Ollie Watkins bagged a brace as Brentford ennhanced their play-off prospects with a 5-0 hammering of Brimingham at Griffin Park.
Watkins scored the first and last goals as Florian Jozefzoon, Neal Maupay and a Marc Roberts own-goal compounded the misery for Championship strugglers Birmingham.
Brentford have lost just once in 16 league games at home and now sit 10th, three points from the play-offs.
The Bees looked dangerous from the start, and it took half an hour for the hosts to get off the mark.
Watkins let fly from outside the box and saw his shot squirm under David Stockdale.
The keeper’s day got worse as Jozefzoon left him stranded before tapping home just before the break.
Sam Gallagher almost pulled one back, only for Daniel Bentley to pull off an impressive save one-on-one.
Summer signing Neal Maupay helped himself to a tap in just after half time, and Brentford looked like scoring with every attack as the Blues’ defence crumbled.
Stockdale was again at fault as he spilled a shot and Maupay’s effort went in off the unfortunate Richards.
With ten minutes left, Jozfzoon picked out Ollie Watkins who converted an easy header.
The visitors are now just a point above the relegation zone having failed to score in 17 of their 33 Championship matches this season.
