Brentford gave their League One play-off hopes a boost with a thumping 4-0 win over seventh-placed Carlisle.

Two goals in four first-half minutes, from a Harlee Dean header and Sam Saunders' close-range strike, put the Bees in control before Saido Berahino added a third just before the break.

And on-loan teenage debutant Berahino found the top-right corner to make it four eight minutes after the break.

Brentford's win takes them to within five points of the play-off zone.

Victory for Carlisle, who beat Brentford in last season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy final , would have lifted them into the top six, but they remain seventh, two points behind Stevenage.

Dean broke the deadlock just before the half hour, getting across his man to head home Saunders' free kick, with keeper Adam Collin stranded.

Saunders then stretched that lead four minutes later, firing home from a tight angle before West Bromwich Albion loan man Berahino came off the bench to register two quality strikes.

After volleying in from Shaleum Logan's right wing cross, he was on the end of a flowing counter attack to curl home a beauty from the edge of the box to wrap up the scoring.

The Burundi-born 18-year-old almost grabbed his first ever league hat-trick midway through the second half but saw his left foot drive flash past the far post.

Lineup, Bookings (1) & Substitutions (5)

Brentford

  • 01 Lee (Moore - 46' )
  • 14 Logan (Thompson - 77' )
  • 24 Bidwell
  • 25 Dean
  • 32 Legge
  • 04 Bean
  • 07 Saunders
  • 08 Douglas
  • 20 Diagouraga
  • 09 Donaldson
  • 29 Alexander (Berahino - 29' )

Substitutes

  • 31 Moore
  • 23 Thompson
  • 11 Weston
  • 18 McGinn
  • 10 Berahino

Carlisle United

  • 01 Collin
  • 02 Simek
  • 06 Murphy Booked
  • 19 Parker
  • 25 Michalik (Livesey - 56' )
  • 04 McGovern
  • 11 Thirlwell (Welsh - 46' )
  • 17 Noble
  • 21 Berrett
  • 10 Madden
  • 13 Zoko

Substitutes

  • 20 Gillespie
  • 05 Livesey
  • 07 Welsh
  • 12 Taiwo
  • 16 Cook
Ref: Bates
Att: 4,292

Match Stats

Shots

14 6

On target

8 2

Corners

4 4

Fouls

12 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:02 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

89:45

Sam Saunders has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

87:19

Francois Zoko concedes a free kick for a foul on Leon Legge. Free kick taken by Simon Moore.

86:58

The ball is swung over by Jake Bidwell, Close range effort by Clayton Donaldson goes wide of the left-hand post.

85:07

Corner taken by Sam Saunders from the right by-line played to the near post, Jon-Paul McGovern manages to make a clearance.

83:17

Saido Berahino sends in a cross.

79:39

Saido Berahino takes a shot. Adam Collin makes a comfortable save.

79:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Saido Berahino on Danny Livesey. Free kick crossed right-footed by James Berrett.

77:53

Shot comes in from Sam Saunders from the free kick, save by Adam Collin.

77:53 Booking

Booking The referee shows Peter Murphy a yellow card.

77:47

Peter Murphy concedes a free kick for a foul on Clayton Donaldson.

77:18

Unfair challenge on Ben Parker by Marcus Bean results in a free kick. Ben Parker takes the direct free kick.

76:02 Substitution

Substitution Adam Thompson comes on in place of Shaleum Logan.

75:22

Effort on goal by Saido Berahino from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

75:22

Effort on goal by Saido Berahino from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

73:54

Jon-Paul McGovern gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonathan Douglas. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Sam Saunders from left channel, save by Adam Collin.

73:07

Andrew Welsh takes a shot. Leon Legge gets a block in.

70:48

Francois Zoko fouled by Harlee Dean, the ref awards a free kick. James Berrett crosses the ball, Header from close range by Peter Murphy misses to the right of the target.

69:12

Andrew Welsh challenges Marcus Bean unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Leon Legge.

68:17

Jon-Paul McGovern produces a cross, Simon Moore makes a comfortable save.

67:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Patrick Madden by Marcus Bean. Liam Noble takes the direct free kick.

67:04

Outswinging corner taken by Sam Saunders from the right by-line, clearance made by Andrew Welsh.

66:55

Marcus Bean takes a shot. Blocked by Ben Parker.

66:22

Clayton Donaldson is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Peter Murphy.

65:05

Corner taken by James Berrett from the right by-line to the near post, Leon Legge manages to make a clearance.

63:10

Sam Saunders takes a shot. Blocked by Danny Livesey.

63:10

Sam Saunders takes a shot. Peter Murphy gets a block in.

61:38

Jake Bidwell fouled by Patrick Madden, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Sam Saunders, Adam Collin makes a save.

