Live Commentary: Brentford 0-1 Middlesbrough - as it happened

The second match of the weekend in the Championship saw another important top-six battle as fifth-placed Brentford hosted third-placed Middlesbrough.

Both sides knew that win would take them second for a few hours at least and it was Boro who ground out a slim 1-0 win in West London.

Read how it all unfolded at Griffin Park in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.

2.18pmAnyway, that's us done on this commentary. Thanks for joining us for what was an enthralling end-to-end battle between two of the top six. There's loads more live football today and we'll be covering Cardiff-Derby in around 10 minutes' time.

2.15pmBrentford will wonder how they haven't scored there as they fall four points behind second-placed Boro and five behind leaders Bournemouth. It could and maybe should have been four wins in a row, but one mistake has cost them.

2.13pmBoro extend their unbeaten run to eight games and follow up last week's stunning FA Cup win at Manchester City with a gritty victory at Brentford. They rode their luck at times, but it's now seven clean sheets in eight games for Karanka's men.

90+6 minFULL-TIME: BRENTFORD 0-1 BORO

90+6 minSAVE! Brentford almost get the point they deserve as Boro fail to clear the corner and Konstantopoulos makes a good save from close range. That should be that.

90+6 minSHOT! We're past the five-minute mark in added time but still we go on and Dallas has a shot blocked by Fredericks at the back post.

90+3 minIt almost opens up for the Bees inside the box, but they just can't break down the Boro backline. Gibson has been the standout defender for the visitors and probably the man of the match.

90+1 minFIVE minutes added on at Griffin Park. Plenty of time for Brentford to find a leveller and I think they deserve for their performance today. They've been much quieter in the second half, but they were excellent in the first period.

90 minBOOKING! Kike delays the taking of a Brentford free kick so is yellow-carded for being a nuisance.

89 minBRENTFORD SUB: Warburton takes off a centre-back for a much more attack-minded player as Dean, who made the mistake for the penalty, comes off for Tommy Smith.

87 minBORO SUB: Third and final change by Karanka as he takes off Bamford, who won the crucial first-half penalty, for Kike.

86 minBoro have now had as many shots as Brentford (13). The Bees have had one more on target with five testing Konstantopoulos.

84 minBoro are a little annoyed with the linesman as he raises his flag very late to bring a half to Bamford's break. It was the right decision, but the linesman waited until Bamford reached the ball before flagging.

83 minSIDE-NETTING! Some of the Brentford fans think it's in as Tarkowski wallops into the side-netting from a tight angle as Boro failed to deal with a corner. Will we see another goal today? It's ridiculous that there's only been one given the number of chances.

80 minBORO SUB: Second change from the visitors as Reach replaces Vossen. That'll see Bamford go through the middle.

80 minCHANCE! Tomlin blazes a half-volley over under pressure after Forshaw managed to dig out a cutback on the left side of the box. Boro are the more threatening side at the moment with 10 to go.

79 min

GOAL PIC: Here's Grant Leadbitter stroking the ball home to make it 1-0. pic.twitter.com/4L1abifik7

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 31, 2015

77 minBamford beats the offside trap and crosses to the back post where Forshaw quickly cuts it back for Tomlin. He tries to work a yard of space with a quick turn, but Bidwell watches the ball well and blocks his shot.

75 minBRENTFORD SUBS: Two changes from Warburton then, with Long replacing Gray up front and Jon Toral taking the place of Diagouraga in midfield.

72 minThe introduction of Forshaw remains the only substitution so far. As I mentioned at half time, this is Brentford's strongest and possibly most attacking available lineup. We might see Everton loanee Chris Long soon. They're starting to run out of gas.

70 minSo, just 20 minutes remains at Griffin Park and Boro remain one goal to the good. They are going second in the table, with Brentford set to fall five points behind leaders Bournemouth.

68 minBORO SUB: Forshaw replces Adomah to help Boro shore up the midfield with another central player. Tomlin will most likely go out wide. Forshaw gets a host of boos from the home fans after leaving them last summer.

66 minForshaw has been waiting on the sideline for some time to come on. How will the Brentford fans react to his introduction?

64 minAt one end Vossen's audacious flick doesn't trouble the keeper before Brentford charge back down the other end and have a shot of their own as Douglas's attempt is well-blocked by Gibson.

63 minBOOKING! Douglas is shown a yellow card for a horrible studs-up challenge on Tomlin. The ball was loose, but Douglas went in high and you could argue that he's lucky not to be sent off.

