Brentford and Brighton share the spoils in tightly contested affair

Brentford and Brighton will both consider it an opportunity missed after playing out a 0-0 Premier League draw at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Brighton had the best chances late on in Wednesday’s low-key encounter – Danny Welbeck seeing a goalbound strike blocked by Kristoffer Ajer before the experienced attacker prodded wide in stoppage time.

Ivan Toney’s creativity failed to spark Brentford into life at the other end, while the Seagulls also had a penalty appeal turned down following a VAR check on the stroke of half-time.

The draw extends Brentford’s winless run to eight league matches, though Thomas Frank’s team did edge further away from the relegation zone, with Luton Town having gone down 2-0 at Arsenal.

Brighton, meanwhile, failed to capitalise on Newcastle United and West Ham drawing on Tuesday, and they remain in ninth place.

Yoane Wissa sliced wide from the game’s first opening in the 11th minute, before strike-partner Toney stumbled as he was shooting from close range, sending a tame effort at Bart Verbruggen, though it took until first-half stoppage time for the game to spark into life.

VAR Michael Oliver instructed on-pitch referee Andy Madley to go to the screen for a possible pull from Wissa on Lewis Dunk in Brentford’s box, but having assessed the replays, the referee correctly upheld his decision not to award Brighton a spot-kick.

Not that the frantic conclusion to the first half resulted in any momentum being carried over in the second period, and it was not until the 87th minute that either side carved out an opening.

Brighton substitute Welbeck looked set to slam home from close range, yet Ajer lunged across to make a fantastic intervention.

Welbeck had another sighter in stoppage time, but failed to keep his cool as both sides had to settle for a result that does not really suit either of them.

It is not often that a referee goes to the pitchside monitor, reviews the replays and then elects not to overturn his original decision.

So in this instance, credit where it’s due to referee Madley, who did just that. He spotted that Dunk had actually committed a foul on Wissa before the Brentford player returned the favour, and decided not to give a spot-kick.

Having scored Brentford’s late equaliser against Manchester United on Saturday, Ajer delivered a fantastic defensive display this time around, and that was summed up by the vital block he made to deny Welbeck at the end.

Brentford: Flekken 6, Jorgensen 6, Ajer 8*, Collins 7, Roerslev 6, Jensen 7, Janelt 6, Yarmoliuk 6, Lewis-Potter 6, Toney 7, Wissa 6. Subs: Damsgaard 6, Mbeumo 6, Onyeka N/A, Reguilon 6.

Brighton: Verbruggen 6, Veltman 6, Van Hecke 7, Dunk 7, Igor 7, Gross 7, Baleba 6, Buonanotte 5, Lallana 6, Adringa 5, Joao Pedro 5. Subs: Encisco 5, Lamptey 6, Moder 6, Welbeck 6.

11’ – CLOSE! Brentford 0-0 Brighton (Wissa): There’s the first big chance of the game, and it goes the way of Brentford! Toney sets an attack away with a subtle, gorgeous flick into Jensen, who in turn threads it wide to the advancing Lewis-Potter. His cutback reaches Wissa at the near post, but the forward can’t divert it on target.

31’ – CHANCE! Brentford 0-0 Brighton (Toney): Toney goes close! After a good move from Brentford, the England international gets through, but he slips at the vital moment and sends a weak effort at Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen.

47’ – VAR! PENALTY CHECK! Brentford 0-0 Brighton: Well, well, well. We have a check for a penalty right on the stroke of half-time! From the corner following Flekken’s error, Wissa and Dunk tussled in the area. It was clearly a tug from the Brentford forward on the Brighton man, but there does appear to have been a foul from the Brighton defender first…

48’ – NO PENALTY! Brentford 0-0 Brighton: Excellent refereeing from Andy Madley, who goes to the monitor but does not elect to change his decision, as he instead rightly deems that Dunk – who dragged Wissa back – had committed the first foul, which in turn led to Wissa pulling on the centre-back’s shirt.

87’ – BLOCK! Brentford 0-0 Brighton (Ajer): Brilliant last-ditch defending from Ajer, who might have just saved a certain goal there! Welbeck was through in the box and, from a tight-ish angle, got a shot off that looked set to hit the target, but Ajer – Brentford’s hero against Man United on Saturday – lunged across to make a perfectly timed block.

92’ – MISS! Brentford 0-0 Brighton (Welbeck): Another chance to win it for Brighton! Welbeck breaks down the left and cuts into the box before looking to aim an outside-of-the boot shot towards the far corner. But, under pressure from Ajer, he can’t find the inside of the upright and another opportunity goes begging for the Seagulls.