Middlesbrough brushed aside Brentford to reach the third round of the Worthington Cup despite manager Steve McClaren selecting an entire reserve side.

McClaren did not name anyone who started against Spurs on Saturday in his team.

But with the likes of Noel Whelan and Carlos Marinelli anxious to prove their first-team credentials, Boro had too much for the Bees.

Marinelli, a �1.5m signing from Boca Juniors, scored a left-foot volley of sublime technique and was in generally brilliant form.

He superbly controlled an Allan Johnston cross after 18 minutes and volleyed past goalkeeper Paul Smith.

Two minutes later his contribution was even more stunning.

This time he weaved his way through the Brentford penalty box before plucking out a cross for Whelan to tap the ball home from two yards.

Brentford produced far more resistance in the second half and Boro's Mark Crossley was the busier of the two keepers.

Middlesbrough showed their class with another two goals in two minutes.

Midfielder Mark Wilson cracked a left-foot curler home from 20 yards in the 75th minute.

And then two minutes later substitute Stewart Downing added a fourth as the Brentford defence capitulated.

Ibrahima Sonko headed home a consolation for Brentford in injury time but it was the only thing for Brentford's 7,558 crowd to cheer all night.

Brentford: Paul Smith, Dobson, Roget, Sonko, Anderson, O'Connor, Fullarton, Hutchinson, Hunt, McCammon, Vine. Subs: Julian, Evans, Williams, Constantine, Jay Smith.

Middlesbrough: Crossley, Parnaby, Gavin, Vidmar, Cooper, Wilkshire, Marinelli, Johnston, Wilson, Whelan, Windass. Subs: Russell, Downing, Close, Dove, Davies.

Referee: K Hill (Hertfordshire).