Brentford 2-0 Leeds United

Jota (centre) joined Brentford on a three-year deal in the summer

Leeds United started life under new boss Darko Milanic with a disappointing defeat at Brentford.

James Tarkowski hammered a first-half penalty over the crossbar after Jason Pearce upended Andre Gray in the area.

Then Jota gave the Bees the lead in the final minute of the first half with a smart finish after neat play.

Home keeper David Button was forced into a fine save from a Pearce header before Alan McCormack scored with a deflected effort.

Former Sturm Graz boss Milanic was appointed the club's head coach on Tuesday but his new side were second best for large stretches of the game at Griffin Park.

Milanic's first game as Leeds head coach ended in defeat

Leeds were unbeaten in four games under caretaker boss Neil Redfearn but were largely out-of-sorts against a Brentford side that had conceded seven goals in losing their last two matches.

The hosts started more brightly and Moses Odubajo should have given them the lead after Leeds keeper Marco Silvestri had parried Alan Judge's free-kick into his path.

Tarkowski missed an even better chance to give the Bees the lead when he slammed his penalty over the crossbar.

Leeds continued to struggle and former Whites midfielder Jonathan Douglas was next to go close when his header was well saved by Silvestri.

Brentford eventually went in front just before half-time, when Spaniard Jota kept his composure to finish after good play from Andre Gray, Alan Judge and Douglas.

Leeds had scored eight goals in their last four games and Pearce came close to an equaliser when his header from an Alex Mowatt free-kick forced a good save from Button.

The visitors' strong start to the second half continued with both Souleymane Doukara and Mirco Antenucci going close.

Mark Warburton's side responded well to United's spell of pressure and Gray and Odubajo could both have doubled Brentford's lead.

Brentford eventually sealed the win when McCormack went through on goal and his heavily deflected shot wrong-footed Silvestri.

The result sees the Bees move up to 11th while Leeds slip down to 13th.

Brentford manager Mark Warburton:

"The intensity of this league is very tough and they are getting used to it.

"We were always aware of the threat Leeds posed but after 10 minutes we took over and, very respectfully, we dominated.

"We could still have been more clinical and probably should have had more but that's something that we will continue to work on."

Leeds manager Darko Milanic:

"I want to play offensively and we played with two strikers today but it's not enough if you don't have offensive thoughts.

"That first game at Elland Road will be very important for us. With support and energy we can make it.

"But I have to know individual players in the division better and I need time."