Brentford boss Dean Smith was proud of his players’ endeavour despite them surrendering a late lead to draw 1-1 away at Championship high-flyers Leeds.
Pontus Jansson powered in a dramatic 88th-minute header from Ezgjan Alioski’s free-kick as Leeds earned a point, with the hosts having Luke Ayling dismissed late on.
The equaliser from the Swedish centre-back was deserved for Marcelo Bielsa’s battling side, who had trailed from the spot through Neal Maupay’s 10th goal of the season just after the hour, following a foul on Ollie Watkins by home goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell.
And Bees manager Smith was satisfied despite dropping two points late in the day.
He said: “I thought we were very good today, first half we were very good.
“I can’t remember Leeds having too many opportunities in the first half, they had a couple in the second half as it became an end-to-end game and opened up a little bit.
“In the first half I thought we were aggressive, and we forced a very good team into a lot of mistakes today and should have probably made more of our opportunities.
“I was really pleased (with Maupay). The way Leeds play, they go man-to-man and try and make it very difficult when you have the ball, and I felt we linked off him really well.
“I thought it was a penalty, he (Watkins) has taken it past the goalkeeper and he’s took him out.”
Brentford enjoyed the better of the early play, and inside 12 minutes Peacock-Farrell was forced to smartly push Maupay’s drive around the post after the Leeds backline had been caught out following Sergi Canos’ swift breakaway.
The Bees went close again after Watkins danced into the penalty area but saw his shot loop off Liam Cooper onto the crossbar, with Peacock-Farrell spreading himself well to thwart Maupay.
Leeds had openings of their own after growing into the game, Tyler Roberts seeing his effort saved by Luke Daniels before Samuel Saiz struck just wide.
Brentford took the lead after 62 minutes when Watkins was brought down by Peacock-Farrell, with Maupay stepping up to roll his right-footed penalty into the bottom left corner.
From then on, the side from the capital were under the cosh, with Cooper glancing just wide before Daniels superbly denied Kalvin Phillips from close range.
But having knocked on the door, Leeds levelled when Jansson looped Alioski’s teasing free-kick over Daniels.
United then had Ayling sent off in the 94th minute of a pulsating encounter in Yorkshire.
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Brentford played really well and unsettled Leeds but Watkins was on his way over before the GK touched him. As such it was a dive and he should have been booked. Funny how Smith didn't mention his player headbutting Alioski, his player staying on the field after he should have received a second yellow or his technical team holding the ball to waste time; the irony.
Unfortunately the standard of refereeing is very poor but this is due to the approach of visiting teams to ER. They con the officials by falling over at the slightest touch. Waste time . Dive for penalties. The break will do LUFC. When we start again the team should be back to full strength raring to go. We must keep in touch until Xmas.
What planet is Dean Smith on. Watkins pushed ball past the keeper and saw that there were two defenders to deal with his effort and he then dived. Pure and simple a cheat. As for ref why was your left back not sent off for foul on Leeds Sub on the touchline. He got up expecting to walk his body language should this and the ref did nothing. No wonder Smith took him off. Worst referee we have seen at ER nothing short of a cheat. Will the EFL do anything NO NO NO because it’s Leeds.