Brentford 2-1 Cardiff City: Watkins helps Brentford overcome Cardiff
- Published
Ollie Watkins' header proved the difference for Brentford against Cardiff
Brentford leapfrogged Cardiff into seventh in the Championship table as Neil Harris suffered his first defeat as Bluebirds manager.
Cardiff arrived on a three-match winning run but fell behind when Bryan Mbeumo struck with a left-foot shot after being teed up by Said Benrahma.
Benrahma was again involved heavily for the Bees' second as Ollie Watkins was allowed a free header back across goal.
Marlon Pack's long range pile-driver gave Cardiff hope but Brentford held on for a deserved victory.
Bees boss Thomas Frank had defensive duo Henrik Dalsgaard and Pontus Jansson back, after both missed last weekend's defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.
There was also a boost for visiting manager Harris, who had Leandro Bacuna fit despite the midfielder hobbling off in their win over Barnsley with an ankle problem.
Brentford started full of attacking intent and should have taken the lead in the first minute through Benrahma, who sent his close-range shot wide.
Mathias Jensen then wasted a gilt-edged chance as he burst through but shot straight at Neil Etheridge.
Marlon Pack pulled a goal back for Cardiff with his second goal of the season
The home side also had a let-off when Cardiff forward Tomlin's shot was deflected just past the post with David Raya wrong-footed in the Bees goal.
Brentford made the breakthrough when a loose ball was picked off and Benrahma, after beguiling the Cardiff defence with a couple of drag-backs, laid the ball into Mbeumo's path for a first-time finish.
It could have been worse for the Bluebirds just before half-time when Etheridge spilled a ball, but Curtis Nelson reacted quickest to hack clear.
Brentford emerged the brighter from the changing rooms and doubled their lead within a minute of the restart, with Benrahma again pivotal before Watkins was allowed a free header to score in the far corner.
Benrahma continued to torment Cardiff and it needed a flying save from Etheridge to deny the Algerian winger the goal his performance deserved.
Cardiff had struggled to mount any sustained pressure and it needed a special strike from Pack to get them back in the game, as the midfielder let fly from 25 yards after a free-kick routine.
Danny Ward could have grabbed an equaliser as Brentford struggled to clear a corner but he snatched at his shot to put it wide, while Tomlin also stung the fingers of Raya with a late half-volley.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank told BBC Radio London:
"The disappointing thing after going 2-0 up was we didn't control the game until the end. We need to do that better.
"We conceded from a free-kick and they threw a lot at us at the end. But I must praise the boys for that desire to defend with bodies and minds which we've really drilled into the boys.
"We weren't really that afraid of conceding, but anything can happen when balls are being launched into the box like that in numbers."
Cardiff manager Neil Harris told BBC Radio Wales:
"We threw caution to the wind at the end and went a little bit more direct, asked more questions and I think missed a couple of really good chances - one real sitter.
"But over the first hour of the game we deserved to be behind, we didn't play as well as we have done, our decisions on the ball at times were questionable.
"Too many of my players were off the standards they've set under me and Brentford are a good side, they can punish you."