Brentford 0-1 Middlesbrough

Brentford missed the chance to climb into the automatic promotion places when they slipped to defeat against high-flying Middlesbrough.

Grant Leadbitter grabbed the only goal of the game from the penalty spot on 43 minutes after David Button had brought down Patrick Bamford.

Brentford dominated the first half, but failed to take their chances as the visitors went in ahead at the break.

Andre Gray headed wide when he should have done better, while Jota and Stuart Dallas were both denied by Boro keeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.

The home side were made to pay when Aitor Karanka’s side broke the deadlock against the run of play just before the break.

Harlee Dean allowed Ben Gibson’s long pass forward to run through, and Bamford raced in to round Button, who hauled down the Chelsea loanee in the box.

The Brentford keeper escaped with a booking, but Leadbitter stepped up to slot home the spot-kick and give the visitors a half-time lead.

Jake Bidwell jumps for the ball with Middlesbrough's Patrick Bamford

Things almost went from bad to worse for the Bees after the break, only for Button to claw away Jelle Vossen’s goal-bound header.

Dallas fired a volley inches over and Gray shot tamely at Konstantopoulos as the home side pushed for a leveller, while Albert Adomah blazed over at the other end.

Jonathan Douglas almost rescued a point at the death, but Konstantopoulos pushed away his shot as Boro held on for a hard-fought win in west London.

Bees: Button, Odubajo, Dean (Smith 88), Tarkowski, Bidwell, Diagouraga (Toral 75), Douglas, Pritchard, Dallas, Jota, Gray (Long 75).

Subs (not used): Bonham, Craig, Saunders, Yennaris.