Brentford crash at in-form Rotherham

Rotherham 3 Brentford 0

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Brentford lost ground on League One leaders Wolves as they suffered their first away league defeat in more than five months.

Play-off chasing Rotherham, on a 13-match unbeaten run, took an early lead when Alan Judge conceded a penalty and Kieron Agard converted from the spot.

They then hit the post from a free-kick before doubling their lead on the stroke of half-time, with chief marksman Agard finishing a splendid team move.

Marcelo Trotta squandered the Bees’ best chance when he headed straight at the keeper and Haris Vuckic completed the victory in injury time.

It was Brentford’s first loss on the road since losing at Stevenage in October and allowed Wolves – who beat Colchester 4-2 – to move four points clear at the top.

The Bees began well, with Clayton Donaldson turning and shooting from the edge of the box and forcing home keeper Adam Collin into a save at full stretch.

But within minutes Brentford were behind as Judge brought down James Tavernier and Agard tucked away the penalty.

Adam Forshaw attempted an immediate response but his effort from distance was comfortable for Collin.

Rotherham almost grabbed a second when Tavernier’s free-kick thumped against the post – but it proved a mere stay of execution.

A superb team move from the Millers was finished by Agard, his 18th league goal of the season, to wreck Brentford’s hopes of regrouping at half-time just the one behind.

Agard could have grabbed the match ball on the hour when he got on to the end of Nicky Adams’s cross but the former Everton trainee headed over from six yards.

At the other end, Forshaw and Donaldson both drove over from distance and Trotta nodded straight at Collin when unmarked.

Substitute Vuckic, on-loan at Rotherham from Newcastle, added a gloss to the scoreline in injury time when he tucked home with his first touch.

Brentford (4-3-3):Button; McCormack, Dean, Craig, Bidwell; Forshaw (Yennaris 66), Reeves, Douglas; Donaldson, Trotta (Grigg 75), Judge (Adams 86).
Subs not used: Lee, O’Connor, Dallas, Tarkowski.

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