Brentford succumbed to their second successive home defeat when they were beaten 2-0 by automatic promotion hopefuls Cardiff City at Griffin Park.
The game got off to a dull start but on four minutes a corner by Graham Kavanagh was flicked on at the near post by Spencer Prior which was easily saved by Brentford keeper Paul Smith.
Two minutes later at the other end a Rowan Vine strike curled just wide of the post with Bluebirds keeper Neil Alexander beaten.
Ten minutes before the break an Alan Mahon strike was well saved by the home keeper, Paul Smith.
After the break the Bees came out with more purpose and on 48 minutes a Michael Dobson corner from the right was met by Ed Hutchinson and his close-range header flashed just wide of the right-hand post.
The visitors opened the scoring on 52 minutes when Mahon's free-kick was played to Kavanagh, his cross into the box from the right was met by Scott Young in the six yard box, whose header hit the right hand upright and rebounded into the net via the keeper's body.
After 69 minutes Cardiff almost extended their lead when Robert Earnshaw broke clear in the box, his first effort was blocked by Smith and following up his goalbound effort was cleared off the line by Andy Frampton.
Twelve minutes from time Cardiff scored their second goal when Earnshaw latched on to a Mahon throughball and buried a right-foot effort into the net from 15 yards giving keeper Smith no chance.
On the stroke of full time the Bees almost scored a consolation when a neat Martin Rowlands lay off found Matt Somner and his left-foot effort rolled just wide of the target.