Three goals in the space of 15 first-half minutes put Thomas Frank's Bees in command, with Yoane Wissa, Bryan Mbeumo and Christian Norgaard all netting.

The outstanding Mikkel Damsgaard assisted the first two goals, picking out Wissa with a sumptuous pass for the 17th-minute opener, before finding Mbeumo free in the area for a curled finish.

Brentford was in cruise control when Norgaard nodded an Mbeumo free-kick home for a 32nd-minute third, and could have had a fourth goal before half-time.

Kevin Schade nodded against the post, then Keane Lewis-Potter's scruffy finish was disallowed, as the ball bounced off his arm before nestling in the bottom-left corner.

Leicester never threatened a fightback, and only a spectacular fingertip save from Mads Hermansen prevented Yehor Yarmoliuk's header from making it four after the break.

Some more pitiful defending from Ruud van Nistelrooy's men ensured Brentford did add a fourth at the death, Fabio Carvalho drilling home after a goalmouth scramble.

After a 10th defeat in its past 11 league games, Leicester is 19th on th table, two points adrift of 17th-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, which also has a game in hand.

Brentford, meanwhile, is up to 10th, four points off the top seven.