Half-Time Report: Brentford in playoff hunt thanks to Alex Pritchard

Brentford's hopes of promotion are alive as Alex Pritchard has given his side a 1-0 lead at half time against Wigan Athletic.

Marc-Antoine Fortune saw his rasping effort inside the opening minutes beaten away by David Button, who was then tested again by Gaetan Bong's long-range strike.

Bong's cut-back then found Fortune, who fired home from close range, only to see his effort ruled out after referee Andy Woolmer ruled that the ball had gone out before the left-back put in his cross.

At the other end, only Jason Pearce's last-minute intervention prevented Andre Gray from getting his shot away, before Mark Warburton's side took the lead in fortuitous circumstances.

The goal came when Pritchard's 30-yard free kick took a deflection of the Wigan wall and looped over Lee Nicholls and into the back of the net.

Billy McKay nearly grabbed a debut goal from Tim Chow's pass to draw his side level, but Brentford hung on.