Russell Slade's side suffer fourth straight league defeat

Celtic loanee Niall McGinn opened the scoring early on, shooting low past Lee Butcher from outside the box to hand the home side a lead.

The hosts extended their advantage through Leon Legge shortly after the break – the defender powering a header in at the back post.

Brentford added a third shortly after through Sam Saunders’ curling free kick, before the same player made it 4-0 with another set piece with a quarter of an hour to play.

With just a couple of minutes left on the clock, Marcus Bean’s low effort saw Butcher beaten for a fifth time as Orient crashed to defeat.

Russell Slade made two changes to the Orient side that lost 3-1 to Wycombe, bringing in David Mooney and Michael Richardson.

Mooney got his first start for the O’s, joining Alex Revell up front while Jamie Cureton dropped to the bench.

Newcastle loanee Richardson was also included in the starting XI, playing alongside captain Stephen Dawson in the centre of the park, as Matt Spring was named amongst the substitutes.

Terrell Forbes and Marc Laird were also on the bench while Scott Cuthbert was judged fit enough to partner Ben Chorley in the Orient defence.

Former O Gary Alexander started for Brentford, looking to bag a goal against his former employers.

Looking for their first points of the season, Orient made a shaky start when Dean Cox gifted possession to McGinn who found Alexander, but his effort was high and wide.

Despite a couple of forays forward from the O’s, it was the hosts who had the lead six minutes in.

McGinn received the ball wide on the left flank before cutting in past Richardson to fire low from outside the box beyond Butcher.

Orient’s reply was immediate and they could have levelled just two minutes later.

Charlie Daniels’ cross found its way to Richardson at the back past who found Revell in space but the forward’s right-footed effort fell wide of the post.

The game really sparked into life 17 minutes in when Mooney found himself through on goal but tumbled under the challenge of Bees defender Legge.

Legge felt he had won the ball but referee Andy Haines saw it differently, awarding a free kick but stopping short of a red card, showing yellow.

Cox’s free kick was deflected over and an unmarked Jimmy Smith headed wide from the following corner.

Despite neither side creating further chances to speak of, the O’s were looking strong in the midfield with Richardson and Dawson both putting in all action performances.

That midfield pairing worked to good effect 33 minutes in when Richardson’s lofted pass found an unmarked Dawson, in the box but the captain was unable to get his shot away as goalkeeper Richard Lee scrambled to block at his feet.

While the home side were unable to create an opening, the O’s continued to press and it was Cox who went close next.

The wide man found himself in space 25 yards out before launching a beautiful lob, comfortably beating Lee but his effort was that bit too strong, crashing off the bar for a goal kick as Brentford took a half time lead.

The second half started in similarly lively fashion with Clayton Donaldson going close early on before Cox miscued his volleyed effort.

However, despite looking the stronger side in the first half, a three minute spell early in the second period dealt Slade’s men a hammer blow.

With 51 minutes gone, Saunders sent in a deep free kick which was met by the head of Legge to find the back of the net.

The home side might have considered themselves lucky to have had Legge on the pitch still but they extended their advantage on 54 minutes.

Saunders turned from provider into scorer when his free kick on the right curled into the net, beating a despairing Butcher.

Despite attacking with intent, the O’s found themselves four goals behind when Saunders struck again.

With 15 minutes to play, Cuthbert brought Donaldson down in a wide position and Saunders let fly with the resultant set piece, beating Butcher at his near post.

Orient continued to push forward though and could have snatched a consolation through Mooney.

The Irishman twice went close for the O’s, firstly sending a dipping effort just wide of the left hand post before a half volley was well saved.

The visitors’ afternoon was summed up when Legge’s slip saw Cox through on goal but his effort was saved by Lee.

Brentford still had more in them though and grabbed a fifth late on when substitute Bean drove in low from the edge of the area.

Brentford: Lee; O’Connor, Osborne, Legge, Woodman, Saunders, Douglas, Reeves (Bean 70), McGinn, Alexander (MacDonald 70), Donaldson.

Subs: Moore, Eger, Weston.

Orient: Butcher; Omozusi, Chorley, Cuthbert, Daniels; Smith, Dawson, Richardson (Laird 68), Cox; Revell (Cureton 58), Mooney.

Subs: Forbes, Porter, Spring.

Attendance: 5,399 (704).