Heroic Bees battle back to earn point

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Brentford 1 Birmingham City 1

Substitute Moses Odubajo’s equaliser clinched a thoroughly deserved point for 10-man Brentford at Griffin Park.

Tony Craig was sent off after a quarter of an hour for a foul on Clayton Donaldson and Paul Caddis tucked away the resulting penalty.

But the Bees were relentless in the second half and summer signing Odubajo scored with 12 minutes remaining – his first goal for the club and the third time this season his team have battled back from a goal down.

They faced an uphill struggle from the moment Craig was shown a straight red card after pushing Donaldson as the former Brentford striker was about to shoot.

Craig was sent off for a foul on ex-colleague Donaldson
Craig was sent off for a foul on ex-colleague Donaldson

With Caddis having tucked away his spot-kick and the hosts without their most experienced defender, Bees boss Mark Warburton sent on Harlee Dean and brought off the unfortunate Jota, who was making his home debut.

Even before the goal Warburton’s side looked vulnerable at the back, particularly on their left-hand side, and there was no respite once they were a man short.

David Cotterill served up a great cross from that flank and Wes Thomas should have capitalised by making it 2-0, but instead headed over from eight yards out.

Birmingham continued to press and were then denied by a stunning save from keeper David Button, who somehow managed to tip over Grant Hill’s header from Cotterill’s corner.

Hill saw another header saved in first-half injury time – Cotterill again the provider with a pinpoint right-wing cross.

With Stuart Dallas on for the second half, Brentford produced a rousing performance after the interval.

They were unlucky, both when Alan Judge’s deflected cross didn’t fall kindly for Andre Gray at the far post, and when they were denied a penalty despite Jonathan Spector appearing to foul Jake Bidwell.

Gray, full of running up front, was also thwarted by a brave close-range stop from keeper Darren Randolph.

But luck did go Brentford’s way when Jonathan Grounds mis-controlled and Odubajo took advantage, racing through before calmly lifting the ball over Randolph.

Brentford (4-1-4-1): Button; McCormack (Odubajo 73), Tarkowski, Craig, Bidwell; Douglas; Jota (Dean 17), Pritchard, Judge, Smith (Dallas 45); Gray.
Subs not used: Bonham, Tebar, Toral, Proschwitz.

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