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Brentford avoided a potential banana skin as they continued their unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw against an industrious and dangerous Walsall side.

Injuries to Dean, Forshaw and Saunders forced Mark Warburton to change the side around again, with O’Connor deputising at centre-back and McCormack moving to the right-back position.

The first 20 minutes the teams slogged it out in the midfield with neither side creating anychances of note – Button collected a couple of long-range chances before Douglas broke and laid the ball off to Bidwell on the break – who crossed for Donaldson to head home in-off the post. Cue mad scenes from the 1,089 Brentford fans who then saw their team take control of the game with McCormack, Judge and O’Connor all going close for the visitors.

However, with just a minute to go in the first half, a poorly cleared cleared corner allowed the dangerous Lalkovic to get a header in from a cross, from which Westcarr headed in for the equaliser.

HT. Walsall 1 Brentford 1

The Bees upped their game in the second period but had to settle for a few half-chances rather than a winner – Donaldson broke away and crossed for Trotta into the area only for the Italian under-21 to sky the ball when he could have done better – it would have been a spectacular strike though! Walsall had their chances as well. The best of which came from Sawyers who’s shot was acrobatically tipped over the bar by Button.

Saville, who worked hard all game, got booked for a rash challenge. With him and Harlee Dean on seven yellow cards, you can see the need for strength in depth as Brentford could possibly lose these key players for a couple of games as we move towards the finish line.

Arsenal loanee, Chuba Akpom, came on for Grigg, who was feebly booed by the Walsall fans with his every touch, with 20 minutes to go – the youngster should be pleased with his League debut as he wasn’t afraid to find the ball and take players on. An impact sub who will grow with more game-time for sure.

But it was substitute Stuart Dallas who could have won it in the dying seconds with his first touch – his shot going fractionally wide of the post with the ‘keeper stranded.

FT. Walsall 1 Brentford 1

Brentford definitely missed the creative play of Forshaw and Saunders today and, all in all, a draw was probably the fairest result.

Walsall are a decent, well organised wide and possibly the best team over two games that Brentford have played all season thus far. Lalkovic is a class player and he caused McCormack a few problems in the first half down the left wing.

Judge had a less effective game in the centre of the park and, whilst he showed some good touches, Grigg looked wasted out on the left. But Bees had shuffled the pack and came out the other end of the game unscathed, which can only be a good thing.

These next two months are crucial. This was the time last season when Tranmere came to Griffin Park flying high – two months later they weren’t in contention having lost players and ran out of steam.

The draw saw The Bees drop to second place after Orient’s win at Crewe. But there’s a long way to go as the O’s face the likes of Preston, Peterborough, Rotherham and Coventry in their next six fixtures.

And now the Bees can look forward to continuing their run live on Sky this coming Friday night when we take on our old pals Gillingford.

Brentford: Button; McCormack, O’Connor, Craig, Bidwell, Saville, Douglas, Judge (sub Logan 68), Donaldson, Trotta (sub Dallas 88), Grigg (sub Akpom 68)

Subs (not used): Lee, Reeves, Diagouraga, Adams

Attendance: 5295 (1089 Bees)

BillytheBee
@billythebee99