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West Brom 1 Brentford 1 - Report and pictures

Albion's inability to keep a clean sheet cost them two points as Lewis MacLeod headed in an injury-time equaliser for Brentford at The Hawthorns.

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Harvey Barnes scores (AMA)

The Baggies looked to have won it 13 minutes from time after they eventually made their dominance count with an exquisite Harvey Barnes strike into the top corner.

But after a memorable weekend of boxing, the Baggies were dealt their own 12th round haymaker to ensure it was a one-sided draw rather than a deserved victory in what was supposed to be their warm-up fight before Friday's heavyweight clash.

They may be the league's top scorers, but Albion left their collective shooting boots at home for owner Guochuan Lai's first game of the season.

Gilt-edged chances were spurned by Jay Rodriguez and Hal Robson-Kanu in a first half that should have ended with the Baggies out of sight.

There was a huge sigh of relief when Barnes eventually found the net, but Brentford's late goal, which Tosin Adarabioyo will not want to see again, undid all their work.

Darren Moore kept faith in the line-up and formation that delivered three wins in a row, which meant Dwight Gayle remained on the bench, and how they missed his predatory touch in the first half.

Brentford were buoyed by a return from injury for winger Ollie Watkins to help supplement the obvious goal threat of Neal Maupay.

Villa boss Dean Smith was in the stands with his assistants John Terry and Richard O'Kelly to watch his former club take on his next opponents, and the supporters certainly had their minds on Friday, because it took less than a minute for the Smethwick End to sing "Aston Villa, we're waiting for you."

But their attention was quickly turned towards the pitch when Harvey Barnes burst clear down the left three minutes in.

His cross with the outside of his foot put the ball on a plate for Jay Rodriguez at the back post but somehow the striker scooped hist shot over the bar from just three yards out.

Rodriguez had another chance soon after when Matt Phillips pulled the ball back to him, but he didn't connect with his shot properly.

The Baggies started brightly, and were zipping the ball through a poor Brentford side with ease.

Jake Livermore shot tamely into Dan Bentley's chest after one sweeping move up the pitch, and Barnes was having plenty of joy down the left.

Albion were peppering the Brentford box with crosses, but the Bees were holding firm.

The visitors enjoyed a spell of pressure themselves that finished with an Ollie Watkins shot deflecting just wide.

But it was mainly one-way traffic. Albion came agonisingly close again 25 minutes in when Phillips's low cross somehow evaded both Robson-Kanu and Rodriguez.

Two minutes later and Robson-Kanu, whose industry was winning the ball high up, somehow put a header wide from just five yards out when Kieran Gibbs stood up a pefect cross to him.

Robson-Kanu then missed the ball completely after Matt Phillips stung Bentley's palms from range as Albion contrived to do everything except put the ball in the net.

There were more chances for Barnes and Rodriguez before Phillips ended the half by letting fly from 30 yards out and clipping the bar.

Albion should have been out of sight by the break but it just wasn't going in. And so Moore did the sensible thing at half-time and sent for Dwight Gayle.

But it was Sawyers who saw the first chance of the half, blazing over a good chance from the edge of the box.

Albion kept probing, and kept crossing, but Brentford tried to break up their momentum with both Emiliano and Rico Henry taking their time on the deck, although the latter was eventually forced off through injury.

And shortly after the hour mark Brentford gave Albion a reminder that they were very much still in the game when it took a stunning reflex save from Sam Johnstone to deny Emiliano from eight yards out.

The Bees were beginning to believe, and after failing to make their dominance count in the first half, the real possibility of failing to win this match was starting to take shape for Albion.

But then up popped Barnes with 13 minutes to go. His initial shot with his favoured right foot was well blocked, but he reacted quickly and fired into the top corner with his left.

It is just the latest in a long line of gorgeous goals from the Leicester loanee, and looked like being one of his most important.

But Albion seem incapable of shutting out the opposition this season and in the first minute of injury time, substitute MacLeod found an unlikely equaliser.

Emiliano was allowed time to send in a cross, but it was Adarabioyo's static state in the box which allowed MacLeod to steal in and steal a point.

The draw moves Albion up into third ahead of Friday's derby, but Moore will know it should have been two points more.

KEY MOMENTS

03 Incredible miss from Rodriguez, who skies the ball over from three yards out after great work from Barnes.

27 Robson-Kanu heads wide from five yards out after Gibbs stands a cross up to him.

45 Moore sends on Dwight Gayle for Robson-Kanu.

67 Superb reflex save from Johnstone denies Emiliano.

77 GOAL ALBION - Barnes fires into the top corner with his left foor

90+1 GOAL BRENTFORD - Substitute Macleod heads in an equaliser.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kieran Gibbs - The left-back barely put a foot wrong all night.

POSITION IN THE TABLE

3rd, with 35 points from 20 games.

TEAMS

Albion (4-3-3): Johnstone; Adarabioyo, Dawson, Hegazi, Gibbs; Phillips, Livermore (c), Morrison; Robson-Kanu (Gayle 45), Rodriguez, Barnes.

Unused subs: Myhill, Mears, Brunt, Barry, Harper, Hoolahan.

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Bentley; Dalsgaard, Mepham, Konsa, Henry (Odubajo 64); McEachran (Macleod 83), Sawyers (c); Judge, Marcondes, Watkins (Benrahma 78); Maupay.

Unused subs: Daniels, Macleod, Canos, Mokotjo, Barbet.

Referee: Darren Bond

Attendance: 20,949 (665 away)