Bees denied by late Derby equaliser

By

Derby 1 Brentford 1

Darren Bent’s injury-time equaliser denied Brentford a crucial victory in the promotion race.

The on-loan Aston Villa striker pounced on a low shot across the box and smashed in from close range after Alex Pritchard’s first-half goal had seemed enough to clinch a deserved win for the Bees.

The on-loan Tottenham youngster’s curling effort, finding the far corner from distance, was superb and the away side had further chances to score through Andre Gray and Jonathan Douglas, whose close-range effort was cleared off the line in the second half.

Victory could have cemented Brentford in the play-off places but instead moves them into the top six only on goal difference.

Douglas was the only change to the side that drew at home to Nottingham Forest in midweek and he was instrumental in his side’s recovery from a strong start by the Rams.

Hull City loanee Tom Ince twice threatened in the early moments, firing a free-kick the wrong side of the post before forcing David Button into a diving save to his right.

But Brentford were not fazed and Moses Odubajo almost took the lead when he broke into the box and saw a volley saved at point-blank range by Lee Grant.

Pritchard had also grown livelier in the moments leading up to his opener on 28 minutes, and he continued to be a nuisance to Derby’s defenders.

But Brentford will be kicking themselves for not taking their chances and a frustrated Gray missed on three occasions before he was replaced by Tommy Smith late on.

First he was slow to react to a loose ball in the box and then poked wide from close range moments later after stealing the ball from a defender.

Gray then missed with an unmarked header at the far post before Douglas poked a cross from Jota at goal that was blocked on the line by Craig Forsyth on 68 minutes.

Button had seemingly kept Brentford within sight of victory when he saved from Zack Whitbread late on but Bent was in the right place to pounce in dramatic fashion at the death.

Brentford (4-3-3): Button; Odubajo, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell; Douglas, Diagouraga, Judge; Jota (Dallas 70), Gray (Smith 83), Pritchard (Toral 86)
Subs not used: Bonham, Craig, McCormack, O’Connell.

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook