Half-time: Brentford 1 Leeds United 0

Sam Saunders scored his first Brentford goal in more than a year to put the home side ahead at the break.

The midfielder charged through the middle, with the Leeds defence backing off, before picking out the bottom corner from outside the penalty area to put the Bees ahead on 28 minutes.

Moments later, Brentford keeper David Button made a superb save to keep out Mirco Antenucci’s effort from distance to preserve his side’s lead.

Alan Judge, who Brentford hope to keep out of the clutches of Sheffield Wednesday, fired narrowly over the bar as he hunted his 13th goal of a prolific season.

Antenucci – who came on after 19 minutes for the injured Chris Wood – was denied a shooting opportunity by Harlee Dean’s challenge inside the box, while at the other end, Lasse Vibe fired well over.

Brentford named the same team which won 3-1 at Preston at the weekend, while Leeds opted against naming ex-Bees midfielder Toumani Diagouraga in their starting line-up.

James Tarkowski has again been left out of the Brentford squad as his punishment continues for refusing to play against Burnley earlier this month.

Brentford: Button; Colin, Dean, Barbet, Bidwell; McEachran, Woods; Saunders, Judge, Swift; Vibe.
Subs: Bonham, Yennaris, O’Connell, Kerschbaumer, Gogia, Djuricin, Hofmann.

Leeds: Silvestri; Wootton, Bellusci, Cooper, Taylor; Dallas, Bridcutt, Murphy, Cook; Doukara, Wood.
Subs: Peacock-Farrell, Coyle, Adeyemi, Diagouraga, Phillips, Carayol, Antenucci.