League One promotion hopefuls Brentford could muster only a goalless draw with in-form Walsall at Griffin Park.

Dean Smith's play-off chasing Saddlers, who had won six of their previous eight games, almost went behind when Clayton Donaldson's volley grazed the upright.

They were then indebted to keeper Aaron McCarey, with a series of saves to deny Bees striker Marcello Trotta.

James Baxendale had the visitors' best chance when he broke through, but his effort was blocked by Simon Moore.

Having won just one of their last seven league games, Brentford are now five points off top spot, but with two games in hand.

Walsall are a further six points back in ninth, nine points adrift of the play-off places.

Saddlers teenager Ben George played the full 90 minutes on his Saddlers debut after coming in at right-back in place of the injured Ben Purkiss and James Chambers.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Brentford boss Uwe Rosler told BBC London 94.9:

"It was a very good first half. I think we had nine good chances.

"But, in the second half, our momentum was not really going and we didn't take any opportunities.

"Overall it is two points dropped and disappointing as we did many things right but we didn't score despite me playing an offensive team."

Walsall manager Dean Smith told BBC WM:

"They're a good team and they've had some decent results here. And we had to weather a storm in the last five minutes of the first half.

"But Aaron McCarey has come back in on loan from Wolves and kept a clean sheet which he deserved.

"We played some good stuff at time and they had to clear one off the line from us too, but it was a fair result in the end."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Brentford

  • 21 Moore
  • 05 Craig
  • 06 Dean
  • 14 Logan
  • 24 Bidwell
  • 04 Forshaw (Saunders - 86' )
  • 08 Douglas
  • 12 Adeyemi (Diagouraga - 75' )
  • 09 Donaldson
  • 11 Trotta
  • 17 Wright-Phillips (Forrester - 66' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Lee
  • 03 Barron
  • 32 Moore
  • 07 Saunders
  • 20 Diagouraga
  • 19 Forrester
  • 23 Hayes

Walsall

  • 32 Mccarey
  • 04 Butler
  • 18 George
  • 22 Downing
  • 26 Taylor
  • 07 A Chambers
  • 24 Baxendale (Westcarr - 78' )
  • 27 Mantom Booked
  • 09 Grigg
  • 10 Paterson
  • 12 Brandy Booked (Featherstone - 90' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Grof
  • 05 Holden
  • 20 Benning
  • 06 Featherstone
  • 11 Hemmings
  • 17 Bowerman
  • 29 Westcarr
Ref: Graham

Match Stats

Shots

18 8

On target

9 3

Corners

8 11

Fouls

12 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:54 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +3:32

Jonathan Douglas takes a shot. Aaron Mccarey makes a save.

90:00 +3:03

Sam Saunders fouled by Craig Westcarr, the ref awards a free kick. Sam Saunders takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:32

Strike by Nicky Featherstone from inside the six-yard box clear the bar.

90:00 +1:43

Shot by Andy Taylor from outside the box goes high over the crossbar.

90:00 +1:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Sam Saunders on Sam Mantom. Free kick taken by Jamie Paterson.

90:00 +0:13 Substitution

Substitution Nicky Featherstone comes on in place of Febian Brandy.

89:24

Harry Forrester has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide left of the goal.

88:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Chambers by Sam Saunders. Paul Downing takes the direct free kick.

87:21

Jonathan Douglas produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the left of the target.

86:36

Jonathan Douglas fouled by Febian Brandy, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Sam Saunders, clearance by Sam Mantom.

84:54 Substitution

Substitution Sam Saunders is brought on as a substitute for Adam Forshaw.

84:54

Effort from long range by Andy Taylor goes wide right of the target.

84:25

Sam Mantom takes the outswinging corner, clearance made by Jonathan Douglas.

82:25

Handball decision goes against Febian Brandy. Free kick taken by Tony Craig.

81:12

Shaleum Logan concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Paterson. Andy Taylor restarts play with the free kick.

77:37 Substitution

Substitution Craig Westcarr comes on in place of James Baxendale.

74:47

Adam Forshaw crosses the ball in from the free kick, Andy Butler makes a clearance.

74:47 Booking

Booking Sam Mantom booked for unsporting behaviour.

74:26 Substitution

Substitution Toumani Diagouraga is brought on as a substitute for Tom Adeyemi.

74:26

Unfair challenge on Harry Forrester by Sam Mantom results in a free kick.

72:15

Jake Bidwell challenges Febian Brandy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Aaron Mccarey takes the free kick.

71:18

Adam Forshaw takes a shot. Andy Butler gets a block in. Harry Forrester takes the inswinging corner, Paul Downing manages to make a clearance.

67:22

Shot on goal by Adam Forshaw from just inside the area clears the crossbar.

66:38

Clayton Donaldson takes a shot. Comfortable save by Aaron Mccarey.

