Derby County fell to a 3-1 defeat to Brentford at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

An early goal from Ollie Watkins and a second-half brace by Said Benrahma sealed all three points for Thomas Frank’s side who moved up to third in the Sky Bet Championship.

Jason Knight scored the only goal for Derby, finding a first-half equaliser with the fifth goal of his maiden campaign in senior football.

Tom Lawrence returned to Phillip Cocu’s starting line-up after serving a three-match suspension for a red card he received against Reading.

After back-to-back corners for the Rams in the opening couple of minutes, the opening goal came down the other end of the pitch after just three minutes with the Bees showing why they are the leading scorer in the league with their attacking threat.

Josh Dasilva slid the ball through to Bryan Mbeumo in the box and the forward rifled a left footed shot past Ben Hamer and rattled off the far post. Watkins, however, was there for the perfect poacher’s goal to slot in the second chance.

Less than ten minutes later, Mbeumo took another chance from the six-yard box with a curling effort that looked destined for the top corner. Matt Clarke was there with a powerful block to deny Brentford from doubling their lead.

The tide turned midway through the half, and Derby adjusted to find a way to deal with the Bees and in the 29th minute, the hosts were level.

Jayden Bogle crossed in from the right to Wayne Rooney and Sibley just outside the six-yard box. Rooney saw an open Knight to his left and the 18-year-old midfielder drilled a lovely right-footed effort past David Raya from the edge of the six-yard box.

With less than 10 minutes to go in the half a swift counter-attack almost saw Derby take the lead. Max Lowe stripped Brentford from a back-heeled pass in the derby box and did well to keep hold of the ball and find Chris Martin. The forward flicked the ball back to Lawrence who found Sibley with all the space in front to run. He drove forward and unleashed his shot from just inside the box, which Raya tipped over.

Brentford had one last chance to sneak another goal in before half-time. Watkins was first to take aim but Rooney threw his body in front to block the shot. Soon after, Benrahma shot from the left of the box which Hamer grabbed on to.

The Bees caught Derby with another goal inside five minutes to open the second half. Emiliano Marcondes fed the ball out wide to Benrahma who struck well with his first-time effort towards the bottom corner. Hamer initially dives to make the stop, but the ball slipped under him and across the line.

Benrahma bagged his second of the game just after the hour-mark with a sensational strike. The forward took the ball round the edge of the box and struck sweetly to curl the ball into the top left corner.

Knight looked to inspire a comeback with 20 minutes left to play when he received the ball from Martin down the left, cut inside and struck from just inside the drawing a strong stop from Raya.

However, the Rams were unable to find a way back into the game and will make the long trip next to Wales when they face Cardiff City on Tuesday (kick-off: 7.45).

Derby County: Hamer; Bogle, Evans, Clarke, Lowe; Bird (Shinnie, 80), Rooney; Knight (Jozefzoon, 80), Sibley (Whittaker, 80), Lawrence; Martin

Substitutes: Roos, Forsyth Davies, Hector-Ingram, Buchanan, Brown.

Brentford: Raya; Roerslev, Jansson, Pinnock, Henry (Thompson, 89); Dasilva (Zamburek, 69), Norgaard (Jensen, 69), Marcondes; Mbeumo (Valencia, 81), Watkins, Benrahma (Fosu, 81)

Substitutes: Daniels, Canos, Dervisoglu, Dalgaard