New Alexander deal tops Bees boss Rosler's wishlist (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

New Alexander deal tops Bees boss Rosler's wishlist

9:43am Monday 30th January 2012 in Football By Simon Webster

Boss Uwe Rosler has admitted striker Gary Alexander's form is making it difficult to pin him down to a new Brentford deal.

The 32-year-old bagged a hat-trick on Saturday as the Bees crushed Wycombe Wanderers 5-2 at Griffin Park, with further goals from Toumani Diagouraga and Sam Saunders.

It took the former Millwall man's tally to 14 goals this season - with five coming in his last two appearances.

Alexander is out of contract in the summer, but has been offered new terms to extend his stay at Griffin Park and Rosler conceded he is keen to sign him up sooner rather than later.

"It is getting harder and harder to sign him up," he said on Saturday.

"Gary performed well on Sky last week and today. It is a privilege to work with him on matchdays and in training.

"He is an experienced pro and knows his business. What he is putting in daily to keep him on this level is phenomenal. He is a good example to our young squad and crucial in the dressing room."

Brentford bounced back from their controversial loss at Huddersfield last week with an impressive performance on home turf which saw the Bees 3-0 up at half-time.

Despite the emphatic score-line, the Bees were thankful for keeper Richard Lee, who produced an excellent early save when diving at the feet of Stuart Beavon inside his box.

After that it was all Brentford, as they took the lead just after ten minutes when Jake Bidwell crossed from the left and Alexander headed home into the top right corner.

Midway through the half some neat play by Sam Saunders saw him combine with Jonathan Douglas inside the box before firing home.

On the half hour mark Alexander added his second when he got on the end of another Bidwell cross and steered it home.

Wycombe pulled one back at the start of the second half when Dave Winfield headed in from a free kick wide on the right.

But while the Bees couldn’t quite match their first half dominance they still created chances, with Clayton Donaldson setting up Marcus Bean, whose shot was parried by Nikki Bull.

With a quarter of an hour remaining Wycombe failed to clear a Bees’ attack and after Bean cut the ball back across goal, Toumani Diagouraga tapped it in.

The Chairboys got their second when former Bee Ben Strevens scored from close range after a scramble in Brentford’s penalty box.

All that was left was for Alexander to wrap up his hat-trick and he duly obliged when he scored with a thumping volley at the back post from a Clayton Donaldson cross.

It was a commanding performance by the Bees as they look to push on in search of the playoffs.

Brentford: Lee, Logan, Dean, Legge, Bidwell; Bean, Douglas, Diagouraga, Saunders (sub Weston 80); Alexander, Donaldson.

Subs (not used): Moore, Eger, McGinn, Forrester.

Attendance: 5560.

Man of the Match: Gary Alexander.

Goals: Alexander 11, 29, 81, Saunders 22, Diagouraga 74.