Dale picked up their first win of the league season with an impressive 3-1 victory at Griffin Park, despite being reduced to ten men.

Jason Kennedy was sent off for a second bookable offence after putting Dale 3-1 up for celebrating with the travelling support.

Anthony Elding had put Dale ahead in the 11^th minute after an Andrew Tutte shot was parried, before having a second disallowed two minutes later for offside.

Dale started the better of the two teams, but the home side were back on level terms in the 27^th minute when Robbie Simpson stroked home a Myles Weston cutback.

It was 1-1 at half time, but with an hour played two quick goals from Dale saw them take a 3-1 lead. Chris O'Grady finished off a fine move by firing past home 'keeper Alex McCarthy, before good work from Andrew Tutte on the right saw him put a cross in which hit Jason Kennedy before crossing the line.

However, his celebrations turned to despair when referee Hooper showed him a second yellow card, reducing them to ten men.

Dale would have to play out the final half hour with ten men, but the defence and team as a unit held strong, and the first three points of the League One season came courtesy of a fully deserved 3-1 away victory.

Boss Keith Hill chose to stick with the same starting eleven from Thursday night, where Dale were unfortunate to exit the Carling Cup to Birmingham City. Josh Lillis was in goal, with Scott Wiseman, Craig Dawson, Marcus Holness and Joe Widdowson at the back. Goal-scorer from Thursday Gary Jones was alongside Jason Kennedy and Brian Barry-Murphy in midfield, with Andrew Tutte, Chris O'Grady and Anthony Elding up top.

Dale started the game brightly and forced the game's first corner, but it was Brentford who almost went ahead in the 6^th minute when Joe Widdowson had to be alert to clear a Robbie Simpson header off the line.

A few hairy moments followed, but five minutes later Dale took the lead. Andrew Tutte picked up the ball just inside the Brentford half, drove forward and fired a fizzing shot at Alex McCarthy who couldn't hold it, and could only parry onto the head of Anthony Elding who scored his first league goal for Dale to put his side 1-0 up.

That goal meant it was the first time Dale had been ahead in a League One game, and just two minutes later it could have been 2-0 had it not been for an assistant's flag. Chris O'Grady's deflected shot looped into the air which saw Jason Kennedy hook it over his head, with Elding again getting a flick to turn it home. However, the assistant on the nearside saw that the Dale striker was offside and disallowed the goal.

Despite that minor setback Dale continued to dominate and look the more likely to score the second of the game. Great control from Chris O'Grady almost led to Andrew Tutte having another attempt on goal, but he was thwarted by a fine block.

However, as the half wore on Brentford began to get themselves back into it, and in the 27^th minute they equalised through Robbie Simpson, who had already had an effort cleared off the line. This time his task was simple for eight yards after Myles Weston had done superbly on the left to beat Scott Wiseman and pull a ball back for him to stroke past Josh Lillis to bring his side level.

The goal was a blow for Keith Hill's side who had started the game well and could have been 2-0 up had it not been for the linesman's flag.

Following the goal both sides continued to look lively until the final third. Gary Jones had an effort from distance which flew well over, whilst Bees goal-scorer Simpson had a header which flew just wide.

But that was all the action for a first-half which started brightly before taking a turn for the worst as both sides failed to find the openings which had made the start so lively.

There were no changes for either side at half-time as Chris O'Grady almost bundled his way through before his shot was blocked. However, just a minute later Marcus Holness brought down Marcus Bean as he sprung the Dale backline. The Dale defender was close to being the last man, but referee Hooper felt there was enough cover from Craig Dawson for the challenge to warrant just a yellow.

With both sides settling into the half, Dale were beginning to string some good moves together with Gary Jones going close. But in the 15^th minute that good football saw them regain the lead.

Neat football from Jason Kennedy and Joe Widdowson saw a give-and-go between the two, with the left back on the receiving end before touching the ball onto Chris O'Grady who turned onto his right foot, fired a shot at goal which Alex McCarthy couldn't keep out with his left hand as Dale went 2-1 up.

It was a great move from Dale and one which deserved a goal as O'Grady bagged his first of the season. It seemed to be a game for firsts, as just two minutes later Dale doubled their lead to make it 3-1, with Jason Kennedy scoring his first ever goal for Rochdale.

Scott Wiseman released Andrew Tutte down the right, with the Manchester City loanee cutting inside to turn his man before putting a ball across which hit Kennedy before rippling the back of the net.

There were great scenes behind the goal as the Dale number 7 took his opportunity to celebrate with his team's fans, of which 229 had made the trip. However, with him already on a booking from earlier in the game, the referee showed no common sense by showing him a second yellow for straying too far from the field of play.

With Dale now down to ten men it would make the last 25 minutes a lot more difficult having played less than 48 hours ago. Former Dale loanee Nicky Adams was introduced by Bees manager Andy Scott as the home side looked for a way back into it, which they were almost given through Myles Weston as his lashed shot from 30 yards flew just wide of Josh Lillis' right post.

Dale were finding possession a lot harder to come by since the sending off, but Craig Dawson and Marcus Holness were standing strong at the back, with Chris O'Grady and Anthony Elding chasing everything down up front.

As the game entered the final ten minutes Keith Hill made his first change, with Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro coming on for Anthony Elding on the left of Dale's 4-4-1 formation.

Nicky Adams almost came back to haunt his former club in the 84^th minute when he beat Craig Dawson and Josh Lillis to the ball inside the yard box, but the angle was tight and Dawson was able to clear for a corner.

The ten men of Dale were holding firm and could have made the game safe but for last ditch defending from the home side, with Chris O'Grady lurking and Gary Jones having a shot blocked.

There were a few more hairy moments for Dale as the clock wound down, with Carl Cort almost converting a cross from just a few yards out, but his header flew over when he would have hoped to do better.

Four minutes off stoppage time were added, as Cort went close again with a header, but fortunately for Dale his radar was well off.

That was the last chance of the game, and it ended 3-1 to Dale in a display of impressive attacking football and strong defensive work.