Brentford and Middlesbrough shared the spoils in a goalless draw void of action at the Community Stadium.
In a game lacking creativity, it’ll be Neil Warnock’s Boro who’ll feel they had the best chances to secure victory with Lewis Wing and Chuba Akpom guilty of failing to register.
Vitaly Janelt squandered the Thomas Frank's side’s best opportunity to break the deadlock as they registered their third home draw in succession, leaving them eleventh in the table.
Happy Visitors
The evergreen Warnock would’ve been pleased with his sides application in the opening quarter as the visitors stifled the Bees who failed to maintain possession.
Despite their dominance and a number of promising free-kick opportunities, David Raya’s goal went unthreatened.
It wasn’t until the half hour mark that Frank’s men mustered a meaningful effort.
Josh Dasilva excellently drove through a rare hole in the Boro backline only to send his effort inches wide.
Frank’s men finished the half well on top but only had Sergi Canos’s tame long range effort and top goalscorer Ivan Toney’s skewed strike wide to show for their endeavours before whistle-happy referee James Linington brought the half to a close.
Middlesbrough should’ve broken the deadlock ten minutes into the second half.
A neat cut back from Djed Spence down the right found Boro forward Akpom, who beautifully rolled Ethan Pinnock on the penalty spot only to blaze his effort over.
The Bees should've punished the visitors moments later but Janelt unbelievably fired well wide from six yards out after Canos's cut back.
Marc Bola saw a 20-yard volley scrape Raya's post on the hour who looked to be increasing in confidence.
Frank unloaded his attacking options from the bench in search for a winner but it was Boro who should’ve take the three points at the death.
Lewis Wing saw his close range effort parried over by Raya, who had little else to do all game, leaving the spoils to be shared.
TEAMS:
Brentford: Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Dalsgaard, Sorensen, Jensen, Dasilva, Janelt (Fosu 79’), Mbeumo(Forss 67’), Canos (Ghoddos 74’), Toney SUBS: Daniels, Thompson, Marcondes, Forss, Ghoddos, Fosu, Stevens
Middlesbrough: Bettineli, Dijksteel, Fry, Tavernier, Wing, Akpom (Johnson79’), Howson, McNair, Bola, Spence, Coulson(Assombalonga 78’) SUBS: Stojanovic, Johnson, Assombalonga, Browne, Wood, Roberts
REFEREE: James Linington
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