Jean-Philippe Mateta’s eighth goal of the season set Crystal Palace on course for a return to winning ways in the Premier League. Mateta’s opener on the half-hour was added to by an own goal from the Brentford captain, Nathan Collins, early in the second half as the Eagles backed up their win at Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday with their first victory in four league games.

Palace’s Ismaïla Sarr looked to have forged an opportunity for himself when he got away from Kristoffer Ajer down the right but chose to square the ball rather than shoot and Sepp van den Berg intercepted for Brentford. It was a rare opening in what was a cagey beginning, with Mateta’s deflected header from a Yéremy Pino cross gently falling into the arms of Caoimhín Kelleher.

The hosts were ahead after 30 minutes when Daichi Kamada’s free-kick from deep was nodded across by Jefferson Lerma for Mateta to direct a lovely header that looped into the top corner, leaving Kelleher standing.

Nathan Collins scores an own goal to give Crystal Palace a two-goal advantage. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images

Brentford gave themselves a mountain to climb by presenting Palace...