Brentford are within touching distance of the Championship top six after a comfortable 3-0 victory at struggling Wigan.

Bryan Mbeumo struck esrly before second half strikes from Kamo Mokotjo and Josh Dasilva made sure of the win for Thomas Frank's side.

Both sides finished the tie a man light after Cedric Kipre seeing red for the home side while Julian Jeanvier was given his marching orders for Brentford.

Early Strike

The Bees took the lead with only five minutes gone.

Dasilva delivered a corner from the left-hand side, which Christian Norgaard was able to meet, unmarked, from six yards out.

Marshall made the initial save but Norgaard steered the rebound back to Mbeumo, who stabbed home from close range.

Keifer Moore had the best chance for the home side, but his long range effort drifted wide of David Raya's far post. 

Pontus Jansson somehow got back to deny Jamal Lowe a sure fire equaliser after the forward lobbed Raya.

The Bees skipper volleying up against the bar and off the line - with only the offside flag denying him the clearance of the season.

Brentford were comfortable and controlled the ball and kept Wigan at arm's length for the opening half.

Bees put Wigan to bed

Wigan came out for the second period with a spring in their step and Michael Jacobs had a low shot saved by Raya at full stretch.

The hosts went for it on the hour mark with a double change, throwing on Josh Windass and England Under-18 star Joe Gelhardt for Jacobs and former Bee Lewis Macleod.

However, a tough task became almost imposiboewhen Brentford doubled their advantage with 20 minutes to play.

Marshall did well to claw out a cross from Dasilva, but Mokotjo was on hand to rifle home from 15 yards.

And any chance Wigan had of pulling it back disappeared within three minutes when Kipre was dismissed for a second bookable offence, taking down Ollie Watkins in full flight.

The visitors then added salt to Wigan wounds with a glorious third goal with seven minutes to go, with Dasilva sending a magnificent strike into the top corner from 20 yards.

Wigan's misery was compounded in the six added minutes when Gelhardt had to be carried off on a stretcher having taken a nasty blow to the head.

In the melee that followed, Brentford's Jeanvier was sent off, with Williams of Wigan receiving a yellow card.