Brentford survived a late Cardiff City rally as they held on to win 2-1 at Griffin Park.

Bryan Mbeumo's neat first half finish and Ollie Watkins’s header seconds after the interval put the Bees in control before Marlon Pack’s fine drive gave the Bluebirds hope.

The home side were wasteful infront of goal as City will wonder how Danny Ward failed to equalise late in the second half as the Bees held on.

The result sends Frank’s men to within a point of the play-offs while Neil Harris’s suffered his first defeat in charge of the South Wales outfit.

Benrahma went close in the opening seconds, dragging his volley inches wide of Neil Etheridge’s post when perhaps he should’ve played Josh Dasilva in who as bearing down on goal.

The Algerian was in the mood.

Dictating play the Bees were well in control but it wasn’t until the 24th minute before they registered their first effort on target.

Some delightful link up play between Ollie Watkins and Benrahma released Matthias Jensen who could only fire straight at Etheridge.

The Bluebirds’ backline was breached minutes later however.

Benrahma’s dazzling run and through ball found Mbeumo who coolly slotted into the bottom corner to give Thomas Frank’s side the lead they deserved.

Going behind the visitors upped their game without creating much in terms of chances.

The Bees looked dangerous on the counter an should’ve gone in at the break two goals up but Ollie Watkins’s rebound was well blocked after Etheridge parried Benrahma’s long-range effort into his path.

Second after the re-start the Bees did get a second.

Mbeumo’s delicious delivery from the right was glanced o by Watkins to net his 13th of the season.

The visitors went in search for an equaliser and got their reward in spectacular fashion through Marlon Pack.

Lee Tomlin rolling a free-kick into the captain’s path to drill home from 25-yards.

With their tails up, Harris’s men went in search for an equaliser and they should’ve had it through Danny Ward but the forward struck his effort high into the away end after a scramble from a corner.

Brentford had chances through Mbeumo and Watkins to make the game safe but were wasteful in front of goal.

Tomlin forced David Raya into a fine save with minutes to go as Brentford looked to hold on.

Raya was called into action deep in stoppage time as he was forced to make amends for a short Ethan Pinnock back pass as the Bees held on for a win that sets them up perfectly for a festive push for the play-off spots.

TEAMS: Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Jansson, Dalsgaard, Norgaard (Mokotjo 73’), Jensen, Dasilva, Benrahma, Mbeumo (Jeanvier 83’), Watkins SUBS: Daniels, Thompson, Mokotjo, Jeanvier, Bech Sorensen, Hammar, Roerslev

TEAMS: Etheridge, Peltier, Bennett, Bacuna, Flint, Pack, Nelson, Tomlin, Mendez-Laing(Madine 60’), Ward (Paterson 80’), Hoilett (Murphy 23’) SUBS: Day, Morrison, Vaulks, Ralls, Murphy, Paterson, Madine