61 minCHANCE! So many openings! It's Brentford again with a chance as Gray cleverly uses his body to go past Omeruo. He advances into the box and could look for a teammate, but decides to go for goal and it's a weak effort that Konstantopoulos easily saves.

60 minSHOT! Woooooof, what a hit from Dallas! He cuts inside from the left and unleashes a fierce rising shot that only just clears the crossbar. Some hit.

59 minBoro are so dangerous on the counter-attack! This time it's Tomlin who surges forward down the right and eventually the ball reaches Vossen on the left. He pokes over a low cross and Leadbitter arrives, but can't get a good purchase on his prod at goal.

57 minMISS! What a miss! Boro should be two in front as Vossen gets in down the inside-left channel and sends over a well-weighted cross for the run of Adomah. The Ghanaian just has to get it on target, but he sidefoots it over from eight yards. Could be a huge moment in the game.

56 minSuperb defending from Gibson as he throws himself forward to head Bidwell's cross away with Gray waiting to pounce just behind.

54 minSHOT! Boro should cause problems on the break as Brentford go in search of an equaliser and that's the case here as Tomlin finds the run of Bamford and his low shot from a tight angle is pushed out for a corner by Button.

52 minCLOSE! Dallas with an outrageous first-time volley at the back post from Jota's corner that is sweetly-hit and whizzes just over the bar. Brentford have had a number of clever set-piece routines today.

50 minSHOT! Jota lets fly from about 25 yards for Brentford and it's a good low strike that Konstantopoulos can't hold at the first attempt but clutches at the second time of asking.

50 minThe attendance in West London is 11,853, with 1,662 travelling Boro supporters who have made the lengthy trip down from Teesside.

48 minCLOSE! Oh so close to a second for Boro as Vossen's flicked header goes just past the far post from Leadbitter's corner. Moments before the Belgian had an almost identical chance that was blocked in the six-yard box and Brentford didn't learn their lesson from the following set piece.

47 minA reminder that both sides have had two players booked so far. Button and Diagouraga for Brentford, Omeruo and Bamford for Boro.

46 minGray was offside when he received Douglas's header, but Hooper should have brought that back for a Brentford free kick as Omeruo was very late when challenging Douglas.

46 minKICKOFF! Boro get us back underway at Griffin Park. No changes from either manager at half time.

1.17pmIf you're only just joining us and want a quick recap of the first half, head this way for our half-time report.

1.14pmLooking at the two benches, you have to say that Boro have more firepower to bring on. As things stand, they don't need it, but should Brentford turn it around, the visitors can bring on the likes of Kike, Adam Reach and Emmanuel Ledesma. Forshaw will undoubtedly want to make his debut at his former ground as well. If he does come on, it will be interesting to see what reception he gets from the Griffin Park faithful after last summer's bitter exit.

1.11pmIt's clear from the stats that Brentford dominated the opening period. They had seven shots to Boro's five and got three of them on target. Boro's only shot on goal was the penalty from Leadbitter. Brentford have also had 57% possession and five corners to Boro's two.

1.09pmBy the way, we'll be covering the Cardiff-Derby clash live here on SM from 2.30pm.

1.08pmSo, as things stand in the Championship, Boro are going second in the table and piling the pressure on Derby and Ipswich, who play at Cardiff City and at home Wigan Athletic respectively at 3pm.

1.06pmWell well well. Middlesbrough were outclassed for much of the first half but it's the visitors who lead at the break thanks to Leadbitter's calm penalty just a couple of minutes before the interval.

45+3 minHALF-TIME: BRENTFORD 0-1 BORO

45+1 minTwo minutes of added time at the end of the first half. Can Brentford hit back?

45 minThat's harsh on Brentford, who have been the better side in this first half. However, they haven't taken their chances and one mistake has cost them.

44 minGoal number 11 for the season (eight out of eight penalties) as Leadbitter coolly slots home from 12 yards. Hooper had no choice but to point to the spot after Dean casually let a ball over the top go over his head thinking that it would harmlessly go through to Button, but Bamford was alert and raced in behind and got to the ball before Button, who brought him down. Definite penalty.

44 minGOAL! BRENTFORD 0-1 BORO (LEADBITTER, PEN.)

43 minPENALTY TO BORO!

42 minLeadbitter almost gifts Douglas a shot from close range as he dribbles towards his own goal and just about manages to slide it out for a corner.

40 minBOOKING! 2-1 to Boro on the yellow-card count as Bamford clearly tugs back Pritchard to put a stop to his venture forward. Stupid from the young forward.

