Last updated on .From the section Championship

Sean Maguire last played against Sheffield Wednesday in August

Preston moved into the Championship play-off places after goals from Sean Maguire and Tom Barkhuizen settled their game with Brentford.

Maguire, back in the side after missing two matches with an eye injury, opened the scoring when he controlled a Ryan Ledson cross and fired past David Raya.

Barkhuizen, who had a penalty shout turned down, settled the match when he converted Darnell Fisher's cross.

Bryan Mbeumo and Said Benrahma both went close for Brentford.

Maguire opened the scoring after just four minutes after Brentford failed to clear a corner.

The visitors were slow out of the blocks but did create a number of decent chances.

French winger Mbeumo should have scored when put in from Ollie Watkins' flick-on and Benrahma's 30-yard effort was batted away by Preston keeper Declan Rudd.

Rudd also saved with his legs from Ollie Watkins, while Mbeumo's curling effort landed on the roof of the box.

But Preston wrapped up the game with 20 minutes to go when Barkhuizen, who thought he should have had a penalty in the first half, was teed up after lovely interplay from Joe Rafferty and Fisher.

Preston manager Alex Neil:

"I think tactically they're probably the hardest team in the league I would say at the moment to play because of their shape, in terms of how you need to play.

"We wanted to play on top of them and force ourselves on to them, try and blitz them and get a couple of goals.

"I thought we should have done that. We get one goal, Billy (Bodin) also gets in behind three times down that side and we should have done better. I think that we were really brave in terms of how we set up."

Brentford boss Thomas Frank:

"I think that the best team won the game on the day. I think Preston were better than us.

"We didn't win enough duels and second balls, especially in the middle of the pitch. When we had the opportunities to create something, we lacked the quality on the day, decision-making and simple passing mistakes.

"The second half was better, but we were not up there to really threaten the game."