Brentford came out a narrow second best in League One's game of the day, losing 2-1 to leaders Tranmere Rovers at Griffin Park on Saturday.

Prior to the match an army of fans had answered a call to clear the pitch of snow, but despite the Bees' best efforts to reward them, they came up just short.

The Bees looked lively in the opening minutes when Toumani Diagouraga fed Clayton Donaldson, whose his cross was put behind for a corner.

Marcello Trotta soon came close when his fiercely struck shot from the edge of the box was carried behind by Rovers' keeper Owain Fon Williams. From the resulting corner Harry Forrester shot over the bar.

Tranmere looked dangerous on the break and forced a couple of corners, but couldn't capitalise.

Rovers made the breakthrough following another counter-attack when Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro evaded the Bees defence and broke clear from the half way line, before finding David Amoo, who was fouled inside the box by Harlee Dean.

Andy Robinson coolly slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner, as Simon Moore dived the opposite way.

After the break Brentford were soon on level terms, when Jake Bidwell's dangerous free kick from wide on the right was headed into the bottom corner by Dean.

Bidwell then did well down the left before his dangerous cross across goal evaded everyone.

Yet Tranmere regained the lead when Adam McGurk received the ball on the right hand side of the box and after beating a couple of defenders, fired past  Moore at the near post.

Marcello Trotta picked up the ball outside the box and after skipping past a couple of defenders, his low shot was blocked.

Substitute Sam Saunders came lose to equalising with an ambitious 30 yard free kick, palmed away by Fon Williams.

But it wasn't to be for a Brentford side which lost its first league game at home since the opening week of the season in August.

Brentford: Moore, Logan (sub Hodson h/t), Dean, Craig, Bidwell; Forshaw, Douglas, Diagouraga (sub Saunders 76), Forrester (sub Hayes 77), Trotta, Donaldson.

Subs (not used): Lee, Barron, Reeves, Kiernan.

Attendance: 6,948.

Man of the Match: Adam Forshaw.

Goals: Dean 50.