Ross McCormack scored the winner to open his Fulham account and send local rivals Brentford crashing out of the Capital One Cup.

The 28-year old capped a breath-taking passing move by collecting Chris David’s perfectly-weighted ball and sliding the ball past goalkeeper David Button on 68 minutes.

After a first half which the Whites controlled but failed to find a break-through, Felix Magath almost had to give a team talk from a goal behind when Jota’s strike cannoned off the post on the stroke half-time.

But, following a period of patient passing, the decisive moment arrived with McCormack showing his quality in front of goal and celebrating wildly in front of the Fulham faithful.

The Whites were forced to soak up some early pressure before Kostas Stafylidis made the first advance on the Bees goal, his cross being collected cleanly by keeper Button.

Button was rooted to the spot moments later, watching the ball fly over his crossbar, after nice move between David and Cauley Woodrow resulted in a 30-yard Tim Hoogland rocket just missing the target.

It was Dan Burn next to narrowly clear the Brentford bar with a bullet header from David’s in-swinging cross on 10 minutes, as Magath’s men began to control the tempo.

Jon Toral’s header from a left-wing corner failed to trouble Marcus Bettinelli, making his debut between the posts for the Whites, but the 22-year-old was at full-stretch to palm away Jota’s stinging 16th minute drive.

Charging forward from his position at the base of Fulham’s midfield diamond, Hoogland forced a good save from Button with another thumping strike and Woodrow slashed over from Kay Voser’s inviting cross.

Despite being pegged back for long periods, the hosts were threatening with their direct, counter-attacking and James Tarkowski’s cross whistled dangerously across goal on the half hour.

Burn had to stretch to make a vital interception from Stuart Dallas’s cut-back before three quick passes allowed David a sight on goal, his curling effort handled well by Button.

Ryan Williams fired over and McCormack headed straight at Button but Jota had the final word of the half, crashing a strike against Bettinelli’s post to give the Whites a scare.

Captain Scott Parker was withdrawn at half-time for Mark Fotheringham, and Woodrow almost instantly found a way through but a crunching last-ditch Harlee Dean tackle came to the Bees’ rescue.

The half continued with Magath’s side dominating possession but Brentford offering a threat on the break, as Moses Odubajo snuck around the back and drilled across the goal.

David’s curling effort after Williams’ galloping run had Button scrambling across goal to save and McCormack had the ball in the net after collecting Voser’s pass and rifling past Button, only to be ruled offside.

The Bees goal was living a charmed life when Stafylidis’ incisive pass played in Williams and Woodrow could not get enough on the Australian’s cut-back as the ball squirmed away.

The breakthrough finally arrived following the best move of the game. A fast exchange of low passes culminated in McCormack’s one-two with David and a delicate side-footed finish past the stretching goalkeeper Button.

With Fotheringham struggling, the substitute was then replaced by Thomas Eisfeld as the Whites sought to close out the game.

Brentford were leaving gaps in defence as they searched for a leveller and David tested Button’s reflexes before Woodrow slammed a low drive fractionally wide of the post.

Scott Hogan and Tommy Smith both drilled over from the edge of the area as the Bees threw players forward but, with Nikolay Bodoruv replacing David late on, the Whites rounded of a composed defensive showing at Griffin Park to secure our place in the third round draw.