kermogrant’s header off the line.

But Brentford were soon on the front foot again and keeper Ali Al-Habsi kept out two shots from Hogan but was unable to rescue his side when the visitors failed to deal with a ball in from the left and Colin blasted home.

To their credit, Reading battled on and Callum Harriott fired against the Brentford post before Kermorgant scored from the spot after Nico Yennaris had fouled Stephen Quinn in the box.

But Hogan sealed Brentford’s victory with a typically composed finish five minutes from the end.

Josh McEachran, on as a substitute, found the striker with a precise pass and Hogan helped himself to his seventh goal of the season – and his 14th of 2016.