Brentford 2-1 Burton: Scott Hogan scores twice in hard-fought win

Brentford moved five-points clear of the relegation zone after Scott Hogan's double earned a 2-1 win over Burton at Griffin Park on Saturday.

Hogan gave the hosts the lead on 11 minutes when he latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Romaine Sawyers to fire home from 12 yards.

But the visitors hit back just before the half hour when Lucas Atkins beat Andreas Bjelland for pace down the right wing and squared for Jamie Ward to sweep home from just inside the box.

But leading scorer Hogan had the final say midway through the second half when he raced onto Josh McEachran's deflected pass, rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home from the tightest of angles.

The referee let a series of hefty challenges from a physical Burton side go and then disallowed a Hogan effort when he beat Ben Turner to the ball to a 50-50 ball to run on and fire home.

Hogan could have given the Londoners a dream start when he got behind the Burton defence and bore down on goal but his toe poked effort was pushed wide by 'keeper Jon McLaughlin.

Ward gave Dean Smith's side a reminder of the threat the Brewers posed on 24 minutes, when he angled a low drive just past the far post as the hesitant Bees defence stood off.

His equaliser came as no surprise to the subdued Griffin Park crowd, whose side move into 16th with their first home win since the end of September.

Minutes after the leveller, defender John Egan should have given the hosts the lead again but his powerful header from Sawyers' cross was saved at full stretch by McLaughlin.

Hogan thought he had grabbed his second of the game just before the half-hour mark when he chased down a lofted through ball and lobbed the keeper only to see his effort bounce back off the upright.

Burton offered little after the break but looked dangerous until the ball dropped in the box, where Brentford's defence were always first.

Jackson Irvine went closest for Albion with a sizzling low drive with 10 minutes remaining, but Button was equal to it.

Brentford pressed on tentatively but Nico Yennaris and Ryan Woods saw shots charged down by a resolute Burton rearguard.

Young substitute Tom Field almost eased the home fans' nerves at the end but his far post header from a Colin cross was bundled off the line by Turner.

Tempers flared in injury time as Lasse Vibe, who had earlier squandered a golden opportunity to seal the points with a heavy first touch, dived in on the big defender, sparking a 15-man brawl which saw the official hand out three yellow cards.