Brentford halted a run of four straight defeats with a comfortable 3-1 win over Preston North End at Deepdale on Saturday.

Two quality goals in the first half put the Bees ahead and they never seriously looked like relinquishing all three points to a poor Preston side.

“It was crucial to stop a losing run, one which I don't think we deserved," said head coach Dean Smith.

"The result was very good for us.

"We had to weather that storm for ten minutes and I felt we could have managed that better.

"But first half we were very good. To go in front with a wonderful goal. Great ball from Yoann Barbet and a great touch from Judge to take him inside.

"Overall, I'm really pleased with the performance.

There were few chances of note in the opening quarter, with Brentford enjoying the majority of possession, but unable to create any clear openings.

The Bees took the lead midway through the half after winning a free kick right on the corner of the right hand side of the box.

Captain Jake Bidwell curled the ball round the wall and into the bottom left hand corner with the slightest of flicks off Greg Cunningham seeing it go down as an own goal.

The lead was short-lived, with the home side equalising a couple of minutes later after Brentford failed to clear the ball from their box and Adam Reach pounced to fire into the left hand corner.

Lasse Vibe latched onto an intelligent ball forward by Alan Judge, but his header failed to get up and over Sam Johnstone.

Brentford re-took the lead just two minutes before the break when a lovely cross-field pass from Yoann Barbet found Judge on the right, and after the midfielder drifted across the box he drilled a low shot past Johnstone.

Sam Saunders had a chance early in the second half after he exchanged passes with Vibe, but his shot lacked power and was easily taken by Johnstone.

Preston missed a good chance to draw level when Eoin Doyle fired inches wide of the right hand post from the left of the six yard box.

At the other end after Bidwell crossed from the left Vibe failed to keep his header down as the ball looped over the bar from six yards out.

The home side came close when Calum Woods shot was tipped just over the bar by David Button.

Preston had an even better chance when Jordan Hugill's faint touch on a shot from the edge of the box looked to have steered it goal-bound, before a stunning reflex save from Button denied him.

With ten minutes remaining the Bees gave themselves some breathing space when Maxime Colin's cut back from the right was met by Jon Swift, who's deflected shot found the back of the net.

Brentford: Button; Colin, Dean, Barbet, Bidwell; Swift (sub Yennaris 89), McEachran (sub Kerschbaumer 74), Woods, Judge, Saunders (sub Canos 78); Vibe.

Subs (not used): Bonham, O'Connell, Gogia, Hofmann.

Attendance: 11,080 (620 Bees)