Brentford 1-1 Charlton Athletic

Charlton finished last season 18th in the Championship table

Substitute Tommy Smith salvaged a point for Brentford as the Bees marked their first appearance in the second tier since 1993 with a hard-earned draw against Charlton.

Igor Vetokele, who joined the Addicks from FC Copenhagen in the summer, headed his side ahead at Griffin Park.

George Țucudean and substitute Callum Harriott wasted chances for Charlton.

And they were made to pay as Smith's late deflected shot ensured Brentford a share of the spoils.

Opening day draw specialists
This is the third successive season that Brentford have started the campaign with a draw.

England manager Roy Hodgson was in the crowd at Griffin Park as was Football Association chairman Greg Dyke, the former Brentford chairman. And they witnessed a hard-fought London derby.

Brentford, who secured automatic promotion from League One in April, did not look overawed as they started brightly against opponents who struggled in the Championship last season.

Midfielder Alex Pritchard, on loan from Tottenham, went close from 20 yards in the opening stages before Judge forced Addicks keeper Henderson into a fine 40th-minute save.

Charlton manager Bob Peeters, who was capped 13 times by Belgium, had a two-year spell as a player at Millwall between 2003 and 2005

But Charlton created the better chances and will likely rue those missed opportunities.

With the game goalless, Țucudean was clean through but Bees keeper David Button stood his ground to make a fine save.

Charlton, in their first competitive match under manager Bob Peeters, took the lead when Vetokele struck from a corner shortly after the 22-year-old had been denied by Button.

But Brentford responded well and former Cardiff man Smith equalised with a shot that hit Charlton's former Chelsea and Manchester City defender Tal Ben Haim before finding the net.

Brentford boss Mark Warburton:

"In the first 15 minutes I thought we were very bright but after that I didn't think we did what we do well.

"We've got a lot of young players who will find their feet, but when you start a new job and move up you have to adapt to your new environment quickly because no allowances will be given."

"As the game went on there were too many gaps between our units and their two big, experienced centre halves relished the physical game we got lured into."

Charlton boss Bob Peeters:

"We have created four clear chances so it's disappointing not to leave with more than a point, but I suppose at the start of the day a point away from home is a positive.

"I was delighted with the new boys Vetokele and Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who both settled in and adapted well."

Brentford's last second tier win was against Barnsley on 1 May 1993

Charlton goalscorer Igor Vetokele (left) helped FC Copenhagen win the Danish League in 2012-13

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Brentford

• 27Button
• 12McCormack
• 26Tarkowski
• 5Craig
• 3Bidwell
• 8DouglasBooked at 90mins
• 10OdubajoSubstituted forTébarat 45'minutes
• 21PritchardSubstituted forSmithat 79'minutes
• 18Judge
• 15Dallas
• 19GraySubstituted forProschwitzat 67'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Lee
• 6Dean
• 14Tébar
• 24Smith
• 28Yennaris
• 33Moore
• 39Proschwitz

Charlton

• 1Henderson
• 20Solly
• 26Ben Haim
• 6Bikey Amougou
• 16Wiggins
• 7Berg GudmundssonSubstituted forFoxat 90+2'minutes
• 17BuyensBooked at 32mins
• 4Jackson
• 24CousinsSubstituted forMoussaat 90+2'minutes
• 29TucudeanSubstituted forHarriottat 63'minutes
• 14Vetokele

Substitutes

• 2Wilson
• 5Morrison
• 10Moussa
• 11Harriott
• 21Fox
• 23Pigott
• 30Pope

Referee:

James Adcock

Attendance:

9,690

Match Stats

Home TeamBrentfordAway TeamCharlton

Possession

Home62%

Away38%

Shots

Home13

Away13

Shots on Target

Home4

Away4

Corners

Home11

Away5

Fouls

Home3

Away13

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Brentford 1, Charlton Athletic 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+4'

Second Half ends, Brentford 1, Charlton Athletic 1.

Posted at 90'+3'

James Tarkowski (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Morgan Fox (Charlton Athletic).

Posted at 90'+3'

Attempt missed. Tommy Smith (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by James Tarkowski following a corner.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Brentford. Conceded by André Bikey.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Charlton Athletic. Franck Moussa replaces Jordan Cousins.

Substitution

Posted at 90'+2'

Substitution, Charlton Athletic. Morgan Fox replaces Johann Berg Gudmundsson.

Booking

Posted at 90'

Jonathan Douglas (Brentford) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Jonathan Douglas (Brentford).

Posted at 90'

André Bikey (Charlton Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 89'

Alan Judge (Brentford) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.

Posted at 88'

Nick Proschwitz (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Johnnie Jackson (Charlton Athletic).

Posted at 87'

Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Chris Solly.

Posted at 87'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 86'

Delay in match (Brentford).

Goal!

Posted at 85'

Goal! Brentford 1, Charlton Athletic 1. Tommy Smith (Brentford) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alan McCormack with a cross.

Posted at 83'

Corner, Charlton Athletic. Conceded by Alan McCormack.

Posted at 83'

Attempt blocked. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Charlton Athletic) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Yoni Buyens.

Posted at 82'

Attempt missed. Alan Judge (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Tommy Smith with a cross.

Posted at 80'

Callum Harriott (Charlton Athletic) hits the bar with a left footed shot from outside the box.

Posted at 79'

Foul by James Tarkowski (Brentford).

Posted at 79'

Igor Vetokele (Charlton Athletic) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 79'

Substitution, Brentford. Tommy Smith replaces Alex Pritchard.

Posted at 78'

Attempt missed. James Tarkowski (Brentford) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Alex Pritchard with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Johnnie Jackson.

Posted at 77'

Corner, Brentford. Conceded by André Bikey.

Posted at 77'

Attempt blocked. Nick Proschwitz (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Pritchard.

Posted at 74'

Attempt missed. Tony Craig (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Stuart Dallas with a cross following a corner.

Posted at 74'

Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Rhoys Wiggins.

Posted at 73'

Alex Pritchard (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 73'

Foul by Callum Harriott (Charlton Athletic).

Posted at 71'

Alan Judge (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 71'

Foul by Johnnie Jackson (Charlton Athletic).

Posted at 69'

Attempt missed. Rhoys Wiggins (Charlton Athletic) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Johnnie Jackson.

Posted at 67'

Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Chris Solly.

Substitution

Posted at 67'

Substitution, Brentford. Nick Proschwitz replaces Andre Gray.

Posted at 65'

Alex Pritchard (Brentford) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 65'

Foul by Tal Ben Haim (Charlton Athletic).

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