A professional showing from Tony Pulis’ Boro saw off a Brentford side that failed to make possession count.

Second half goals from Jordan Hugill and Marcus Tavernier put the visitors ahead before Alan Judge sparked hopes of a revival at Griffin Park that was not to be.

In a game where Brentford dominated the ball, the visitors were worthy winners, taking their chances when they came.

Immaculate Applause

After an immaculate and emotional minutes applause for Brentford technical director Robert Rowan who passed away aged 28 last week, both sides took their time to settle.

The first 20minutes was like a boxing match, both feeling each other out.

Brentford were happy to pass across the backline, and Boro were happy for them to do it. It looked a dangerous tactic from the home side and they were nearly made to pay on 25 minutes as a loose pass from McEachran was cut out and Hugill was set free.

Daniel Bentley was up to the task, standing tall and making a routine save that Hugill should have done better with.

The home side’s first real effort of note came from Neal Maupay. A 25-yard effort was fizzing under the bar but former West Ham keeper Darren Randolph tipped over at the 11th hour. As Frank’s side started to take charge the half-time whistle came at the wrong time.

Brentford started the second half as they finished the first, on the ascendancy but with little in terms of clear-cut chances.

Deadlock Broken

For all their possession and intent it was Boro who broke the deadlock against the run of play.

On 56minutes Bosnian Mo Besic clipped the ball into the box perfectly tracking the run of Jonny Howson who slipped it to the big striker who couldn’t miss.

Boro doubled his lead five minutes later, and it came down the right again. Dael Fry whipped in a cross and left winger Tavernier got infront of the his marker and headed the ball down and it bounced agonisingly over Bentley.

Maupay should’ve pulled one back but saw his header directed straight at Randolph.

Frank turned to Emiliano Marcondes and Josh Dasilva in search for a more attacking threat and it worked.

Hope

Judge picked the ball up from a corner and drove a teasing shot across goal that found it’s way in the far corner to trigger the Brentford faithful in to life.

Despite being buoyed by the goal Brentford failed to score a second. Dasilva came close, drawing a fine save from Randolph but Pulis’s side, well organised as you’d imagine, saw the game out in a typically Stoke, West Brom, and now Middlesbrough kind of way.

Middlesbrough go second in the league while Brentford sit in 15th.