37 minOdubajo again with some good tracking at the back post to prevent Adomah having a tap-in from five yards. Boro have come back into the game in the last five minutes or so since withstanding that Brentford barrage.

35 minCLOSE! Boro go close for the first time in half an hour as Vossen fires in a low cross that misses Bamford at the near post. Adomah arrives at the back stick, but he is well defended by Odubajo before Button eventually comes away with the ball.

32 minBOOKING! Adomah stays down clutching his ankle after a nasty lunge from Diagouraga, who is booked for the tackle.

30 minBoro do have by far the best defence in the league, but you wonder how they've still got a clean sheet today. Will it be clean sheet number seven in eight games for Aitor Karanka's men?

28 minBrentford win an argument as they get a corner even though it looked like Konstantopoulos may have kept the ball in. The resulting set piece doesn't come to anything, but it really does feel like Brentford will score soon. They've been excellent.

26 minClayton lucky to escape a booking as he slides in late on Jota, who sent himself flying rather theatrically. Hooper certainly isn't a referee to dish out rash yellow cards.

24 minBack come Brentford down the other end and it's almost a clear opening for Dallas as Jota's pass manages to beat Fredericks's attempted interception. I don't think Dallas was expecting it to reach him and he could only prod it into the arms of Konstantopoulos.

23 min"WHEY!" jeer the Brentford fans as Boro work a corner to Leadbitter on the edge of the box and he hilariously slices his shot not even into the penalty area!

21 minRight, 20 minutes into this game and we still haven't had a goal, but it's not for the want of trying. Both sides have had good chances - Boro through Bamford and Brentford through Gray, Jota, Tarkowski and Dallas. The hosts have been by the far the better side since the five-minute mark and will really wonder how they're not winning.

18 minOFF THE POST! We won't come any closer without a goal this afternoon as Dallas is found on the left of the box by Jota, cuts inside onto his right foot and drills a low shot across goal that Konstantopoulos tips onto the inside of the post. Fine save by the veteran Greek keeper.

16 minBOOKING! Omeruo into the book for his second foul on Gray. I don't think that in itself was a bookable offence, but after the first one Hooper had no choice but to caution the Nigerian really.

14 minSo both sides have had good chances now and it's Brentford currently in the ascendency after the last five minutes. The Bees have had 70% possession in the opening minutes.

13 minOFF THE LINE! Leadbitter is there to save Boro as he knees Tarkowski's hook from Pritchard's corner up, but not away. Tarkowski and Douglas challenge for the ball, but Hooper blows for a soft foul on Konstantopoulos. Keepers often get those decisions.

12 minSAVE! Instinctive fingertip from Konstantopoulos as he flicks Jota's rising drive over the bar. Pritchard fed a clever low free kick into the Spaniard and he somehow had time to take a touch and fire off a shot.

11 minToday's referee is Simon Hooper and he lets Omeruo get away with a cynical bodycheck on Gray, who was surging into the box. That could have easily been a booking.

10 minCHANCE! First real chance for Brentford as Pritchard swings over a deep cross after some neat work down the right by Jota. Gray pulls off Omeruo cleverly and has a free header at the back post. He's on the backfoot a little and can't generate enough power to worry Konstantopoulos and it goes wide.

8 minDouglas fails to take the ball past Omeruo in the middle, allowing the Chelsea centre-back to advance into the Brentford half. He gets his head up and tries to feed Vossen, but the Belgian was offside. Good, end-to-end start to the match.

7 minBrentford respond with a couple of really dangerous deliveries from Pritchard. Both were well-defended by Boro, with Friend and Omeruo making brave, powerful headers at the near post.

4 minFrom the resulting corner, Leadbitter cuts it back to Adomah on the edge of the box and he tries an audacious volley that bobbles harmlessly wide.

4 minCHANCE! Big, big chance for Boro to go in front and normally you'd expect Bamford to gobble it up. Vossen beats the offside trap and threads an inch-perfect pass into the Chelsea loanee, who takes a poor first touch to allow Dean to clear.

3 minNot much to speak of since that Pritchard shot. Brentford have enjoyed more possession, but they're struggling to get out of their half at the moment because of Boro's high pressing.

1 minBrentford were fabulous from the off at Norwich last week and caught the Canaries a little off-guard. They've started well again today and have the first shot inside 40 seconds through Alex Pritchard, who received the ball about 25 yards out and dragged a tame effort wide of the mark.

