Brentford 0-2 Hull City
- Published
Goals from Andrew Robertson and Sam Clucas sent Hull to the top of the Championship with victory at Brentford.
Brentford had the better of the first-half chances, as Marco Djuricin twice drew saves from Allan McGregor.
Hull took the lead with their first real chance of the game, Clucas threading a pass through to Robertson, who fired home from a narrow angle.
Konstantin Kerschbaumer hit the post for the Bees, before Clucas's late goal secured his side all three points.
Brentford missed several opportunities to take the lead, as McGregor made two sharp stops with his feet to deny Djuricin an early opener.
Michael Woods also fired wide after a swift passing move, while Hull struggled to test the hosts' defence before the break.
Lee Carsley's side could not keep up the pressure in the second half, and the visitors took advantage when Robertson beat David Button at his near post to score his first goal since joining Hull in July 2014.
Kerschbaumer was unfortunate not to level shortly after, as his 20-yard effort came back off McGregor's left-hand upright.
And Clucas fired in from just inside the box to seal a fourth consecutive league win for the Tigers, who move ahead of Brighton on goal difference after the Seagulls' goalless draw with Sheffield Wednesday.
Defeat sees Brentford drop to 12th in the table, five points outside the play-off places.
Brentford head coach Lee Carsley:
"The first half was really good and we stood toe to toe with a side packed full of Premier League quality. We had three or four opportunities but didn't take them and you have to against a side like that.
"Hull got better and stronger as the game went on, but when you look at players like Tom Huddlestone, Mohamed Diame and Harry Maguire coming off the bench that's hardly surprising.
"We have to be realistic and remember that we have come a very long way in a very short space of time, but this is the benchmark we have to hit to have more games like this."
Hull boss Steve Bruce:
"Being top of the league has its own expectations. We are a big scalp as the bloke behind kept reminding me, but we are living up to it.
"It was never going to be easy and Brentford were the better team in the first half, so we really had to show our mettle.
"We needed to move the ball and pass it better in the second half for the quality to show through. After we made the breakthrough we had two or three opportunities to get a second but didn't take them."
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