Brentford 0 Middlesbrough 1: Leaders Boro take advantage of David Button's slip at Brentford

The Bees goalkeeper punched a second-half Boro corner high into the air, slipped and could only look on as the ball rolled over the line.

It was harsh on the London club who stood toe-to-toe with the leaders and for long spells looked the better side.

Alan Judge, a target for Sheffield Wednesday, curled a snapshot just wide as the hosts started on the front foot.

Denmark international Lasse Vibe should have put Dean Smith’s side ahead when he latched onto Daniel Ayala’s slip to race goalwards only to be thwarted by Dimi Konstantopoulos.

David Nugent wasted a carbon copy chance midway through the half for Boro after Toumani Diagouraga’s slack backpass, but Button denied him.

After the break Brentford were by far the brighter of the sides and looked to impose themselves on the visitors, but while Konstantopoulos stood firm, it was his opposite number’s 61st-minute howler that gifted the points to Aitor Karanka’s men.

His punch into the swirling wind looped high above the bar and dropped over the line, Ayala applying the finishing touch to give the dubious goals panel something to think about.

The result means it is now 817 minutes since Middlesbrough last conceded in the league.

Brentford: Button, Colin, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell, Woods, Diagouraga, Saunders (Canos 63), Judge, Swift (Djuricin 73), Vibe (Hofmann 81). Unused substitutes: McEachran, Bonham, Yennaris, Barbet.

Middlesbrough: Konstantopoulos, Nsue, Ayala, Amorebieta, Friend, Clayton, Leadbitter,Stuani, Downing, Adomah (Forshaw 87), Nugent. Unused substitutes: Garcia, De Pena, Mejias, Fry, Kalas, Fabbrini.

Referee: G Ward (Surrey).