BRENTFORD dealt a blow to Cherries’ promotion hopes as they triumphed 3-1 in a chance-laden clash at Griffin Park.

Jonathan Douglas and Alex Pritchard had put the Bees 2-1 up at the break with a tap-in from Marc Pugh arriving in between.

And a late effort from substitute Chris Long wrapped up the points for the hosts, who denied the visitors the chance to go top of the Championship in the process.

GALLERY: Fans' pics and match action, all of Corin Messer's images from Cherries' 3-1 defeat at Brentford this afternoon. 

Cherries boss Eddie Howe made two changes to the starting XI with central midfielder Shaun MacDonald handed a first league start of the season in place of the suspended Harry Arter.

Simon Francis returned to the starting line-up following illness and there was a place on the bench for Dan Gosling.

Cherries missed a golden chance to open the scoring as early as the eighth minute. After Matt Ritchie had released Simon Francis down the right, the full-back’s low cross was directed straight at keeper David Button by Callum Wilson.

Moments later, the home side made Cherries pay. Following frantic scenes around the edge of the six-yard box, Bees midfielder Douglas spun away and lashed past Artur Boruc.

In-form striker Yann Kermorgant was booked for simulation and Pritchard’s free-kick caused panic as Brentford continued to look a threat.

Boruc parried a Jota curler to safety and then steamed out to force Pritchard to poke wide, which was followed by a verbal volley from the Polish stopper towards his defenders.

With half an hour on the clock, Cherries levelled. Pugh marshalled the ball round Button and although the ball bounced off the upright, the former Hereford man knocked straight into the empty net.

A similar situation occurred at the other end three minutes later but after Andre Gray had skipped past Boruc, his shot from a narrow angle was cleared superbly off the line by the sliding Steve Cook.

Ritchie, having already picked up a yellow card, might have counted himself fortunate to stay on the field after a mistimed lunge on left-back Stuart Dallas. However, referee Mike Dean showed leniency.

With the interval looming, Alan Judge screwed wide of the upright and then Brentford inched in front once more. After Wilson had been shown Cherries’ third yellow card for a challenge on Judge, Pritchard’s 30-yard free-kick was pawed into the corner of the net by Boruc.

Ritchie was withdrawn for the second half in favour of Ryan Fraser and soon after matters resumed, Pugh’s right-wing cross was nodded over by Wilson.

The pair combined again moments later but the latter was thwarted by the legs of Button having been released by Pugh’s delicate through ball.

Cherries continued to probe and Fraser was desperately unlucky to rattle the near post, before immediately firing into the side-netting from a more difficult angle.

Button was out quickly to block from the motoring Fraser before Gray headed over the bar at the other end after a corner had been flicked on.

Fraser’s eventful half continued as he was booked for diving after going down in the box under a challenge from Tony Craig.

Wilson was again denied by Button from close range and Boruc was at full-stretch to palm to safety Long’s strike from range.

Jota had Boruc beaten with a magnificent strike that thumped against the crossbar before the Spaniard brought a smart stop from the Cherries keeper when one-on-one.

Long’s drive deflected against the outside of the post and Boruc once more excelled in the face of late efforts from Jota and Pritchard.

However, the stopper could do nothing when Long drove in a Pritchard cross with moments left.

MATCH FACTS

Bees: Button, Odubajo, Craig, Tarkowski, Dallas, Douglas, Diagouraga (McCormack, 74), Judge (Toral, 60), Jota, Gray (Long, 69), Pritchard.

Unused subs: Dean, Saunders, Smith, Bonham (g/k).

Booked: Odubajo, Dallas, Craig.

Cherries: Boruc, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Daniels (Smith, 76), Ritchie (Fraser, h-t), Surman, MacDonald, Pugh, Kermorgant (Pitman, 62), Wilson.

Unused subs: Ward, Gosling, Stanislas, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Kermorgant, Ritchie, Wilson, Fraser.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Attendance: 11,459 (including 1,632 away supporters).