Bees move into play-off spot (From Your Local Guardian)

Brentford 2 Hartlepool 1

8:31pm Sunday 11th December 2011 in Brentford By Simon Webster

Brentford moved into the League One top six after this much needed 2-1 home win over Hartlepool at Griffin Park on Saturday.

After crashing out of two cups within the week, the players' response delighted manager Uwe Rosler: “I think it was very important after our run of home results and coming back from the two defeats in the cup. I thought the players responded today very well.”

Brentford had dominated possession and chances for much of the game, but for much of the game failed to find a way past a resolute defence.

Clayton Donaldson had an early chance when he took a pass from Gary Alexander but shot wide right.

Some neat build up play then allowed Sam Saunders to fire high over the bar from 25 yards, while shortly after the Bees played in Niall McGinn, who shot just wide of the left hand post.

Saunders' floated free kick them set up Alexander, but his header landed straight in the hands of Hartlepool keeper Scott Flinders.

McGinn threatened again when he burst into the box and fired into the side-netting.

Hartlepool created few clear chances, although Andy Monkhouse's shot was held by Richard Lee.

The visitors has a double chance midway through the second half when Gary Liddle broke down the right and Shaleum Logan made an excellent tackle to just deny Monkhouse six yards out, before Monkhouse's corner was headed over the bar by Adam Boyd.

The game changed with ten minutes remaining when Flinders inexplicably allowed a speculative lob from McGinn to slip through his fingers and into the back of the net.

However, the Bees failed to hold onto their lead for long, when poor defending allowed Sam Collins to drill the ball home from 25 yards out three minutes later.

Yet Brentford continued to press and only two minutes later, after Toumani Diagouraga was fouled inside the box, Alexander saw his penalty saved but he buried the follow up to give his side a much needed three points.

Brentford: Lee, Logan, Dean, Legge, Bidwell; Saunders (sub Bean 86), Douglas, Diagouraga, McGinn; Donaldson, Alexander

Subs: Eger, Weston, Oyeleke, Grella

Attendance: 6352

Man of the Match: Clayton Donaldson

Goals: McGinn 80, Alexander 85 (pen)