Match ends, Brentford 2, MK Dons 0.
Brentford 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons
- From the section Football
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:
Media playback is not supported on this device
"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:
Media playback is not supported on this device
"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
- 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
- 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
Full Time
Second Half ends, Brentford 2, MK Dons 0.
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Nico Yennaris.
Attempt missed. Darren Potter (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Daniel Powell.
Attempt missed. Daniel Powell (MK Dons) right footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Samir Carruthers.
Foul by Philipp Hofmann (Brentford).
Kyle McFadzean (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Philipp Hofmann replaces Lasse Vibe.
Sam Saunders (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Daniel Powell (MK Dons).
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.
Offside, Brentford. Jack O'Connell tries a through ball, but Alan Judge is caught offside.
Offside, MK Dons. David Martin tries a through ball, but Sam Gallagher is caught offside.
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.
Foul by Sam Saunders (Brentford).
Samir Carruthers (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Samir Carruthers replaces Diego Poyet.
Foul by Nico Yennaris (Brentford).
Daniel Powell (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Brentford 2, MK Dons 0. Alan Judge (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner following a corner.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Carl Baker.
Attempt blocked. Jake Bidwell (Brentford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Tarkowski.
Sam Saunders (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Dean Lewington (MK Dons).
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Carl Baker.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Brentford. Sam Saunders replaces Sergi Canos because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Sam Gallagher replaces Dean Bowditch.
Delay in match Sergi Canos (Brentford) because of an injury.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Jordan Spence.
Attempt blocked. Lasse Vibe (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Toumani Diagouraga.
Attempt missed. Konstantin Kerschbaumer (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Lasse Vibe.
Alan Judge (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Diego Poyet (MK Dons).
Attempt saved. Alan Judge (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Konstantin Kerschbaumer.
Attempt missed. Alan Judge (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high following a corner.
Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Diego Poyet.
Foul by Sergi Canos (Brentford).
Dean Lewington (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.