55:05 Substitution

Substitution (Carlisle) makes a substitution, with Danny Livesey coming on for Lubomir Michalik.

52:57

Clayton Donaldson provided the assist for the goal.

52:57 Goal scored

Goal - Saido Berahino - Brentford 4 - 0 Carlisle Saido Berahino gets on the score sheet with a goal from just inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Brentford 4-0 Carlisle.

50:45

Marcus Bean challenges Ben Parker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Peter Murphy.

49:26

Clayton Donaldson challenges James Berrett unfairly and gives away a free kick. Peter Murphy takes the direct free kick.

48:01

Corner taken by James Berrett from the left by-line, clearance made by Harlee Dean.

47:16

Patrick Madden takes a shot. Save made by Simon Moore.

45:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sam Saunders by James Berrett. Direct free kick taken by Simon Moore.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Carlisle) makes a substitution, with Andrew Welsh coming on for Paul Thirlwell.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Simon Moore is brought on as a substitute for Richard Lee.

45:00 +2:14 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +1:43

Paul Thirlwell challenges Sam Saunders unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Sam Saunders from left wing, save by Adam Collin.

45:00 +1:17

Jonathan Douglas takes a shot. Save made by Adam Collin.

42:51

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Thirlwell on Shaleum Logan. Free kick crossed right-footed by Sam Saunders, Francois Zoko manages to make a clearance.

41:11

Lubomir Michalik gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Clayton Donaldson. Free kick crossed by Sam Saunders, save made by Adam Collin.

40:06

The assist for the goal came from Shaleum Logan.

40:06 Goal scored

Goal - Saido Berahino - Brentford 3 - 0 Carlisle Saido Berahino grabs a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Brentford 3-0 Carlisle.

40:04

A cross is delivered by Shaleum Logan,

38:52

Saido Berahino is penalised for a handball. Adam Collin takes the free kick.

38:25

Unfair challenge on Saido Berahino by Frank Simek results in a free kick. Harlee Dean restarts play with the free kick.

38:04

Jonathan Douglas concedes a free kick for a foul on Francois Zoko. Free kick taken by Paul Thirlwell.

38:04

Jonathan Douglas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Francois Zoko. Paul Thirlwell takes the free kick.

36:48

Clayton Donaldson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Liam Noble. Peter Murphy takes the free kick.

31:33

Clayton Donaldson provided the assist for the goal.

31:33 Goal scored

Goal - Sam Saunders - Brentford 2 - 0 Carlisle A goal is scored by Sam Saunders from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Brentford 2-0 Carlisle.

29:35

Effort from the edge of the area by Paul Thirlwell goes wide of the left-hand upright.

29:35

Effort from the edge of the box by Paul Thirlwell goes wide of the left-hand post.

29:05

Shot from 25 yards by Liam Noble. Sam Saunders gets a block in.

28:20 Substitution

Substitution Saido Berahino is brought on as a substitute for Gary Alexander.

27:40

The assist for the goal came from Sam Saunders.

27:40 Goal scored

Goal - Harlee Dean - Brentford 1 - 0 Carlisle Harlee Dean scores a headed goal from inside the penalty box. Brentford 1-0 Carlisle.

26:57

Frank Simek challenges Jonathan Douglas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Sam Saunders crosses the ball,

26:14

Sam Saunders challenges Peter Murphy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Adam Collin.

23:58

Jonathan Douglas fouled by James Berrett, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Richard Lee.

18:27

Corner crossed in by James Berrett.

14:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Clayton Donaldson on Peter Murphy. Direct free kick taken by Adam Collin.

13:45

The ball is sent over by Gary Alexander.

12:55

Unfair challenge on Paul Thirlwell by Sam Saunders results in a free kick. Ben Parker delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, save by Richard Lee.

12:11

Corner taken by Sam Saunders from the right by-line played to the near post, Peter Murphy manages to make a clearance.

10:49

Paul Thirlwell fouled by Clayton Donaldson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lubomir Michalik.

9:45

Jon-Paul McGovern sends in a cross.

8:43

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by James Berrett from the left by-line, save made by Richard Lee.

7:53

Header from deep inside the area by Patrick Madden goes over the bar.

7:13

Jake Bidwell crosses the ball.

4:50

Header from deep inside the area by Leon Legge goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

4:20

Foul by Ben Parker on Marcus Bean, free kick awarded. Shaleum Logan takes the direct free kick.

3:30

Corner from the left by-line taken by Sam Saunders, Header from close in by Toumani Diagouraga misses to the right of the target.

3:27

Gary Alexander crosses the ball, clearance made by Ben Parker.

0:00

The game gets underway.

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