Brentford's free-scoring 'BMW' front three were all on target as the Championship promotion contenders beat QPR 3-1 in the west London derby at Griffin Park.

Said Benrahma opened the scoring after 19 minutes with a well-taken finish from a training ground set-piece, before Bryan Mbeumo doubled the lead four minutes later with an improvised volley.

Leading goalscorer Ollie Watkins also got in on the act on 33 minutes with a diving header at the back post after being picked out by Ethan Pinnock.

QPR were much-improved after the interval and grabbed a deserved consolation through Nahki Wells following good play down the right wing by Bright Osayi-Samuel.

Brentford's BMW on top form

Mark Warburton's QPR scored 11 goals in two games prior to kick-off and they went closest to scoring early on when Pontus Jansson's wayward header forced his own goalkeeper David Raya into a smart reaction stop.

However, it was Brentford who went in front with a well-worked set-piece routine. Mathias Jensen passed the ball along the box from a free-kick on the right touchline and Benrahma finished clinically after darting into the middle of the area from the far post.

Moments later, Brentford extended their advantage following sloppy play from QPR. Joe Lumley's weak clearance was seized upon by Christian Norgaard and his lobbed pass found Mbeumo via Geoff Cameron's mistimed header with the Frenchman intelligently flicking home with the outside of his left boot.

Just past the half-hour mark, the third member of Brentford's 'BMW' strike force found the net as Watkins nodded in his 18th league goal of the campaign, after Pinnock's header from another Jensen free-kick had found him unmarked.

Image: Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring for Brentford against QPR

After being distinctly second best in the first half, QPR rallied and gave themselves a fighting chance when in-form Wells turned in from close range after Osayi-Samuel and Luke Amos had dissected Brentford's left flank with a neat one-two.

Team news Thomas Frank made one change from Brentford's previous Championship game with Henrik Dalsgaard replacing Mads Roerslev at right-back.

Mark Warburton brought Todd Kane and Ryan Manning into his side with Toni Leistner and Lee Wallace making way.

The unusually quiet Eberechi Eze almost set-up a grandstand finish when he forced Raya into a fine stop with a stabbed effort from inside the six-yard box but Brentford held firm to secure an excellent win that keeps the pressure on Leeds United and West Brom above them.

What the managers said...

2:06 Thomas Frank praised his Brentford players for their performance and was particularly pleased with the intensity they showed as they beat West London rivals QPR at Griffin Park.

Brentford's Thomas Frank: "I looked up and eight of our players were chasing back. That kind of defensive mindset is what we are all about this season.

"We blew them away in the first half. I'd said before the game that we play nice, attractive football but a big, big, big decisive factor that we needed to do well was the defensive side of the game."

2:01 Mark Warburton was critical of his QPR players for not showing their character as they were dominated in the first half of their 3-1 defeat to Brentford.

QPR's Mark Warburton: "We had a few heated words because my boys gave that one away in the first half. It's the first time this season it's happened, but it was not QPR. It was unacceptable.

"We started OK in a very strong wind but it was the same for both sides. We lost duels, didn't do our jobs at set-pieces and could have been four down."

Man of the match - Ollie Watkins

Brentford's No 11 kept the pressure on Championship golden boot rival Aleksandar Mitrovic by scoring his 18th goal of the season, going level with Fulham's Serbian striker at the top of the charts.

🥇Man of the Match, Ollie Watkins of @BrentfordFC

🔴 Involved in 9 goals in his last 9 league appearances (7 goals, 2 assists)

🔴 Joint-top scorer in the @SkyBetChamp this season with 18 goals pic.twitter.com/c129z7xzjO — Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 11, 2020

Watkins was a constant threat in the air all afternoon and linked up productively with his fellow forwards Benrahma and Mbeumo, both of whom were excellent.

What's next?

Both teams are in action next Saturday with Brentford facing Huddersfield Town at the John Smith's Stadium and QPR hosting Championship leaders Leeds United at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in the early kick-off, live on Sky Sports Football.