ARNAUT Danjuma’s cool finish meant it was advantage Cherries heading into Championship play-off semi-final second leg.

The Dutchman’s 16th goal of the season sent the 2,000 returning fans wild at Vitality Stadium, as Jonathan Woodgate’s side sealed a 1-0 victory over Brentford.

Danjuma’s goal meant that Cherries have the upper hand when the sides meet again at Brentford Community Stadium on Saturday.

Cherries named an unchanged starting XI for the clash with the Bees, following on from their 2-0 defeat to Stoke City on the final game of the regular season.

Thomas Frank’s side were also unaltered, with the visitors coming into the contest having won their past four games ahead of the start of the play-offs.

Ahead of kick-off, the Bees had not suffered defeat since a 1-0 loss to Norwich on March 3.

But, with a lively crowd in attendance, the first chance of the contest fell the way of Cherries with 10 minutes on the clock.

After Lloyd Kelly’s cross was only half-cleared away by the visitors, the ball sat up nicely for Jefferson Lerma to send a rasping volley just over the top of the bar.

Midfielder Philip Billing then squandered a good opportunity two minutes later.

After David Brooks’s classy through ball found Adam Smith’s overlap on the right, the full-back teed up the Dane – who shanked an effort well wide under pressure.

Cherries continued to threaten and frontman Dominic Solanke came within inches of breaking the deadlock.

Running on to Kelly’s devilish first-time cross, the England international’s header clipped the outside of the near post and fell to safety.

At the other end, despite previously being down with a knee injury, Steve Cook’s sliding challenge denied the Bees an opening on the counter – with Marcus Forss preparing to run in on goal.

Sergi Canos’s deflected strike then looped over the bar for the Bees, before Cherries were allowed to break from the resulting corner.

Picking up the ball inside his own half, Solanke got his skates on and surged at the Brentford back line – only for his attempted ball to Danjuma to be cut out by a covering defender.

Cherries then forced the first save of the game on 41 minutes. Danjuma’s corner was floated onto the head of skipper Cook, whose powerful attempt forced a diving stop from David Raya to his right. Brooks’s follow-up effort was charged down in the aftermath.

But that was to be one of captain Cook’s last actions in the contest, as he was forced off just before half-time.

Having played a pass out from defence, the centre-back fell to the floor and was judged unable to continue through injury. Chris Mepham came on against his former club.

Brentford almost recorded the opener seven minutes into the second half.

A ball to the back post was headed in to towards Danish midfielder Christian Norgaard, who failed to keep down his overhead kick from inside the box.

But it was Cherries who found the opener on 55 minutes through flying forward Danjuma.

After the hosts won the ball back and sparked a counter-attack – Brooks’s precise pass was perfectly into the path of the Dutchman, who was the coolest man in the ground in placing the ball into the far corner past Raya.

Brentford then threatened to hit back when substitute Emiliano Marcondes was slipped in on goal but onrushing Cherries keeper Asmir Begovic was quick to shut down the angle and snuff out any danger.

And the Bees should have been level with 13 minutes left. Norgaard’s square ball was on a plate for substitute Bryan Mbeumo to slide in and tap home, but he missed from close range with the goal gaping.

Danjuma stung the palms of Raya with a fierce strike on the angle with five minutes left – but Cherries were left to settle for a one-goal first-leg victory.

Cherries: Begovic, A Smith, Carter-Vickers, S Cook (Mepham, 45+3), Kelly, Lerma, Pearson (Stacey, 72), Brooks (Wilshere, 80), Billing, Danjuma, Solanke

Unused subs: Long, Surridge, Riquelme, Rico, Anthony, Travers (g/k).

Booked: None

Brentford: Raya, Jansson, Norgaard, Pinnock, Rasmussen (Henry, 60), Jensen (Ghoddos, 86), Janelt (Dalsgaard, 73), Canós, Fosu-Henry (Marcondes, 60), Toney, Forss (Mbeumo, 60).

Unused subs: Goode, Reid, Daniels, Bidstrup.

Booked: Rasmussen, Jansson.

Referee: Tim Robinson.