Last-gasp goal denies Bees victory

By

Shrewsbury Town 1 Brentford 1

Brentford missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of League One as Tom Eaves’s dramatic injury time strike denied them victory.

The Bees were looking on course for a win thanks to Marcello Trotta’s 10th league goal of the season, as he atoned for a penalty miss by netting the rebound midway through the second half.

But just as the 90 minutes had elapsed, Eaves pounced inside the box and found the top corner to snatch a point for struggling Shrewsbury.

With Leyton Orient losing at Rotherham, victory would have taken the Bees four points clear at the top of League One but instead they remain two ahead of Wolves, who are now their nearest challengers.

Mark Warburton made two changes from the side which beat Bristol City on Tuesday, with Arsenal loanee Nico Yennaris making his debut at right-back in place of the departed Shay Logan, and Harlee Dean returning to centre-back.

Shrewsbury began the better side, with Eaves firing wide and Bahrudin Atajic hitting a volley over.

Brentford exerted a little more control as the first half wore on with Trotta the focal point.

The Italian had lifted the ball over the bar when one-on-one with the goalkeeper Chris Weale and twice shot wide.

Early in the second half, Yennaris picked up an injury and was replaced by Adam Forshaw, who was almost immediately called into action to block Eaves’ header from a corner with Bees keeper David Button beaten.

The breakthrough arrived on 67 minutes when Ryan Woods was adjudged to have fouled Alan Judge.

Trotta’s penalty was saved by Weale but the striker reacted quickly to turn home the loose ball for his seventh goal in his last nine games.

Brentford had looked to have kept Shrewsbury at arm’s length, with Button’s goal looking safe, until Eaves struck.

Although victory was snatched from their grasp late on, it does stretch their remarkable unbeaten league run to 18 matches.

Brentford: Button; Yennaris (Forshaw 50), Dean, Craig, Bidwell; Douglas, Saville, McCormack; Judge (Grigg 83), Trotta (Akpom 77), Donaldson.
Subs not used: Lee, O’Connor, Dallas, Reeves.

Follow West London Sport on Twitter
Find us on Facebook