Donaldson scores as Blues beat Brentford

Brentford 1 Birmingham City 2

Brentford scored at home for the first time in 352 minutes of football but former striker Clayton Donaldson condemned them to another defeat.

Donaldson netted from the penalty spot after 14 minutes, having been brought down in the box by Bees goalkeeper Dan Bentley.

He then flicked on a David Cotterill free-kick into the path of Ryan Shotton, who converted from close range at the far post midway through the second half.

Scott Hogan guided a header in 12 minutes from time – the Bees’ first goal at Griffin Park in almost six hours of football – and he also had a late goal ruled out for offside as Birmingham clung on.

Blues had began on the front foot and went in front after Donaldson broke clear and was caught by Bentley, who was only booked.

Brentford improved considerably late in the first half, with former Manchester United keeper Tomasz Kuszczak palming behind a shot from Lasse Vibe.

The Dane then somehow passed up a prime opportunity to equalise – Scott Hogan had lifted the ball over Kuszczak but Vibe’s hesitancy as he tried to turn the ball home allowed Birmingham to close ranks on the line and somehow clear.

Dean Smith’s side began well after the break, with Kuszczak tipping a Vibe effort over and then denying both Maxime Colin and Hogan.

But Blues doubled their lead against the run of play and then sat back, trying to soak up more Bees pressure – Hogan’s header intro the ground was tipped over by Kuszczak and substitute Sullay Kaikai’s shot from an angle kissed the crossbar.

They were given hope when Hogan pulled one back, and the striker had the ball in the net again late on but was adjudged offside.

Brentford: Bentley; Dean, Egan, Bjelland; Colin (Clarke 70), Yennaris, Woods, Barbet; Sawyers (Kaikai 61); Vibe (McEachran 70), Hogan.
Subs not used: Bonham, Field, Kerschbaumer, Hofmann.