The 2013–14 season saw Brentford return to the Championship after a 21-year absence, securing promotion from League One with three games of the season remaining and breaking their league points record.
Season review
Pre-season
Brentford began their pre-season with an intensive training tour in Germany. Matches against Einheit Rudolstadt and FC Rot-Weiß Erfurt saw all available players get a run out, along with triallists Martin Fillo (FC Viktoria Plzeň), Daniel Müller (ex-Bayern Munich II) and assistant manager Alan Kernaghan. The domestic matches began with a home win against Millwall and a defeat to Scottish Premiership champions Celtic. Conference South opposition Boreham Wood gave Rösler the opportunity to test some of the development squad players along with new and existing squad members, before an exciting final game saw Brentford come from behind to beat Premier League side Cardiff City 3–2 at Griffin Park.
August
The opening game of the 2013–14 season saw Shaleum Logan score a 22-yard goal as Brentford drew 1–1 with newly promoted Port Vale. Three days later a team which saw ten starting line-up changes emerged 3–2 winners over Dagenham & Redbridge in the League Cup, with a brace from Farid El Alagui on his first competitive start in 10 months. In the subsequent second round draw, Brentford were drawn away to Derby County. The first League One home game of the season ended in a 3–1 victory over Sheffield United leaving Brentford 7th in the table. Adam Forshaw opened the scoring with a shot from outside the penalty area, which was followed by two second-half goals from Will Grigg. Grigg had the opportunity to claim a hat trick on his home debut, but his 79th minute penalty was saved. The next game at Gillingham saw ex-Bees Leon Legge, Myles Weston and Stuart Nelson hold Brentford to a 1–1 draw under the guidance of ex-manager Martin Allen. Substitute El Alagui rifled home Harlee Dean's headed pass to score his third goal in three appearances.
Everton loanee Conor McAleny was stretchered off after 5 minutes during the home league game against Walsall which forced a reshuffle of Brentford's formation. Clayton Donaldson scored his first goal of the season, heading in from Shaleum Logan's cross extending Brentford's 100% home record. In the second round of the League Cup, Championship side Derby County put five goals past another vastly changed Brentford side without reply. Development squad member Josh Clarke was handed his first team debut, with colleague Alfie Mawson also making his debut as a second-half substitute. Brentford finished the month with a 0–0 draw at home to Carlisle United in a game which saw captain Tony Craig receive a straight red card after bringing down goal bound David Amoo in the second half. Brentford, with the bulk of the possession, had a vast array of shots and Toumani Diagouraga did find the back of the net, but the goal was not given due to jostling in the goal area.
Adam Forshaw's goal against Sheffield United was voted Brentford's Goal of the Month for August.
September
Transfer deadline day saw the return of Marcello Trotta to the club on loan from Fulham and the signing of Raphaël Calvet from French side AJ Auxerre. The first round of the Football League Trophy saw Brentford's first competitive game against AFC Wimbledon. A first half goal from El Alagui left the score at 1–0 at the break. He added another in the second half and along with goals from Luke Norris, Ben Nugent and Javi Venta (all scoring their first goals for the club) the team had a 5–1 lead after 69 minutes. AFC Wimbledon attempted a late comeback clawing back two goals, but it was Brentford who progressed to the second round with a 5–3 victory. Against Bradford City at Valley Parade, David Button brought down Nahki Wells on the edge of the penalty area in the 26th minute of the game and received a straight red card. Substitute goalkeeper Jack Bonham was immediately brought on to make his League debut for the club, but Bradford capitalised on the advantage and finished 4–0 winners.
Martin Taylor and João Carlos Teixeira joined the club as the loan window opened, the latter having been a target for Serie A side Bologna. For the Tranmere Rovers game Richard Lee returned to the Brentford goal after injury and replaced David Button who was suspended after his sending off against Bradford City. Brentford started strong and scored twice in the first 15 minutes through Martin Taylor and Clayton Donaldson (Taylor's goal believed to be the fastest goal scored by a debutant for Brentford in the league). Tranmere got a goal back just before halftime and came out dominant in the second half with Adam Dugdale scoring to level the game. Donaldson added another for Brentford before Tranmere again equalised in the 90th minute with a strike from substitute Cole Stockton. The game looked to be heading for a draw until Dugdale handled in the area to concede a penalty which Adam Forshaw converted to give Brentford their first away win. Teixeira came on as a second-half substitute for George Saville to make his league debut.
