Last updated on .From the section Championship

Kasey Palmer's goal was his first since joining Blackburn on loan from Chelsea

Brentford boss Dean Smith criticised the Ewood Park pitch after seeing his side lose their unbeaten start to the season against Blackburn Rovers.

A game of few chances was settled 10 minutes into the second half when Chelsea loanee Kasey Palmer finished beyond Daniel Bentley after the Bees had failed to clear Elliott Bennett's cross.

Smith felt there had been a foul in the build up to the goal - and was unhappy with the surface.

"I don't think the pitch was conducive for good football," he said. "They'll probably put the horses out there later to graze.

"The defeat's a tough one to take. I'm not sure they created much at all. We didn't create an awful lot either.

"They scored from a bad tackle from (Richard) Smallwood on young Marcus Forss. Said (Benrahma) has stopped, probably in amazement that the referee hasn't blown the whistle, and they break through and score."

Brentford had the better of the opening half, with Benrahma's effort coming back off the bar. Rovers had goalkeeper David Raya to thank for a third clean sheet of the campaign, with the Spaniard making a smart save from Nico Yennaris just before Palmer's opener.

And Raya was on hand again to tip over Benrahma's dipping effort from distance shortly afterwards.

Defeat for Brentford was a first in the league since April, but the result leaves both sides placed in the top 10 of the early Championship table.

Before the match, the Bees announced that midfielder Ryan Woods had joined Championship rivals Stoke City on loan with a view to a permanent move.

Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray on match-winner Kasey Palmer:

"When you're not playing for such a good technical team [as Chelsea's Under-23s], you have to run, and tackle, chase, win headers, fight and get back, and he's learning that I think.

"He's trying to pick it up very quickly and I'm delighted he's scored today because he's had a tough week.

"He only trained on Friday this week. He's been in London all week because of a family illness. I'm so happy for him that he's had a good game."