There was nothing between the sides at a windswept Griffin Park on Saturday but a goal in each half from Ricky Shakes sealed a 2-0 victory for the mid-table Bees.

Decent scoring opportunities were few and far between at either end in a poor game, though Wrexham had the better half chances.

The swirling wind meant that long balls pumped forward often bypassed the midfield, and not much football was played on the floor.

Conditions weren't easy, and it was a case of grinding out a result – but Brentford managed to get the better of the Reds' defence on two occasions to seal victory, and manager Brian Little described both goals as sloppy.

Neither side had made much of an impact in the final third. but in the end, the two goals were the difference and ended hopes of the Reds' first consecutive victories of the season after winning 2-1 against Bury in their previous outing.

It has been a case of rock bottom Wrexham being unable to close the gap on the teams above them in recent weeks as many of the strugglers have been stringing a sequence of results together along with the Reds.

Saturday was a great opportunity to do that as only Notts County in the bottom four won, with Mansfield and Macclesfield losing.

Wrexham are now six points away from safety with 10 crucial games to go –the first of them today against Dagenham and Redbridge at The Racecourse.

Dagenham are fifth from bottom and not out of trouble, and it is fair to say nothing other than victory will do for the Reds today.

Little made three changes to the side that started the victory against Bury.

Danny Sonner and Neil Roberts both returned to the centre of midfield after recovering from injury, while Mike Williams lined up at left-back.

Injured duo Carl Tremarco and Neil Taylor, and Paul Hall, who dropped to the substitutes' bench, were the players who made way.

Both sides struggled to adapt to the windy conditions and the ball spent far too much time in the air which meant flowing, passing, football was limited – and so were scoring chances as both sides struggled to make an impact going forward in the early stages of the game.

Ricky Shakes volleyed Ryan Dickson's cross over the bar for Brentford on 16 minutes, and Wrexham's first meaningful shot also failed to trouble the target as Michael Proctor's long range effort in the 26th minute also sailed over.

However, Brentford took the lead after 31 minutes.

Simon Spender made an important clearance in the danger zone but the return cross found Alan Connell who was denied by Gavin Ward, and Shakes headed home the loose ball from close range.

The Reds', who had the wind advantage, almost equalised five minutes later.

Spender's long range wind assisted free-kick deceived keeper Simon Brown and struck the bar, and a goalmouth scramble ensued, with the Bees' shot-stopper eventually grasping Gareth Evans' header.

Wrexham pressed again and Phil Bolland only just cleared the bar from Sonner's free-kick as Brown came to collect but was beaten to the ball.

It had been an encouraging end to the half by Wrexham who came close to levelling five minutes after the re-start when Roberts connected with Spender's cross and the ball flew towards goal off a defender but Brown was able to gather on his line.

Little made a double substitution on 67 minutes with Hall and Matty Done replacing Sonner and Roberts, who were both been making their first appearances for some weeks.

Gareth Evans made a vital headed clearance in the six yard box when Nathan Elder tried to pick out Connell as Brentford countered.

But Wrexham hit back and when Brown dropped Done's cross, Proctor picked up the loose ball and his shot was heading for the back of the net but the Bees keeper recovered to save on the line.

However, Brentford, who had not looked like adding to their lead, made it 2-0 nine minutes from time when Wrexham failed to clear Elder's cross in the penalty area and the ball broke for an unmarked Shakes who fired past Ward.

There was no way back for Wrexham after conceding that killer second goal and all hopes are now on an immediate response against Dagenham today.