West Brom 1 Brentford 1 - Report and pictures

The Baggies found the Bees tough opposition on a tricky afternoon at The Hawthorns, particularly during the first half when the visitors showed all their confidence following the run which has taken them fourth in the table.

Both goals came at the end of the first period from very similar situations, Henrik Dalsgaard heading home a corner for Brentford before Darnell Furlong did likewise for Albion just three minutes later.

It was an improved Albion performance after the break, particularly with Matheus Pereira more involved and pulling the strings, but they were unable to break down a stubborn Brentford defence.

And then they did get through, thanks to substitute Charlie Austin just two minutes from time, it was ruled out for offside.

At times it wasn’t the free-flowing Albion to which Baggies fans have become accustomed, but another hard-earned point takes the tally to 50 at the halfway point and preserves the unbeaten record at The Hawthorns.

With Leeds losing at Fulham, it also means Albion head to Barnsley on Boxing Day with a three-point lead at the top of the table, and with a 12-point cushion to third.

Report

Albion made two changes from the team which had started the derby win at Birmingham City seven days earlier.

Furlong and Kyle Edwards came in to the starting eleven to replace the injured Grady Diangana and Conor Townsend.

The first big chance of the game arrived before two minutes were on the clock, and it fell to Brentford.

A well-worked move saw the ball find Bryan Mbeumo in space down the inside right, and he cut inside onto his left foot before hitting a low shot which Sam Johnstone just about managed to gather.

Johnstone was called into action again a couple of minutes later, diving low to his right to palm away a long range effort from Said Benrahma.

It had been a lively start from the visitors, but Albion made their first dangerous foray into Bees territory on nine minutes.

Nathan Ferguson drove down the left and sent in a teasing low cross which just clipped the heels of Robson-Kanu allowing Pinnock to clear.

Brentford’s confidence in recent results was certainly clear to see in the early stages and it needed a clearing header from Furlong to snuff out the danger after Mbeiumo diverted a Dasilva free kick dangerously across goal.

Albion had been unable to get Pereira into the game until this point, but his threat was soon evident as he broke the offside trip to get in behind the Brentford defence down the right.

He cut back inside onto his left foot to send in a dinked cross aiming for Livermore but Jeanvier was well placed to head the ball away.

Semi Ajayi then got himself into trouble on the ball resulting in a foul on Watkins but Benrahma smashed the free kick comfortably over the crossbar.

It had been an uncomfortable opening spell for the Baggies but they managed to produce a decent opening in the 25thminute.

Romaine Sawyers switched the play well for Furlong on the right and his cross was promising only for David Raya to collect as Pereira lurked.

But things were still uncomfortable at the back, and Christian Norgaard latched onto a loose Ajayi pass before shooting wide from the edge of the box.

Ayaji was heavily involved at both ends of the pitch and made a good run to meet a clever Matt Phillips corner but was unable to keep the difficult half volley on target.

But it needed a fine header from Bartley at the other end to clear the danger after a neat chip into the area.

With Albion struggling to find their usual free flowing football a set piece was starting to look like their best chance for an opening and another well-worked corner between Phillips and Pereira saw the ball worked out to Livermore just outside the box.

But the captain was unable to keep his shot on target as it flew into the stand behind the goal.

The 37thminute brought a fulsome tribute to Chris Eno, both home and away fans joining together with loud applause in memory of the Albion fan who sadly passed away earlier this month.

A moment of magic from Pereira then almost created the breakthrough for Albion.

The mercurial midfielder took the ball out of the air superbly to control before threading a superb reverse pass behind the defence.

Edwards was onto it and tried to go around Raya but the Brentford keeper did well to claw the ball away.

Pereira was starting to find more space and followed up that piece of skill with a shot from distance which was deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing.

And yet, just as Albion were looking to carry more of a threat, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock three minutes before the break.

Jensen sent over a teasing corner and Dalsgaard timed his run perfectly to meet the delivery with a header which arrowed into the opposite side of the net.

But after surviving loud appeals for a penalty against alleged handball by Bartley, Albion showed their character to hit back almost immediately with a very similar goal.

Phillips sent in another dangerous corner which Furlong met at the near post to score with an emphatic header.

If the Baggies were slightly fortunate to be on terms at half time they started the second half on the front foot thanks to a driving run from Ferguson down the left.

His whipped-in cross got the faintest of touches from keeper Raya which diverted the ball sufficiently away from danger and straight against Phillips.

There was a blow shortly afterwards as Bartley, who had received lengthy treatment after doing injured not long before the break, was unable to continue with Dara O’Shea coming on from the bench for his league debut.

The game still had the feeling of plenty of goal opportunities around it and Robson-Kanu was away but opted to try a shot from considerable distance which he dragged wide of the target.

Albion were now looking to create some more sustained pressure and Livermore tested the keeper with a low drive after a corner was cleared.

Some neat interplay between Edwards and Robson-Kanu then sent Edwards away down the inside left but he was unable to get sufficient power on his shot.

The threat from the visitors was far from going away however, and Jansgaard delivered a decent ball into the box from which Jeanvier glanced a header wide.

Back came Albion, and after a neat move saw the ball break off Robson-Kanu from Edwards’ cross, Sawyers fired over.

Chances were coming at both ends now and Benrahma’s drilled effort took a deflection before flying inches wide.

With the game so delicately poised Slaven Bilic called once again for Charlie Austin 20 minutes from time, replacing Phillips and going up front with Robson-Kanu dropping back to the number 10 role.

And as the game moved into the closing stages it was still very much up for grabs for both sides.

It looked for all the world as though Austin had done it again two minutes from time.

Krovinovic found Pereira inside the area with a clever pass and after his shot had been parried, Austin was on hand to lash home the rebound.

But the assistant’s flag brought a swift end to the celebrations, replays suggesting he had got the decision right.

There was still time for one more Brentford chance as the game moved into added time, Norgaard firing a first time volley wide of the target.

And that was pretty much that, with the points shared, and for Albion, another one on the board as they hit the half century mark in the bid for promotion.

Teams

Albion (4-2-3-1): Johnstone, Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley (O’Shea 49), Ferguson; Livermore, Sawyers; Phillips (Austin 71), Pereira, Edwards (Krovinovic 78); Robson-Kanu.

Subs not used: Bond, Brunt, Townsend, Barry.

Brentford (4-3-3) : Raya, Dalsgaard, Jeanvier, Pinnock, Henry; Jensen (Mokotjo 71), Norgaard, Dasilva (Zamburek 90+1); Mbeumo (Valencia 86), Watkins, Benrahma.

Subs not used: Daniels, Thompson, Bech Sorensen, Roerslev.

Referee: Darren Bond