Brentford defender Harlee Dean issued a full and frank apology to the club's army of travelling support after a crushing 4-0 defeat at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Goals from Grant Leadbitter, Albert Adomah, Patrick Bamford and Kike saw the Bees suffer back-to-back Championship defeats for the first time this season after Tuesday's 3-0 humbling at home to Norwich City.

More than 500 Bees fans made the trip to the north east having watched their side push the Canaries close in midweek -  despite the scoreline.

But Dean admitted his side got exactly what it deserved this time.

"Obviously we are disappointed, but we're more embarrassed than anything," he said.

"We've conceded seven goals in two games. You could say against Norwich we were the better team, but today we conceded four and deserved to concede more.

"We have got a lot of things to change and put righ this week.

"All we can do is apologise to the fans that made the journey and paid for the tickets."

Boss Mark Warburton was equally apologetic and insisted there would be a reaction when Leeds United visit on Saturday.

"We weren't good enough. If you fall below your levels that happens," he added.

"We will get a reaction.

"If we perform like that we will get beaten like that again.

"We let ourselves down and we let the fans down."

It proved to be a long afternoon for the Bees, as a combination of sloppy passing and clinical finishing saw the home side ease to victory.

Patrick Bamford had an early chance for the home side when he shot over the bar from just outside the box.

The Bees soon showed promise and Alan Judge curled a free kick from wide on the left into the hands of Dimi Konstantopoulos.

David Button was called into action when he caught Jelle Vossen's header from a cross on the left, while the keeper was in action again shortly after when he raced of his line to gather a low cross into the box.

Some uncertainty between James Tarkowski and Button allowed Albert Adomah to nip in, but he shot wide of the left hand post.

The home side took the lead just after half an hour when Grant Leadbitter unleashed a powerful shot from 30 yards which flew past Button.

Boro's captain almost followed it up with another when he shot over the bar from 25 yards out.

The hard working Alex Pritchard carved out a chance when he cut in from the left, but he shot just over the bar.

Just before the break Pritchard's free kick was cleared as far as Jota, who shot over the bar as the first half drew to a close.

Within five minutes of the re-start Middlesbrough doubled their lead as Emilio Nsue outpaced Jake Bidwell down the wing and Adomah steered the ball through Button's legs into the net.

Brentford responded immediately, with both Andre Gray and Pritchard getting shots on target.

In almost a carbon copy of Boro's second goal Adomah missed from six yards out at the back post.

Boro extended their lead when Leadbitter and Nsue combined from a corner on the left and Bamford headed home the resulting cross into the top right corner.

With eight minutes remaining Middlesbrough were reduced to ten men when Dean Whitehead was shown a red card for a heavy challenge on Judge.

Kike wrapped things up for the home side when his deft finish saw him chip the ball over Button from the left hand side of the box.

Brentford: Button, McCormack, Tarkowski, Dean, Bidwell; Douglas, Judge, Pritchard (sub Tebar 65), Jota (sub Proschwitz 65), Odubajo (sub Toral 75), Gray

Subs (not used): Bonham, Craig, Betinho, Moore

Attendance: 15,484 (567 Bees)