Brentford failed to find a way past resolute defending from Carlisle United as the sides played out a dour 0-0 draw at Griffin Park on Saturday.

 

With the sides very different starts to the season – Brentford tucked in fourth place in the table and the visitors second from bottom – it was always going to be down to the home side to seek a way through, and despite seeing a legitimate looking goal disallowed, they failed to do so.

Even the dismissal of captain Tony Craig for a straight red card during the second half made little difference to the shape of play as Carlisle dug in for a point.

During a first half which lacked tempo and urgency, Craig headed a Sam Saunders free kick over, while Scott Barron saw his shot from a Saunders cutback blocked for a corner and Farid El Alagui knocked a Saunders free kick behind from the edge of the six yard box.

In the second half substitute Will Grigg saw his headed from a Shaleum Logan cross easily held by Mark Gillespie.

David Button made a good save from Lee Miller in a rare foray forward by Carlisle.

Craig was dismissed when his last ditch tackle on David Amoo brought the striker down as he raced through on goal.

Substitute Jake Reeves could have done better when he picked the ball up in midfield and fired wide of the right hand post.

The main talking point came when substitute Toumani Diagouraga looked to have bundled the ball home from close range, but the referee harshly judged that Clayton Donaldson had fouled Gillespie.

So the Bees remain unbeaten, but will feel it was a case of two points dropped at home.


Brentford: Button, Logan, Craig, Dean, Barron; Saunders (sub Reeves 67), Forshaw, Saville (sub Diagouraga 75), McCormack; Donaldson, El Alagui (sub Grigg h/t)

Subs (not used): Bonham O'Connor, Dallas, Fillo

Attendance: 6,035