Brentford 0-0 Fulham: Points shared in dismal lunchtime draw
A game lacking in any quality at all ends in a stalemate
London neighbours Brentford and Fulham shared the lunchtime points in a dismal Premier League bore draw that does nothing for either side’s slim European hopes.
Brentford’s in-form striker Igor Thiago was kept quiet throughout while Fulham’s danger man Harry Wilson had their best chance but got his angles wrong with a tough volley and shanked wide.
Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested until added time in a tough watch as the two sides remain three points apart in midtable.
The hosts had the best chance as the clock ticked past 90 minutes as Keane Lewis-Potter picked out Dango Ouattara in the six-yard box but his powerful shot was somehow pushed over the top by Bernd Leno.
It was a brilliant save from the Fulham goalkeeper, making his 145th straight Premier League start.
Former Bees manager Thomas Frank watched on from the stands but will have left with little to report in a truly forgettable affair as his former side drew a fifth match in a row.
The hosts’ inability to find a way through means they missed a chance to go ahead of Chelsea in sixth while Fulham stayed 12th after a game they also really needed to win with English sides vying for as many as 10 slots in Europe next season.
Only six points separate Chelsea (48) in sixth and Newcastle United (42) in 14th place, with Brentford and Fulham having five matches remaining and most of their rivals still with a game in hand.
Fulham had a half chance early on as Alex Iwobi and Tom Cairney carved open the Bees’ defence to find Ryan Sessegnon, but the full-back lacked composure and fired over.
Iwobi went off injured shortly after and Fulham lacked spark without the former Arsenal man.
Brentford captain Nathan Collins – making his 100th appearance for the club – came inches away from a milestone goal, but his goalbound header flashed the wrong side of the post.
Wilson was fortunate to escape any punishment for a reckless, lunging challenge on Mikkel Damsgaard that left the Brentford bench fuming when the referee waved play on.