Charlton Athletic made it six wins out of six as they eased past Brentford with goals from Deon Burton and Lloyd Sam.
Winger steals the glory as Athletic remain undefeated
League leaders Charlton Athletic made it six wins out of six as they eased past Brentford with goals from Deon Burton and Lloyd Sam.
Veteran striker Burton and tricky winger Sam both combined for the two strikes to send Athletic three points clear of second-placed Leeds United.
Sam's goal on the half hour mark was the pick of the two after he finished off a patient move from Charlton and having been put through by Burton, the pacey midfielder let fly into the bottom corner.
Burton had already put the home side ahead early on as he side-footed man-of-the-match Sam's cut-back from the byline, and a deflection took it past Robert Elliot.
Brentford tried in vain to pull back the deficit and came close when a David Hunt curled freekick smashed the bar and Charlton desperately cleared the rebound.
Injuries
The Bees had further injuries to add to Ben Strevens' broken leg and Charlie MacDonald's shoulder problem as they were without captain Alan Bennett, sidelined through a groin injury, and left-back Ryan Dickson (knee) for the League One clash away to Charlton.
Athletic's Frazer Richardson was struggling with a groin injury, but manager Phil Parkinson included the defender into his starting eleven. Deadline-day signings Leon McKenzie and Luke Holden were left out of the first-team squad.
Charlton started off the better and soon made their chances count when Sam surged to the Brentford byline and pulled back an inch-perfect cross to veteran striker Burton.
The Jamaican coolly slotted the ball home, aided with a Brentford deflection, as the home side went 1-0 up with 11 minutes gone.
The Championship favourites continued to attack as Brentford tried to break up the league leaders' possession.
Jonjo Shelvey had a few half chances to double Charlton's lead, but he saw his efforts fire wide of the post and over the bar.
Solo run
Sam soon made it two in the 30th minute with a great solo run to finish off an impressive team move.
Burton put through the winger for his third goal of the league campaign for 2-0.
Sam Saunders looked lively for the away side, but his best effort in the second-half was comfortably saved by Elliot.
With ten minutes to go, Brentford were unlucky not to pull a goal back when David Hunt's sweet free-kick smashed against the crossbar.
Carl Cort had two fantastic efforts on goal as Elliot produced the save of the match to deny his diving header.
The striker then saw his late header sail over the bar from a Saunders cross as Charlton came away with the win.
