Last updated on .From the section Championship

Brentford striker Neal Maupay has scored 20 league goals this season

Brentford consigned Queens Park Rangers to an eighth defeat in nine games as they outclassed their rivals in the west London derby.

Following a dour first half, Neal Maupay's cool penalty gave the Bees the lead after Grant Hall bundled over Ollie Watkins in the box.

R's keeper Joe Lumley saved well from Said Benrahma and kept out a header from Henrik Dalsgaard before Maupay was involved in the hosts' second.

The Frenchman beat the offside trap and rounded Lumley before squaring for Benrahma to tap in to an empty net, and Sergi Canos added a third in stoppage-time with a deflected effort.

Victory gave the Bees a seventh consecutive win at Griffin Park in all competitions and continued their upturn under head coach Thomas Frank, who was appointed in October after Dean Smith joined Aston Villa.

The Dane has now taken 24 points from the past 12 league games, having picked up just four from his first 10 matches in charge.

Brentford keeper Daniel Bentley was not really threatened until second-half stoppage-time when he kept out an effort from Bright Osayi-Samuel before Tomer Hemed headed wide.

QPR had ended a run of seven straight defeats with victory over Leeds in midweek, but that represents their only win in their past 12 Championship games stretching back to 29 December.

Steve McClaren's side drop a place to 18th and are nine points above the relegation zone, while the Bees climb a place to 15th.