In a televised match Leyton Orient arrived at Griffin Park with a 100% league record and left with their record intact. Shaleum Logan brought down Dave Mooney in the second half and the striker stepped up to convert the penalty. Orient substitute Shaun Batt then added a second with his first touch of the match on the 85th minute. A crowd of just over 2,600 watched Brentford win 2–0 against Coventry City at their temporary home, Sixfields Stadium. Clayton Donaldson grabbed the first goal, flicking over the keeper after Cyrus Christie missed his clearance, and Martin Taylor confirmed the win, heading in a cross from Sam Saunders in the second half, leaving Brentford in 10th place at the end of the month.
October
October started with a home defeat to Rotherham United. David Button returned in goal following suspension but couldn't prevent an early goal from Mark Bradley settling the match. Brentford bowed out of the Football League Trophy with a defeat away to Peterborough United. An early own goal from Martin Taylor gave the home side the lead, and the lead was doubled in the second half when debutant Raphaël Calvet brought down Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in the box and the resulting penalty was converted by Grant McCann. Ben Nugent scored a late consolation goal but it wasn't enough to stop Brentford exiting the competition.
Brentford slumped to their 4th league defeat of the season following a 2–1 defeat at Stevenage which saw Jonathan Douglas return to the team after injury. Donaldson put Brentford ahead in the 13th minute to score his 5th of the campaign, but Stevenage responded swiftly through François Zoko. Zoko doubled his tally 11 minutes later which was enough to secure victory for the Boro and leave the Bees 11th place in the table. After going a goal down against Colchester United a third straight league defeat seemed to be on the cards before three goals in eleven minutes turned the game. Marcello Trotta levelled the score in the 76th minute before George Saville netted his first league goal to put the Bees ahead. Kadeem Harris scored the third goal on his club debut following his loan from Cardiff City, and guaranteed the points and the win.
The next game away to Bristol City saw Richard Lee return to the starting line up in goal for Brentford. City started strong and had the better of the first half, but the second half introduction of Sam Saunders for Kadeem Harris changed the game for the visitors as he became both scorer and provider. Saunders' 79th minute shot was deflected past the City keeper to put the Bees ahead and seven minutes later Clayton Donaldson was on hand to volley in a corner from the substitute. Marlon Harewood scored an injury-time consolation goal but was unable to prevent the extension of City's winless streak to 21 games. A crowd of 9,783 descended on Griffin Park to watch Brentford beat Shrewsbury Town and move up to 5th place in the league table. Marcello Trotta volleyed home the only goal of the game in the 18th minute giving the team their third win in eight days.
November
Brentford began November with an away win at Crawley Town. Kyle McFadzean tripped Kadeem Harris in the Crawley box to concede a penalty which Adam Forshaw converted to score his third goal of the season. Ex-Bee Marcus Gayle's Staines Town were Brentford's opponents in the first round of the 2013–14 FA Cup. Ben Nugent started in place of the suspended Harlee Dean and goals from Alan McCormack, Jake Reeves, Kadeem Harris, Marcello Trotta and Clayton Donaldson sealed a 5–0 win for the Bees. Crewe Alexandra were the next visitors to Griffin Park and they departed on the wrong end of another 5–0 scoreline. Crewe defended well until the deadlock was broken on the 43rd minute by Marcello Trotta with a long range header. Brentford came out for the second half strong and immediately added a second through Forshaw. George Saville increased the lead in the 58th minute before Donaldson netted twice bringing his league goal tally to eight.
February 1993 was the last time that Brentford had visited Molineux and it was the venue for the Bees 17th league fixture of the season. The 0–0 scoreline was a fair reflection of the solid defensive displays by both sides, and although Wolves had the greater possession, Brentford notched up more on-target shots and remained 4th in the league table. Brentford's unbeaten run continued three days later with a 3–2 victory over Peterborough United. An early own goal from Gabriel Zakuani gave the Bees a one nil lead at the break, but Peterborough came back and gained the lead with goals from Jack Payne and Britt Assombalonga in the 59th and 60th minutes. The visitors defended their lead well until a reshuffle of the Brentford team led to an equaliser from George Saville (later attributed to Will Grigg), with the comeback completed in the 87th minute via Donaldson.
Two changes were made to the unbeaten starting eleven for the visit to Notts County with Toumani Diagouraga coming in for Saville in midfield and Will Grigg replacing Trotta up front. County had the better of the first half until Grigg fired home in the 44th minute and Brentford held on to the lead to secure their seventh win in the last eight league matches.
December
Striker Paul Hayes departed after 16 months with the club, his contract being terminated by mutual agreement Off the field, Hounslow Council approved the club's application for a new 20,000 seater stadium and community facility at Lionel Road, due to open in time for the start of the 2016/17 season. Uwe Rösler was named the League One Manager of the Month for November after guiding the team to 13 points out of a possible 15 as it was announced that the club had 'reluctantly' agreed to give the manager permission to talk to Wigan Athletic about their vacant managerial position.