Derby County fell to a 3-0 defeat to Brentford at Griffin Park on Saturday afternoon.
It was a difficult afternoon for the Rams in their final game ahead of the first international break as they fell victim to three first-half goals.
Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins came in quick succession before Watkins added another in the final minute before half-time.
The Bees showed their attacking intent early. Inside the first ten minutes, Kelle Roos was called into action when Sergi Canos struck from the edge of the box, which the Rams stopper did well to palm away.
On the 17 minute-mark, Brentford won the ball back inside the Derby half as the Rams looked to go on a break. Richard Keogh blocked Watkins’ initial shot off the line into the path of Mbeumo who struck into the back of the net to open the scoring.
Less than a minute and a half later the host’s lead was doubled. Mbeumbo and Watkins found themselves behind the backline and Mbeumbo squared to Watkins who slid his effort into the far corner.
Opportunities were hard to come by down the other end, with the best chance coming for Derby on the half-hour mark to work out a chance. A brilliant ball down by Tom Huddlestone found Tom Lawrence down the left flank who beat his man to cross to Martyn Waghorn at the far post. He slid in to meet it but could only knock it back into the box and it was eventually cleared.
Minutes later and the Rams were in danger again when Benrahma got a shot from a tight angle in the box, drawing a good save by Roos.
The Bees’ third came just ahead of the break following a Brentford corner that Derby were unable to clear. An initial shot was blocked on the line, but went back out to Watkins on the left who fired in his second of the afternoon.
Duane Holmes came on after the break for his first Championship appearance of the season. He went into the right-back position as Max Lowe moved to the left to replace youngster Lee Buchanan.
Less than ten minutes into the second-half, Lawrence made a good run down the middle of the park before taking aim from the edge of the box, by the dragged his low effort just wide.
However, the Bees continued to look lively on the attack. Mbeumo was clear through and took the ball round Roos but was unable to get a shot so squared to Benrahma who had his effort blocked by Keogh.
Brentford: Raya; Dalsgaard, Jansson, Jeanvier, Henry; Norgaard, Jensen (Mokotjo, 73); Canos, Benrahma (Valencia, 83), Mbeumo (Zamburek, 78); Watkins
Unused Subs: Daniels, Pinnock, Dasilva, Forss
Derby County: Roos; Lowe, Keogh, Bielik, Buchanan (Holmes, 45); Knight, Huddlestone, Dowell (Bennett, 52); Waghorn Marriott (Paterson, 76), Lawrence
Unused Subs: Hamer, Shinnie, Clarke, Davies
