Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half header and a Nathan Collins own goal six minutes into the second half consigned Brentford to a 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.

The loss at Selhurst Park is the Bees’ first in four matches.

Neither keeper was tested during an uneventful start to the game in south London.

Brentford, unchanged for a third straight Premier League game, created their first opening on 15 minutes.

Jordan Henderson’s lofted pass was flicked on by Igor Thiago, releasing Dango Ouattara down the right. The forward reached the edge of the area before seeing his low drive blocked by Chris Richards.

At the other end, Ismaïla Sarr had a clear sight at goal having got the better of Sepp van den Berg, but the former Watford man opted to square for Yeremy Pino. Collins read the danger in a crowded penalty area and cleared to safety.

On 26 minutes, Mateta played a short pass to Pino and continued his run into the Brentford box. The towering forward connected with Pino’s clipped cross, but his header was tame and comfortably held by Caoimhín Kelleher.

Daichi Kamada flashed a shot across the face goal from 20 yards having been teed up by Tyrick Mitchell.

With their next attack, Crystal Palace took the lead. Pino swung the ball in from the right, Jefferson Lerma made first contact and Mateta’s glancing header looped over Kelleher and into the far corner.

Five minutes after the restart, Kristoffer Ajer’s headed clearance dropped kindly for Sarr. Having controlled the ball with his chest, the forward opted to take his shot quickly and his well-struck volley whistled narrowly wide of the post.

In the final action before the break, Kamada brought down Mikkel Damsgaard on the edge of the box. The Dane took the free-kick himself, curling the ball well over the crossbar.

Palace doubled their lead at the beginning of the second half. Jefferson Lerma launched the ball in from the left and, in an attempt to deal with the long throw, Collins headed the ball into his own net.

Seconds after play had resumed, Sarr intercepted Collins’ pass to van den Berg and sprinted towards goal. Under pressure from the Brentford captain, and with the angle narrowed by Kelleher who had advanced off his line, Sarr rolled the ball on to the base of the post.

Ajer nodded Henderson’s high cross straight at Dean Henderson as the Bees looked to gain a foothold at Selhurst Park.

Van den Berg’s hooked effort struck Sarr’s arm in the penalty area, but referee Peter Bankes waved away Brentford’s appeals for a spot-kick.

Mathias Jensen, having combined with Thiago on the right, found fellow substitute Vitaly Janelt in space, but the midfielder skewed wide from just inside the box.

Reiss Nelson, picked out by Keane Lewis-Potter on his 100th appearance for the Bees, tested Henderson with a curling strike from 20 yards.

Brentford struggled to create any clear-cut opportunities during the closing stages at Selhurst Park, slipping to a first defeat in matches.

Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guéhi; Muñoz, Kamada (Devenny 78), Lerma, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino (Hughes 78); Mateta (Canvot 90)

Subs not used: Benitez, Uche, Clyne, Esse, Sosa, Cardines

Brentford: Kelleher; Kayode (Lewis-Potter 68), van den Berg, Collins, Ajer; Henderson (Carvalho 86), Yarmoliuk (Janelt 68), Damsgaard (Jensen 68); Ouattara (Nelson 75), Thiago, Schade

Subs not used: Valdimarsson, Henry, Pinnock, Onyeka

Andrews: Game of few chances

Keith Andrews shared his assessment of Brentford's Premier League defeat against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

"It was a game of very few chances," said Andrews.

"The first goal was a set-piece where they get first contact and second contact, so we’re clearly not going to be happy with that as we set the bar very high with set-pieces.

"We didn’t hit the heights that we have in recent weeks individually and collectively, but you have to factor in the opposition and how they tried to stifle the game. We huffed and puffed a little bit, and didn’t really have that real conviction to our play."

Henderson: It’s a difficult one to take

Jordan Henderson expressed his frustration following Brentford’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace.

"It’s a difficult one to take," said the England international.

"I don’t think there was too much in the game. [Conceding] two set-pieces, we’ll be disappointed with that – it’s been our strength of late.

"We’ve got to analyse the game properly over the next few days and work on the things we need to improve on for Newcastle."