Brentford hold their nerve to resist Bournemouth

By Tom Moore, at Griffin Park Tuesday, January 1, 2013
4:58 PM

League One: Brentford 0 Shrewsbury

Brentford had to ride their luck at times but were able to pick up a crucial point and keep in-form Bournemouth at bay.

Both sides went into this game aiming to protect long unbeaten runs – the Bees with 11 and the Cherries with 15.

And it was the home side that made the better start as Adam Forshaw had his shot turned around the post in only the fourth minute.

From the resulting Harry Forrester corner the ball found its way to the former Everton man and his volley flashed past the post and out for a goal kick.

Bees goalkeeper Simon Moore made his first save when he denied Marc Pugh from 12 yards after Marcello Trotta had given the ball away to Harry Arter in midfield.

And Cherries counterpart David James was called into action moments later to deny Trotta’s rasping shot and Bournemouth cleared the danger.

Brentford went close again minutes later as Tom Adeyemi’s looping header was gathered by the England’s 2010 World Cup stopper.

Forshaw continued to cause problems and his 20 yard shot flashed across James and just wide as the first half entered the final 10 minutes.

Forrester also got into the game and wriggled down the left before providing a cross that Trotta should have done better with – the Fulham loanee failed to connect properly and the ball went harmlessly over the bar.

That was the last meaningful action in, what was, a drab first half as the Bees’ front six had struggled to get into the game with the exception of the lively Forshaw.

Brentford started the second half on the front foot and won two corners in quick succession, although James gathered both attempts.

Bournemouth should have taken the lead in a 53rd minute goalmouth scramble but Jake Bidwell brilliantly turned the ball over the bar after Arter’s shot with Moore beaten.

That same bit of woodwork was struck from the corner as Tommy Elphick’s effort was denied.

Forshaw, still the bright spark in the game, broke free down the left and his piledriver just went over the bar.

Pugh went close again when he headed wide in the 66th minute after a spell of Brentford pressure that was calmly dealt with by James.

The Cherries should have taken the lead with 20 minutes remaining when Josh McQuoid inexplicably fired wide from six yards with the goal gaping as the visitors had their best spell of the game.

Neither side were able to come close again and the two sides picked up a point apiece.

Brentford: Moore, Logan (Hodson 58), Bidwell, Craig, Dean, Forshaw (Diagouraga 75), Adeyemi, Douglas, Forrester, Trotta (Hayes 78), Donaldson.

Unused Substitutes: Lee, Saunders, Reeves, Kiernan.

Bournemouth: James, Francis, Cook, Pugh, Arter, Daniels, Fogden, Elphick, Grabban (Tubbs 78), O’Kane, Pitman (McQuoid 67).

Unused Substitutes: Jalal, Partington, McDermott, Hughes, Fletcher.

Referee: John Scott.

Attendance: 8,059.