Ivan Toney's 13th goal of the season in the second half proved lucky for the Bees as QPR, who finished with 10 men, were left searching for their first win at their local rivals since 2003.

Brentford took an early lead with a superb Vitaly Janelt strike from 25 yards before Lyndon Dykes gave the Hoops hope with an equaliser midway through the first half.

But Toney's glancing near-post header just after the hour mark proved decisive and when Todd Kane saw red for a second booking late on, the hosts closed the game out.

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank hailed his side's resilience and intensity as they stretched their unbeaten run to seven.

"We got one of those wins that was tight, but we deserved it. We didn't reach our highest level in terms of dominating but we showed unbelievable attitude together with hard work and in the second half we gave nothing away."

Furious QPR boss Mark Warburton blasted the match officials for a pair of key decisions.

The former Bees boss was incensed that the hosts' centre-back Mads Bech Sorensen was not sent off for a last-man foul on Dykes before the break.

Warburton also slated referee Matt Donohue for dishing out a late second yellow to Kane as his side chased an equaliser, saying it only came because their bench "shouted the loudest".

"For the first incident our player was there, and it was last man," he said.

"There's no other decision to give other than a sending-off. That's one of the easiest calls and it's changed the course of the game."

Australian Associated Press