Clayton Donaldson’s 14th goal of the season gave Brentford their fourth straight npower League One win.

Notts County were vanquished this time as Brentford went to Meadow Lane and came from behind to take the points.

With Brentford now a scalp to be taken in npower League One, and County chasing The Bees at the top of the table, it was little surprise the home side started in a frantic fashion.

They hassled and harried and tried to bustle Brentford out of their stride.

It worked for periods but when The Bees were able to play their football, they were a level above their hosts.

Although they fell behind, Adam Forshaw equalised and Donaldson won it with an 87th minute goal to put The Bees second in the table.

County did, however, start very brightly and Simon Moore made a fine early save to deny François Zoko after Shaleum Logo had missed his touch.

Moore was in action again to tip a Dean Leacock header around the post before Neal Bishop was unable to convert and Jeff Hughes had a shot blocked.

Brentford almost scored on the break when Marcello Trotta set Donaldson away in the right channel but the striker’s shot deflected wide.

The Bees went close again when a shot free kick set up a shooting chance for Jonathan Douglas but Alan Sheehan made a tackle and referee Trevor Kettle waved away appeals that it was a foul one.

Brentford seemed to have the upper hand but County went ahead 20 minutes in.

They worked the ball well on the right and Jamal Campbell-Ryce put in a wicked low cross that Tony Craig sliced in to his own net.

Campbell-Ryce had a shot blocked soon after but Brentford responded well to going behind and started to take the upper hand.

Donaldson should have equalised when Harry Forrester put him in behind but Bartosz Bialkowski rushed out and denied the striker.

Trotta had a shot blocked soon after and Mr Kettle booked Forrester for diving when he went between two defenders and tumbled in the penalty area.

The Bees were level minutes later when Trotta found space in midfield and picked out a delicious pass for Forshaw to run in behind and finish low past Bialkowski’s right hand.

County were left appealing for offside but Forshaw and Trotta seemed to get the run and pass spot on and the finish was superb.

Douglas and Trotta both went close when a free kick was half cleared and Forrester fired just wide after weaving his way past the defence and cutting in from the left.

Douglas volleyed narrowly over in the dying stages of the half and Brentford would have gone in happier as they had the upper hand.

They continued to hold the initiative after the break and, if anything, County sat deeper, happy to invite Brentford on to them.

Bialkowski tipped a Douglas free kick over the top before Campbell-Ryce headed away a Trotta effort deep in his own penalty area.

Harlee Dean sliced a shot well wide for The Bees and Tom Adeyemi had a shot blocked.

County were playing on the break but did create a few openings doing so – Andre Boucaud curled a shot wide, Joss Labadie missed the target with a header and Moore held on to a low Zoko header.

Brentford were looking the most likely winners but were unable to carve out a really good chance.

Donaldson shot over from the edge of the box and a Trotta overhead was blocked before Forrester cut inside and fired inches wide and a Forshaw shot was blocked.

County came close to winning it when Bishop headed down and Alan Sheehan fired in a shot that Moore tipped over.

Sheehan curled the resulting corner against the outside of the far post, somehow, before Craig blocked a Gary Liddle shot.

Damion Stewart turned a low Forrester ball inches past his own post at the other end and Bialkowski was well-placed to save a Forshaw free kick.

The Bees kept pressing and got their rewards.

A Forrester shot deflected inches wide and from the resulting corner, Brentford scored.

Shaleum Logan was alert to receive a short ball and set up Forshaw, the shot was blocked on the line by Campbell-Ryce but as it looped up, Donaldson rose highest to bundle it over the line from inches out.

County barely had another kick, and certainly no more chances, as Brentford took points off another of the teams around them.

Notts County: Bialkowski; Kelly, Leacock (sub Stewart h/t), Liddle, Sheehan; Campbell-Ryce, Boucaud (sub Labadie 58 mins), Bishop, Hughes, Zoko; Iwelumo (sub Showunmi 73 mins)

Subs (not used): Mitchell, Mahon, Bencherif, Regan

Bookings: Labadie (67 mins), Bishop (87 mins), Hughes (90 mins)

Brentford: Moore; Logan, Dean, Craig, Bidwell; Douglas, Kiernan (sub Adeyemi h/t); Donaldson, Forshaw, Forrester; Trotta (sub Hayes 90 mins)

Subs (not used): Lee, Hodson, Legge, Reeves, Saunders

Bookings: Forrester (35 mins) (fourth of season), Trotta (75 mins), Adeyemi (90 mins)

Attendance: 5,307 (595 Bees fans)

By Chris Wickham