Bees draw with high-flying Brighton
Brentford 0 Brighton 0
Brentford were held to their first goalless draw in 14 months after being left frustrated by solid defending and superb goalkeeping.
Former Fulham keeper David Stockdale made three excellent saves late in the game to ensure third-placed Brighton came away with a point.
The Bees had started on the front foot, with Alan Judge and Lasse Vibe particularly bright early on, but were kept at bay by an Albion side who held their shape well.
It wasn’t until late in the first half that they turned up the heat on the visitors, with Chelsea loanee John Swift shooting narrowly wide and Ryan Woods drilling over from just inside the box.
Brighton, who had been unbeaten all season until last weekend’s 3-0 defeat to Middlesbrough, switched formation at the break and that gave them more possession early in the second half.
Jamie Murphy went close for the Seagulls with a curled effort just beyond the far post and while the visitors looked lively and quick on the break, Brentford continued to probe without real threat in the final third.
The Bees had a penalty shout on Vibe turned down, before Judge brought the first of three excellent saves from Stockdale with a firmly struck shot.
He then palmed out James Tarkowski’s header and denied Judge once more.
Philipp Hofmann, on as a substitute, had a couple of chances to win it with two headers but Brentford had to settle for a first goalless draw since October 2014.
Brentford: Button; Yennaris, Dean, Tarkowski, Bidwell; Diagouraga, Woods (Saunders 85); Canos (McCormack 76), Judge, Swift; Vibe (Hofmann 76).
Subs not used: Bonham, O’Connell, McEachran, Jota.
