Brentford 0 Notts County 0

The Bees started the day three points before their rivals, who were nestling in the last playoff spot, and finished there too after a hard fought game.

In a lively start Toumani Diagouraga fired high over the bar in the first minute, while shortly after Lloyd Sam threatened at the other end but sliced his shot wide of the right hand post.

After scoring from a free kick inside the ‘D’ last week, Sam Saunders must have fancied his chances when his side were awarded a free kick from an almost identical position, but his shot came off Dele Adebola’s head in the wall.

Sam threatened again down the right before passing to Alan Judge, who shot just wide of the post.

Half an hour in and it was the turn of Clayton Donaldson to miss, this time firing over the bar from outside the box.

Jeff Hughes came closest to breaking the deadlock when his shot cannoned off Richard Lee’s crossbar.

Saunders tried his luck from another free kick, but again could only strike the wall, while Daniel Bogdanovic shot wide of the left hand post to close a first half full of chances.

Brentford enjoyed the majority of possession early in the second half but failed to create many clear chances.

Midway through the half Alan Sheehan fired a free kick over the bar.

Shaleum Logan then went on a mazy run into the Magpies’ box, but was stopped before he could shoot.

The Bees’ best chance of the half came when Jake Bidwell broke down the left and his cross was headed back across goal by Marcus Bean before Donaldson headed wide.

With minutes remaining Damion Stewart headed another Saunders free kick off the line, while Judge shot over the bar as the game ended goal-less.

Brentford: Lee, Logan, Dean, Osborne, Bidwell; Douglas, Diagouraga, Bean (sub Legge 81), Saunders; Donaldson, Morrison (sub McGinn 69)

Subs (not used): Moore, Forrester, Thompson

Attendance: 7079

Man of the Match: Sam Saunders