A goalkeeping clanger at either end ensured it was honors even in Tuesday night’s key Championship promotion clash between Brentford and Leeds United at Griffin Park.
In-form winger Said Benrahma had given the Bees the lead with his fourth goal in three games, but Liam Cooper struck back for Leeds to earn a 1-1 draw as neither side was able to take full advantage of Nottingham Forest’s surprise home defeat to Charlton.
Despite returning to full training this week, Pontus Jansson was not fit enough to play any part against his former side, so Thomas Frank named an unchanged Brentford side, with Julian Jeanvier partnering Ethan Pinnock at center-back.
Marcelo Bielsa made just one change to his Leeds line-up despite their recent run of poor form, with Kalvin Phillips returning from suspension in place of Gjanni Alioski.
Benrahma opened the scoring on the night. (PA)
The visitors started on the front foot, and Jack Harrison missed an excellent chance to open the scoring when commendably staying on his feet when he might have had a penalty shout, only to skew tamely at David Raya.
Instead, it was the home side who struck first and in comical fashion as Kiko Casilla allowed a backpass to run too far across him, leaving Benrahma with an open goal.
Not to be outdone, Raya then all-but handed Leeds a leveller before the break, flapping at a corner and leaving Cooper an easy close-range finish.
Helder Costa missed a good chance to put Bielsa’s men in front just after the hour mark, while Brentford lost Josh DaSilva to injury, with Emiliano Marcondes sent on in his place.
Bielsea introduced January loan signing Jean-Kevin Augustin in place of Patrick Bamford, before Frank gave Tarique Fosu and Shandon Baptiste their debuts following their arrivals from Oxford United last month.
But neither side could find a winner as the race for promotion condensed even further, with just two points now separating second from fifth, though Fulham have a game in hand, against Millwall on Wednesday.
FULL-TIME | Brentford 1-1 Leeds |
Almost another hairy moment for Casilla. Henry punts forward and the Leeds’ keeper comes for what should be a fairly routine collection but the wind catches him out and Watkins almost pounces before he scrambles back to claim at the second attempt.
KICK-OFF!
We are back underway …
Leeds have been the better side but ultimately it’s been a goalkeeping error at either end that has given us our half-time scoreline.
HALF TIME | Brentford 1-1 Leeds |
All square at the break.
Leeds are finishing the half very strongly here, Dallas hitting a cracking diagonal ball in behind to the back post but Costa heads just over.
GOAL! | Brentford 1-1 Leeds | Liam Cooper 50 ‘
A clanger at each end and the visitors are deservedly level!
David Raya comes for a corner and doesn’t get anywhere near it, leaving Liam Cooper the simple job of converting.
GOAL! | Brentford 1-0 Leeds | Said Benrahma 33 ‘
It’s an absolute clanger from Casilla, but Brentford will not care! Leeds are playing out from the back and their ‘keeper takes an awful touch, letting the ball run across him and Benrahma is flying in to hammer home!
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