Match ends, Brentford 2, MK Dons 0.
BrentfordBrentford2MK DonsMilton Keynes Dons0
Dean Smith's first game in charge of Brentford ended with a comfortable win over Championship strugglers MK Dons.
The opening goal came when Alan Judge and Jake Bidwell combined for Lasse Vibe to head home the latter's cross for his sixth of the season.
The Bees should have extended their lead but Judge, Sergi Canos and Vibe all saw efforts hit the woodwork.
The points were secured when Judge's volley found its way through a host of bodies to hit the net.
Victory for Brentford lifted them up to 10th, while the Dons dropped to 20th, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
Dean Bowditch had the game's first effort on target on a blustery afternoon at Griffin Park, but David Button in the Brentford goal kept it out.
That sparked the hosts into life and a fast counter-attack saw Vibe head the first goal of Smith's reign.
The Bees should have been home and dry before the break as first Judge was brilliantly denied by David Martin and then Vibe headed straight at the MK Dons keeper.
Judge's brilliant free-kick struck the woodwork and Konstantin Kerschbaumer had an effort blocked on the line by Anthony Kay as the hosts continued to pile on the pressure.
Brentford, with a strong wind at their backs, continued to create chances as Canos saw an effort come back off the crossbar before Vibe saw an effort ruled out for offside.
The second half continued in much the same vein as the first as Vibe cracked a long-range shot off the crossbar and Judge fired over from seven yards.
The visitors offered only a couple of Nicky Maynard efforts in reply before Judge's volley 20 minutes from time, his seventh of the season, capped a dominant display.
Brentford extended their recent good run of form to six wins in their past nine games, while MK Dons have now gone nine league games without an away win, their longest winless streak on the road since 2006.
Brentford manager Dean Smith:
"I'd like to think we made them look poor by the way we played but only time will tell on that score.
"I've told the boys that it's all about the performance. Get that right and results usually follow. Today's performance was excellent.
"I have inherited a hard-working bunch of lads who all want to improve and much of that result is a credit to the work Lee Carsley has done. I've only been here two days."
MK Dons boss Karl Robinson:
"We were disjointed, had no energy, were second best in every area and didn't win a tackle or header. They have three weeks to stay in the club and that's not individuals, that's the whole group.
"For 20 minutes I thought we were the better team, then they scored against the run of play and after that it was pure domination.
"It was the worst performance I've seen from us this season by a long way. There's just no getting away from the fact that we were poor."
Line-ups
Brentford
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 27Button
- 28Yennaris
- 26Tarkowski
- 22O'ConnellBooked at 18mins
- 3Bidwell
- 15WoodsSubstituted forJotaat 80'minutes
- 20Diagouraga
- 47CanosSubstituted forSaundersat 67'minutes
- 18Judge
- 17Kerschbaumer
- 21VibeSubstituted forHofmannat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Saunders
- 10McEachran
- 11Hofmann
- 16Bonham
- 23Jota
- 24Gogia
- 29Barbet
MK Dons
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Martin
- 12Spence
- 5McFadzean
- 6Kay
- 3Lewington
- 8Potter
- 39PoyetSubstituted forCarruthersat 73'minutes
- 7Baker
- 9BowditchSubstituted forGallagherat 66'minutes
- 31MurphyBooked at 40minsSubstituted forPowellat 53'minutes
- 28Maynard
Substitutes
- 2Hodson
- 13Gallagher
- 14Carruthers
- 17Powell
- 22Cropper
- 23Benavente
- 38Hall
- Referee:
- Oliver Langford
- Attendance:
- 9,682
Match Stats
Home TeamBrentfordAway TeamMK Dons
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away7
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 2, MK Dons 0.
Post update
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Nico Yennaris.
Post update
Attempt missed. Darren Potter (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Daniel Powell.
Post update
Attempt missed. Daniel Powell (MK Dons) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Samir Carruthers.
Post update
Foul by Philipp Hofmann (Brentford).
Post update
Kyle McFadzean (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Philipp Hofmann replaces Lasse Vibe.
Post update
Sam Saunders (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Daniel Powell (MK Dons).
Post update
Attempt missed. Jake Bidwell (Brentford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Sam Saunders.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Jota replaces Ryan Woods.
Post update
Offside, Brentford. Jack O'Connell tries a through ball, but Alan Judge is caught offside.
Post update
Offside, MK Dons. David Martin tries a through ball, but Sam Gallagher is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Nicky Maynard (MK Dons) right footed shot from long range on the left is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Samir Carruthers.
Post update
Foul by Sam Saunders (Brentford).
Post update
Samir Carruthers (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Samir Carruthers replaces Diego Poyet.
Post update
Foul by Nico Yennaris (Brentford).
Post update
Daniel Powell (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
