Brentford Under-21s secured a seventh-consecutive Professional Development League win on Monday, beating Cardiff City Under-21s 4-0 at Wheatsheaf Park.

Ethan Laidlaw and Michel Boni got Sam Saunders’ side off to the perfect start with first half goals. The latter had his brace early in the second half, followed by a Conor McManus’ goal to secure all three points.

The win was Brentford’s seventh in a row, bettering their previous best PDL win streak of six games from last season.

In perfect sunny conditions for football Saunders’ side started with intent as they pressed high up the pitch and dominated possession in the early stages.

The Bees first look on goal came on five minutes. Receiving the ball from Caelan Avenell, Kyrie Pierre took the ball on his back foot and immediately played forward, finding Joseph Wheeler-Henry down the right side of the box. He looked to cross the ball, but it was secured by Cardiff goalkeeper Jacob Dennis.

On the counterattack down the other end Mannie Barton was played through down the right side of the box for the visitors, however his strike was right of the goal.

The breakthrough came a minute later through Laidlaw. Running onto Boni’s slick pass through the backline, Laidlaw put the ball across Dennis from the right side of the box, the ball bouncing into the bottom left corner of the net for the opener.

After dealing with a period of possession from Cardiff the west Londoners doubled their lead through Boni. Receiving the ball Pierre, Wheeler-Henry made a brilliant run deep into the right side of the visitors’ box and crossed the ball to the face of goal, Boni in the perfect spot to tap it home from close range.

In front of a packed-out Wheatsheaf Park crowd the game continued to be played at a high level from both sides, with Brentford pushing to claim the league title as the season nears an end and Cardiff fighting for a playoff position.

On 36 minutes Boni found himself in space down the right side as he attacked his defender Alyas Debono one-vs-one. He looked to cross to Laidlaw in the box, however the ball sailed just behind the forward who couldn’t get a foot to it.

Starting the second 45 minutes with a two-goal advantage, Saunders' side kept their foot on the accelerator in west London.

They were nearly rewarded with a third goal five minutes into the re-start through Theo Mawene. After the ball was cleared from Brentford’s box, it fell perfectly to the forward who struck it on the half-volley, however his powerful strike was kept out by Dennis.

Mawene was at it again five minutes later as he pounced on a loose goal kick after Debono fell over. Making his way into the box the Brentford no.10 looked to score, however his shot was sent straight to the hands of Dennis.

The dam wall broke one-minute later as Boni secured his brace. Beau Redknapp forcerd his way into the box before firing at goal, Dennis doing well to keep the ball out of the goal. Boni was there to smash home the rebound, however, making it 3-0.

The 60-minute mark bought with it a fourth goal for Saunders' side as captain McManus got on the scoresheet. Laidlaw met the in-swinging corner but his glancing header hit the bar. The ball remained in play though and McManus wasted no time in smashing the ball into the roof of the net for a second goal in as many minutes.

Despite the win being secured and the visitors enduring some late injury trouble, the game remained at a high level late on in the contest.

The Bees came inches from scoring their fifth as McManus put a dangerous cross into Domeiro Bobb-Semple from the left side, however his effort from close range was just wide of the goal.

Brentford now turn their attention to Peterborough United away from home on Tuesday 14 April.

Brentford U21s: Rose, Wheeler-Henry, Picotto, Avenell, McManus, Grey, Pierre (Golding 88), Redknapp, Boni (Asemokhai 83), Mawene (Bobb-Semple 71), Laidlaw (Ogungbemi 83)

Subs not used: Tavaziva

Cardiff City U21s: Dennis, O’Brien, Voice, Twose, Kingdon, Debono, Barton (James 62), Tankiewicz, Davies (Wigley 62, Keita 70), George, Beecher (Ola 57)

Subs not used: Donovan

Saunders: I'm super proud of the boys

Brentford Under-21s head coach Sam Saunders reflected positively on his side's 4-0 win over Cardiff City Under-21s at Wheatsheaf Park.

"It was really pleasing, super proud of the boys... as a team we looked really solid, we looked so up for it, celebrated the little wins, without the ball we still felt in control and then with the ball we played some amazing stuff and scored four really good goals," he said.

"I said to the boys after the game, 'really enjoy this, we've got five or six weeks left of the season, the confidence is high, the performances are there, the competition for places is there, just keep going'.

"In this age group you've got to put pressure on to win games because their next step is (first team football)... we want to win the league, I want to put the pressure on the boys to win the league because I think we're good enough to do so."