1 min
Brentford’s automatic promotion hopes are all but over after Millwall held them to a goalless draw at the Brentford Community Stadium.
The visitors should have taken the lead just five minutes in when a Danny McNamara cross found Scott Malone at the far post only for him to volley over from close range.
The Bees had their first opportunity on the 20 minute mark but Marcus Forss saw his pass taken away from Ivan Toney as Alex Pearce got a crucial touch.
Two minutes later, Malone had another good chance from Jake Cooper’s flick-on but Brentford keeper David Raya spread himself well to save.
Forss should then have broken the deadlock early in the second-half after beating George Evans but the Brentford forward shot into the side netting.
And with ten minutes left to play Toney latched onto Murray Wallace’s under-hit header back to Bartosz Bialkowski but the Millwall keeper was out quickly to save.
Millwall could have won it in stoppage time after Maikel Kieftenbeld won the ball back well but no-one could get on the end of Danny McNamara’s enticing ball across goal.
The draw, along with Swansea failing to beat Wycombe Wanderers means Norwich City are promoted to the Premier League.
Key Points
Check out all the key talking points and reaction from London Football Scene below…
Key Moment
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson couldn’t get on the end of Danny McNamara’s cut back in the last minute of injury-time to further compound Brentford’s frustrating afternoon.
Moan of the Match
Millwall dropped off after pressing with good intensity for most of the first-half, allowing the Bees to pin them back for much of the second period.
Talking Point
Thomas Frank’s formation change worked brilliantly at Deepdale last week but Brentford struggled to create from open play against Millwall – is it inconsistencies like this which has almost certainly ended their automatic promotion hopes?
Man of the Match
Alex Pearce – the Millwall skipper was immense defensively, making a number of crucial interventions and marshalling his side brilliantly.
Tweet of the Match
Referee Watch
Darren Bond (Lancashire) – a little inconsistent in some of his decisions but had no major calls to make.
Atmosphere
Brentford desperately needed a win and their fans would have backed them to the hilt in a tight game where Millwall would have likely travelled in numbers, too.
Verdict
Brentford had to capitalise on Watford and Swansea dropping points but failed to do so, with a draw a fair result after a disciplined Millwall display.
