Birmingham City 0-2 Brentford

Ollie Watkins (number 11) has scored five goals in his past seven appearances for Brentford

Brentford stretched their unbeaten run in the Championship to eight games by beating Birmingham City.

Ollie Watkins netted their opener from the penalty spot after Michael Morrison brought down Neal Maupay in the box, before substitute Maupay got a second.

The Frenchman turned neatly and shot past Tomasz Kuszczak from 15 yards.

The hosts, who lost ex-Brentford full-back Maxime Colin to injury in the first half, remain 21st and two points clear of the relegation zone.

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Birmingham midfielder Maikel Kieftenbeld hit the post from 30 yards just before half-time but Steve Cotterill's side were undone by two late goals at St Andrew's.

Home goalkeeper Kuszczak had already made three saves from Lasse Vibe before he was finally beaten by the spot-kick from Watkins, who has now scored five goals in his past seven appearances for the Bees.

Blues have found the net only five times in their eight league games at home this season - the lowest total in the Championship.

Birmingham manager Steve Cotterill told BBC WM: "It was always going to be a tough game after the emotions of the Aston Villa game.

"In the first 30 minutes there wasn't a lot in it but at half-time we got in level and weathered a spell of pressure.

"Maikel Kieftenbeld had a fantastic shot, which if it had gone in, would've been a different game for us. I'm then not sure it's a penalty for them as I think Michael Morrison's got a foot on it.

"They kept going until the end and I can't fault their effort. We need that little bit of quality in certain areas to enable other players to relax a little bit."

Brentford boss Dean Smith: "Neal Maupay had gone unrewarded for an awful lot of quality and effort in terms of goals. He's scored all his goals coming off the bench.

"Lasse Vibe got injured (earlier in the season) and Neal was having to put in a real tough shift himself, especially as he's new to the country and the Championship.

"Birmingham were probably a bit fearful of how we've been playing. It needed something. We're eight games unbeaten now and we were playing better football earlier in the season and not winning games."