Former striker fires Alex to heavy defeat

Clayton Donaldson scored twice against his former club as Crewe Alexandra crashed 5-1 to Brentford at Griffin Park.

Farid El Alagui also claimed a double for the hosts and Harlee Dean was similarly on the mark with Mathias Pogba replying.

Brentford actually struck twice inside the opening quarter with Donaldson evading a couple of opponents and drilling low past Alan Martin on thirteen minutes. But there was to be no celebration from the ex-Alex favourite.

Heavy rain was not making conditions the easiest as El Alagui sliced wide from a decent position before adding a second goal following a bad mis-kick from Mark Ellis.

Martin soon diverted away Sam Saunders' free-kick but the Bees made it three on the stroke of half-time when El Alagui netted his second of the game after the visitors had failed to deal with a cross.

Crewe responded with Pogba tucking in his fourth goal of the season from Byron Moore's delivery at the start of the second-half.

But Ellis twice blocked well at the other end and Saunders curled wide before Martin reacted superbly to keep out a header from substitute Paul Hayes.

Luke Murphy drove wide in reply until Dean headed in a fourth goal from Saunders' cross with six minutes remaining

There was still enough time remaining for Donaldson to burst clear and complete the scoring in the final minute - and at the end of a very poor performance from the visitors.

Brentford: Moore, Barron (Legge 73), Craig, Dean, Logan, O'Connor, Saunders (Forrester 85), Douglas, Diagouraga, Donaldson, El Alagui (Hayes 68)

subs (unused): Lee, Dallas, Fredericks, Redwood

Goals: Donaldson (13, 89), El Alagui (20, 45), Dean (84)

Crewe Alexandra: Martin, Davis, Ellis, Dugdale, Robertson (M. Clayton 74), Westwood, Murphy, Osman, Pogba, Leitch-Smith (Bunn 74), Moore

subs (unused): Garratt, Turton, Guthrie, Ray, Mellor

Goals: Pogba (48)

Ref: Scott

Att: 4,858

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