Brentford claimed their first Sky Bet Championship win of the season as Ollie Watkins’ second-half strike secured a 1-0 victory at Middlesbrough.
Thomas Frank’s side were completely outplayed in the first half, with Britt Assombalonga coming closest to opening the scoring as he fired a low shot against the base of a post.
But the visitors produced a much-improved display after the interval and were rewarded when Watkins converted Sergi Canos’ low cross from close range.
It didn’t look like that would be the case for most of the first half, but while Boro had the ball in the net on two separate occasions before the interval, both efforts were struck off by the officials.
Fletcher was celebrating again 15 minutes later, but while he lofted home a lobbed finish after racing on to Daniel Ayala’s through ball, the offside flag had already been raised.
Brentford spent most of the opening period trying to contain Boro’s attacking threat, and Raya was forced into a fine save five minutes before the interval, tipping Johnson’s shot around a post after the winger dispossessed Ethan Pinnock.
Three minutes later and Boro were going close again. Adam Clayton released Assombalonga into the left of the box, but while the striker’s low shot beat Raya from an acute angle, the ball rebounded off the base of the left-hand post.
Brentford barely made it into their opponents’ half before the break, but the visitors were a different proposition at the start of the second half.