0 minKICKOFF! Here we go then. Brentford, in their red-and-white striped shirts and black shorts, get us underway at Griffin Park. Boro are in their all-white third kit.

12.16pmBefore kickoff we have a minute's applause to remember Brentford fans who lost their lives in the last year.

VINE | The two teams come out. https://t.co/lcauw80xj7 #BEESvBORO #brentfordfc

— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 31, 2015

12.15pmAs for Boro, they must not let their FA Cup heroics get in the way of their pursuit to return to the Premier League. Next up in the Cup, by the way, is a trip to holders Arsenal. They certainly won't be fazed when they go the Emirates given what they did at City.

12.14pmThe two teams have just came out of the tunnel, so kickoff is moments away. This is the first game of a massive month for Brentford as they host promotion rivals Boro, Bournemouth and Watford, with trips to struggling Leeds United and Charlton in between. Bees boss Mark Warburton will consider all five winnable games and if they can put together a good set of results, they really will be dreaming of the playoffs or maybe even automatic promotion.

12.12pmWhat a big day it is for Adam Forshaw. The midfielder completed a move to Boro from Wigan Athletic earlier this week and his first opponent is former club Brentford, who he left fairly unceremoniously last summer to link up with former boss Uwe Rosler at Wigan. It went ever so wrong for him there and he will be hoping to enjoy more success at Boro. He's on the bench.

12.10pmBut what do I know, eh? How about you? On our readers' poll on the match preview, Boro are favourites to record victory with 52.2% of the vote. 31.3% fancy Brentford, while 16.4% are joining me and backing a draw.

12.08pmPREDICTION: As you'll see at the end of the video, I can't choose between these two sides. Boro's defence is so stingy, but Brentford have been equally at the impressive at the back of late. Let's say a 1-1 draw.

12.06pmWatch below to find out what I had to say on this match a couple of days ago on the Sports Mole Sofa.

12.04pmLAST TIME: Brentford will be out for revenge today after they suffered a 4-0 defeat in the reverse in September - their biggest loss of the season.

12.02pmAs for Boro, they are unbeaten in seven in all competitions and in that run have kept a hugely impressive six clean sheets. They have by far the best defence in the league with just 18 goals conceded in 27 games.

12pmTaking a closer look at Brentford's form, the Bees have won three games in a row since exiting the FA Cup at home to Brighton. They have conceded just one goal in those three games, and that was a deflected shot at Norwich City last weekend.

11.58amThese two sides start the day fifth and third in the table respectively and a win for either would take them up to second for a few hours at least. It's a great chance to heap the pressure on the likes of Derby County and Ipswich Town, who play at 3pm.

11.56amThis is the second big game already in matchday 28 after another top-six battle last night between Bournemouth and Watford. League leaders Bournemouth went three clear at the top with a 2-0 victory at the Goldsands. Watford's cause wasn't helped by a red card to Gabriele Angella after 26 seconds! The Italian mistimed his tackle, but he was not the last man and a red card was extremely harsh.

11.54amIn come Dimitrios Konstantopoulos, Ryan Fredericks and Kenneth Omeruo for Tomas Mejias, Dean Whitehead and Daniel Ayala. Mejias and Whitehead drop to the bench, while Ayala is suspended after picking up his 10th booking of the season at the Etihad.

11.52amBrentford, unsurprisingly, name an unchanged side as they go in search of their fourth straight win. Boro, meanwhile, have three changes from last weekend's astonishing FA Cup fourth-round win at Premier League champions Manchester City.

11.50am

Kick-off is 30 minutes away at Griffin Park and the players are out warming up. https://t.co/7BHul2TfZ5

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) January 31, 2015

11.49amBORO XI: Konstantopoulos; Fredericks, Omeruo, Gibson, Friend; Leadbitter, Clayton; Adomah, Tomlin, Vossen; Bamford
Subs: Mejias, Woodgate, Forshaw, Reach, Whitehead, Ledesma, Kike

11.47amBRENTFORD XI: Button; Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell; Jota, Douglas, Diagouraga, Dallas; Pritchard; Gray
Subs: Bonham, Craig, Saunders, Toral, Smith, Yennaris, Long

11.45amMorning folks! The first game in England today takes place in West London as Championship surprise package Brentford host fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough at Griffin Park. With just half an hour until kickoff, there's no time to lose, so let's get straight to the two lineups...

Live Commentary: Brentford 0-1 Middlesbrough - as it happened

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Teams mentioned in this article :

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