Clayton Donaldson helped Brentford get back to winning ways as they comfortably beat Rochdale 2-0 at Griffin Park on Saturday.

Donaldson scored his first goal in 12 games as the Bees recorded their first win in four against relegation-threatened Rochdale.

The game started slowly with an almost end of season feeling to it. Eventually the Bees got going and after a quarter of an hour a corner from the right was cleared to Adam Forshaw just outside the box, but he blazed over.

The on-loan Everton midfielder didn’t feature for much longer, after he was taken off with a suspected broken jaw.

A lovely long ball from Karleigh Osborne was well controlled by Saido Berahino just inside the box, but he shot over the bar.

Half an hour in the Bees were ahead after Donaldson’s shot struck a post and substitute Toumani Diagouraga tapped in the rebound at the back post.

Rochdale hardly had a chance of note during the first half. Just before the break a rare foray forward ended with Andrew Tutte shooting high over the bar from 30 yards.

Brentford forced a series of corners early in the second half, but couldn’t capitalise.

Sam Saunders then tried his luck from a free kick right on the edge of the box, but it was held by David Lucas.

Berahino threatened when he broke down the left and cut into the box, only to see Lucas save his shot at the near post.

The Bees eventually wrapped things up when a Saunders cross from the left was met by a classy header across goal and into the back of the net by Donaldson.

Brentford: Lee, Logan, Dean, Osborne, Bidwell; Douglas, Forshaw (sub Diagouraga 24), Bean (sub Legge 59), Saunders; Donaldson, Berahino (sub Morrison 82)

Subs (not used): Moore, Forrester Attendance: 4919

Man of the Match: Clayton Donaldson

Goals: Diagouraga 32, Donaldson 85