Brentford missed the chance to go second in the Championship after Leeds United left Griffin Park with a point, and in reality will feel they’d done enough for all three.

Kiko Casilla’s calamitous error gifted Said Benrahma the opener midway through the first half before Liam Cooper’s scrappy goal for the visitors levelled before the break.

Leeds had the lion’s share of the second half but failed to turn their possession into clear chances while Thomas Frank’s side couldn’t get their infamous BMW started.

The point sees the Bees climb to fourth, remaining two points behind their opponents in second while Fulham have a game in hand in third.

High Press

Deploying an attacking high press, Marcelo Bielsa’s men swarmed the Bees backline and it nearly paid dividends on five minutes.

Jack Harrison dispossessed Henrik Dalsgaard deep in the attacking third only to delay his effort long enough to allow Julian Jeanvier to get a last-ditch block in when bearing down on goal.

Despite their early pressing and domination of possession, Leeds found themselves behind on 24 minutes and it was all their undoing.

Leeds goalkeeper Casilla's poor control from a back pass across goal allowed Benrahma to tap home the easiest of his nine goals this season much to the delight of a sell-out Griffin Park.

Bielsa’s side responded well however and were it not for David Raya making an excellent stop to deny a Pablo Hernandez volley seconds later the scores would’ve been level.

Leeds did restore parity five minutes before the break, and for all their slick football it was a six-yard box scramble from a corner their captain levelled.

Raya was found in no-mans land and with the Bees unable to clear their lines, Cooper prodded home from for a deserved leveller.  

More of the same

The visitors started the second half like they did the first but for a wayward Patrick Bamford header they created little in terms of clear-cut chances.

Leeds’ high-press caused Frank’s men to sink deeper and deeper and although injury caused Josh Dasilva to leave the field, the introduction of Emiliano Marcondes on the hour was expected.  

With new energy the Bees looked more dangerous on the counter as Benrahma continued to float across the frontline.

A poor free-kick was all the mercurial talent could muster however as Brentford failed to get a foothold in the game as the impressive Kalvin Phillips snuffed out all they had on show.

Despite all their undoubted attacking threat it was the Bees’ resolute defence that will rightly get the plaudits as they held out for a point.

TEAMS:

Brentford: 4-3-3 Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Jeanvier, Daslgaar, Norgaard, Jensen (Fosu 88’), Dasilva (Marcobdes 62’), Mbuemo (Baptiste 88’), Benrahma, Watkins. Subs: Daniels, Racic, Valencia, Marcondes, Fosu, Baptiste, Roerslev

Leeds United: Casilla, Ayling, White, Cooper, Dallas, Klick, Phillips, Harrison, Costa, Hernandez, Bamford (Augustin 74’) Subs: Meslier, Douglas, Alioski, Berardi, Augustin, Shackleton, Steven

Attendance: 12, 294

REFEREE: Robert Jones