Lasse Vibe and Jota both scored twice to boost Brentford’s chances of a top-10 finish as they thrashed Derby at Griffin Park.
Danish forward Vibe took his recent tally to six goals in five games, while Jota also scored twice to earn the Bees a resounding victory.
Brentford were on top from the first whistle, producing a string of flowing moves as Jota, Sergi Canos and Harlee Dean all went close.
Goalkeeper Scott Carson came to Derby’s rescue twice, parrying a Jota attempt and flinging himself low to his right after team-mate Chris Baird had sliced Josh Clarke’s cross towards goal.
The only brief flicker of danger came midway through the first half when Craig Bryson played David Nugent through, but Dan Bentley was quick off his line to save with his legs.
But the Bees’ breakthrough arrived on 32 minutes as they prised the Derby defence apart and Jota’s deflected drive sat up perfectly for Vibe to stab home.
Derby improved after making two changes at half-time and might well have been awarded a penalty when Rico Henry appeared to handle Marcus Olsson’s cross.
Bentley denied Johnny Russell in the aftermath of that incident, but the Rams continued to press – and it came against the run of play when Brentford doubled their lead 20 minutes from time.
Romaine Sawyers combined with Clarke on the right and Jota unleashed a left-footed drive that went in off the post.
Sawyers was involved again 10 minutes later as Vibe rifled his second from the edge of the box – and Jota added his now customary injury-time goal, weaving his way through the defence to slot home.
Brentford: Bentley; Clarke, Dean, Barbet, Henry; Sawyers (Kerschbaumer 84), Woods (McCormack 71), Yennaris; Jota, Vibe, Canos (Jozefzoon 71).
This post was last modified on 14/04/2017