BRENTFORD 0, UNITED 0

Brentford: Szczesny, Bean, Balkestein, Legge, Foster, Bostock (Wood 80), Dickson, Hunt, O'Connor, MacDonald, Strevens (Saunders 69). Subs: Moore, Bennett, Cort, Wilson, Murphy. 

United: Ankergren, Hughes, Bromby, Kisnorbo, Capaldi, Howson (Crowe 84), Doyle, Kilkenny, Gradel (Ephraim 75), Becchio (Kandol 75), Beckford. Subs: Naylor, Grella, Michalik, D Martin.

Referee: D Deadman

Booked: Capaldi

Att: 9031 (1737 Leeds)

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United manager Simon Grayson welcomed Paddy Kisnorbo back from injury to take his place at the heart of the defence, Lubo Michalik dropping down to the bench, and Max Gradel came into the starting line-up on the left flank in place of the suspended Robert Snodgrass.

It was United's first visit to Griffin Park for over four decades, but it was a familiarly tight ground with a near full-house largely backing a home team looking for a scalp.

Bouyed by that, Brentford started on the front foot and won a flurry of early corners, Jonny Howson clearing the danger on one occasion when the ball dropped in the box.

But it was United who carved out the first real chance when Brentford goalkeeper Wojeciech Szczesny made a terrific save to deny Jermaine Beckford, pushing his piledriver on to the upright.

The home goalkeeper also saved from Howson on 14 minutes and while the home side were enjoying the bulk of possession, United were looking to break quickly and incisively.

On a sodden pitch that cut up quickly, it was clearly going to be a scrappy affair where good football would be at a premium. A real battle developed, Brentford won a number of free-kicks, and it was going to be a roll-your-sleeves up afternoon for Grayson's men against their hard-working opponents.

While Brentford continued to graft, United showed the better quality, and an advancing Szczesny denied Gradel after a clever ball from Beckford threatened to release the loan man. Gradel also hooked a shot wide of the upright, following a Leigh Bromby throw-in.

But United were also guilty of giving the ball away on several occasions during the opening half, and Grayson would be looking for a better retention rate in the second period.

As the game entered the 41st minute, referee Darren Deadman had words with both Kisnorbo and Charlie MacDonald, the Leeds man clearly unhappy about a penalty shout when the Brentford striker appeared to go to ground too easily.

It was United who created the first opening of the second half, less than 60 seconds after the restart, when Beckford headed an Andrew Hughes cross into the arms of Szczesny.

Moments later some sloppy defending allowed Neil Kilkenny a run into the box and when Gradel found space on the left, Luciano Becchio grazed the bar with a good strike.

United had started the second half in more positive fashion, Kilkenny seeing another effort deflected over the top, as Leeds looked like the side most likely to force the opening.

And Szczesny was called upon to come off his line quickly again to foil Beckford, following a great ball from Howson. Beckford also felt he was fouled by a Brentford defender when in pursuit of another ball over the top.

Tempers were continuing to fray on both sides and the referee halted play on more than one occasion following on and off the ball incidents.

Gradel was spoken to a couple of occasions, and he was also the target for a home fan, who threw a bottle of water at the young winger, but on the ball he went close again for Leeds on 72 minites with a screaming effort which flew just wide.

The hosts also came close when a controversial free-kick was deflected wide, but on 75 minutes Grayson made his first changes, Hogan Ephraim and Tresor Kandol replacing Gradel and Becchio. Kandol wasted little time in delivering a good ball into the box which Beckford couldn't quite connect with.

And with six minutes left on the clock, Grayson introduced Jason Crowe in place of Howson on the right.

Kandol was next to go close for Leeds when he fired a shot across the face of goal after Ankergren launched the ball downfield. Kandol also headed wide in the dying moments, following a Leeds corner, as Grayson's men looked to mount one final assault on the hosts' goal.

Four minutes of stoppage time saw a Beckford cross cleared and Capaldi find his way into the referee's notebook, while United also had to defend two Brentford set-pieces.

But there was to be way through for either side as United left frustrated with a point.