Premier League
Brentford 0 – 0 Fulham FT
Brentford missed the chance to go sixth in the Premier League with a goalless draw against visitors Fulham – their fifth consecutive stalemate in the top flight.
A win would have helped the Bees overtake Chelsea and boost their chances of qualifying for a debut European campaign but they failed to capitalise in a game of few real chances at Gtech Community Stadium.
Fulham had the majority of possession but it was Brentford who had the best of chances in a lacklustre early kick-off.
Igor Thiago, only one behind 22-goal Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race, headed wide from close range early on while Keane Lewis-Potter fired just over Bernd Leno's goal from eight yards in the dying seconds of the first half.
Dango Ouattara, who attempted the only shot on target before the interval, failed to trouble Leno again with an effort from distance in the 58th minute.
An unmarked Mikkel Damsgaard then failed to hit the target with a first-time effort from the edge of the box after Kevin Schade played him through as frustration continued to build for Keith Andrews' side.
Harry Wilson produced a well-timed run to get on the end of a cross in the 78th minute but dragged his shot wide in a rare opening for Fulham.
Leno then tipped over a free-kick from Mathias Jensen before the German goalkeeper emerged as Fulham's hero with a brilliant save to deny Ouattara from point-blank range in stoppage time to salvage the draw.
Brentford remain seventh with 48 points, while Fulham are 12th, three points behind the Bees with five matches remaining.
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Brentford analysis: Thiago kept quiet by visitors
Thiago has been Brentford's talisman this season and is giving Manchester City's Haaland a run for his money to land the Golden Boot.
Last week, Thiago's opener against Everton made him the first Brazilian to score 20 goals in a Premier League season, and he broke the record for the most goals by a Brentford player in the top flight with his second.
So all eyes were on Thiago again as the Bees looked to consolidate their top-seven position with a much-needed win against Fulham – especially after conceding a late equaliser to Everton last weekend.
But the Cottagers succeeded in keeping the dangerous striker at bay for most of the afternoon – he was restricted to two attempts, going closest with a 10th-minute header.
And the result? A fifth consecutive league draw for Brentford for the first time since 1957, one that will hurt their chances of securing European football next season.
With former manager Thomas Frank watching from the stands, the Bees were wasteful in front of the goal, producing 13 shots – four of them on target – and generating an expected goals (xG) of 1.36.
Brentford's last win in the league came against Burnley at the end of February and Andrews, who did not make any substitutions on Saturday, will need to return his team to winning ways soon if they are to avoid letting a promising season drift away.
More to follow.