65:46 Substitution

Substitution Bradley Wright-Phillips leaves the field to be replaced by Harry Forrester.

64:05

Corner taken by Sam Mantom from the left by-line.

63:27

Corner taken by Adam Forshaw from the right by-line, save by Aaron Mccarey.

62:52

The official flags Will Grigg offside. Free kick taken by Simon Moore.

60:27

Jonathan Douglas takes a shot. Save made by Aaron Mccarey. Corner from the left by-line taken by Adam Forshaw, Andy Butler makes a clearance.

58:19

Andy Butler takes a shot. Simon Moore makes a comfortable save.

57:35

Will Grigg has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target. Corner taken left-footed by Andy Taylor, Jonathan Douglas manages to make a clearance.

52:09

Unfair challenge on James Baxendale by Tony Craig results in a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Andy Taylor from right channel, Andy Butler concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonathan Douglas. Simon Moore takes the direct free kick.

50:22

Jonathan Douglas gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Febian Brandy. Jamie Paterson crosses the ball in from the free kick, Simon Moore makes a comfortable save.

48:24

Andy Taylor takes a shot. Save made by Simon Moore. Short corner taken by Andy Taylor.

47:48

Febian Brandy fouled by Jake Bidwell, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Paterson takes the free kick.

45:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Forshaw on Adam Chambers. Andy Taylor takes the direct free kick.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +0:50 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

44:21

Jonathan Douglas produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

44:08

Marcello Trotta takes a shot. Ben George gets a block in.

43:33

Inswinging corner taken by Adam Forshaw, Paul Downing manages to make a clearance.

42:14

Marcello Trotta takes a shot. Aaron Mccarey makes a save.

40:46

Foul by Andy Taylor on Bradley Wright-Phillips, free kick awarded. Adam Forshaw restarts play with the free kick.

38:18

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Clayton Donaldson goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

37:13

Free kick taken by Simon Moore.

37:13 Booking

Booking Febian Brandy goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

34:29

Unfair challenge on Adam Forshaw by James Baxendale results in a free kick. Tony Craig restarts play with the free kick.

33:55

Marcello Trotta has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

31:02

Corner taken by Andy Taylor, save by Simon Moore. Corner taken by Andy Taylor, save by Simon Moore.

28:58

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Bradley Wright-Phillips by James Baxendale. Simon Moore takes the free kick.

26:53

Sam Mantom takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance by Marcello Trotta. Corner taken by Sam Mantom from the left by-line.

25:15

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Adeyemi on Jamie Paterson. Direct free kick taken by Andy Taylor.

24:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Will Grigg by Harlee Dean. Sam Mantom takes the free kick.

23:46

Will Grigg concedes a free kick for a foul on Harlee Dean. Simon Moore restarts play with the free kick.

22:43

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Chambers on Clayton Donaldson. Free kick taken by Adam Forshaw.

21:26

Effort on goal by Bradley Wright-Phillips from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

20:09

The referee blows for offside against Febian Brandy. Simon Moore restarts play with the free kick.

18:26

Headed effort from inside the area by Clayton Donaldson misses to the left of the goal.

17:58

The ball is delivered by Adam Forshaw, Andy Butler makes a clearance.

16:58

Marcello Trotta takes a shot. Save by Aaron Mccarey.

15:14

Clayton Donaldson sends in a cross, save by Aaron Mccarey. Corner taken by Adam Forshaw.

13:59

Marcello Trotta takes a shot. Save made by Aaron Mccarey. Corner from the left by-line taken by Adam Forshaw, Andy Butler manages to make a clearance.

13:19

Corner taken by Adam Forshaw from the left by-line, clearance made by Andy Butler.

13:19

Corner taken right-footed by Adam Forshaw from the left by-line, Paul Downing makes a clearance.

12:33

Andy Taylor takes the inswinging corner, save made by Simon Moore.

10:13

Febian Brandy produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

8:49

Marcello Trotta takes a shot. Aaron Mccarey makes a save. Corner from the left by-line taken by Adam Forshaw, Bradley Wright-Phillips takes a shot. Save by Aaron Mccarey.

6:00

Sam Mantom gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Adeyemi. Adam Forshaw takes the free kick.

5:30

Andy Butler takes a shot. Jonathan Douglas gets a block in.

4:56

Unfair challenge on Will Grigg by Shaleum Logan results in a free kick. Jamie Paterson restarts play with the free kick.

4:03

Clayton Donaldson fouled by Andy Butler, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Forshaw crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, clearance made by Adam Chambers.

3:06

Sam Mantom challenges Bradley Wright-Phillips unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Adam Forshaw, Paul Downing manages to make a clearance.

0:40

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andy Taylor, Clayton Donaldson makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andy Taylor, Harlee Dean makes a clearance.

0:18

Marcello Trotta gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Chambers. Direct free kick taken by Adam Chambers.

0:00

The match gets underway.

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