Brentford produced their second win on the trot for new manager Martin Allen as they survived a second-half siege against a lack-lustre Hartlepool to secure a 2-1 victory.
Brentford took the lead in the game's first real attack on two minutes, when Steve Hunt fed Jay Tabb and the little striker raced past two static defenders before hammering his shot into the roof of the net from just inside the area.
Hunt later had a goal disallowed after home keeper Jim Provett was fouled, and on 19 minutes Hartlepool were inches from an equaliser when full-back Hugh Robertson curled in a 25-yard shot that bounced off the top of the bar before going behind.
But there was worse to come for the home team, and on 32 minutes Brentford doubled their lead, Michael Dobson's 15-yard downward header after a corner sneaking through a packed six-yard box and over the line.
But five minutes later Hartlepool pulled one back, Ritchie Humphreys and Joel Porter setting up Adam Boyd to curl a brilliant 20-yard shot into the far corner from the left of the area.
That set up a siege on the Bees goal, and only a brilliant save from Alan Julian kept out a shot from top scorer Eifion Williams as half-time approached.
In the second half it was all Hartlepool, but they could not create chances and only a brilliant double save from Provett on 69 minutes kept the game alive as he stopped shots from Dobson and sub Andy Frampton.
Brentford boss Martin Allen was delighted with his players.
It was a great result and a very good performance," he said.
"I asked them for that sort of effort and I'm proud of the way they have responded.
"If we'd taken our first half chances, we would have been comfortable. But it was a bit hectic at times in the second half - though you expect that when we are near the bottom and they are near the top." Hartlepool boss Neale Cooper was as disappointed as Allen was pleased and said: "We conceded an early goal and then lost Michael Nelson through injury a few minutes later.
"We struggled to recover, then when we got on top in the second half we couldn't make it count."