Brentford 4-0 Carlisle United
- Published
Brentford gave their League One play-off hopes a boost with a thumping 4-0 win over seventh-placed Carlisle.
Two goals in four first-half minutes, from a Harlee Dean header and Sam Saunders' close-range strike, put the Bees in control before Saido Berahino added a third just before the break.
And on-loan teenage debutant Berahino found the top-right corner to make it four eight minutes after the break.
Brentford's win takes them to within five points of the play-off zone.
'Cheap' goals cost Carlisle - Abbott
Victory for Carlisle, who beat Brentford in last season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy final, external, would have lifted them into the top six, but they remain seventh, two points behind Stevenage.
Dean broke the deadlock just before the half hour, getting across his man to head home Saunders' free kick, with keeper Adam Collin stranded.
Saunders then stretched that lead four minutes later, firing home from a tight angle before West Bromwich Albion loan man Berahino came off the bench to register two quality strikes.
After volleying in from Shaleum Logan's right wing cross, he was on the end of a flowing counter attack to curl home a beauty from the edge of the box to wrap up the scoring.
The Burundi-born 18-year-old almost grabbed his first ever league hat-trick midway through the second half but saw his left foot drive flash past the far post.